Name: Garlicky Green Beans
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided; 1 lb. green beans, trimmed; 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped; ¼ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

A serving bowl of green beans with garlic from our easy garlicky green beans recipe.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert

For such a ubiquitous vegetable, green beans can be tricky. Depending on the treatment, the leggy legumes can either be a showstopper or space filler, receding into the background as a soggy side or shining center stage where their grassy sweetness and snap have the ability—and range—to steal the show. In this sautéed green beans recipe, the combination of a no-frills ingredient list, a quick boil, and a final sear in a hot pan assures a spectacularly delicious outcome. You don’t need to boil gallons of water to blanch the green beans, and the quick cook time means the natural flavors and snappy texture of the green beans are retained. This is really the only green bean recipe you’ll need for quick weeknight dinners and Thanksgiving feasts alike, yielding a side dish that sports an exuberant crunch (no ice bath required) that’s seasoned just right with the warm tingle of fresh garlic. Adding the garlic to the pan along with the green beans gives it just enough time to mellow without burning or losing its flavor.

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Recipe information

Total Time
15 minutes
Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided

1 lb. green beans, trimmed

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

¼ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1
In a medium pot over high heat, bring about 4 cups water and 1 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt to a rolling boil. Add 1 lb. green beans, trimmed, and cook, uncovered, until bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain the green beans in a colander and rinse with cold water for 10 seconds.
Step 2
In a large sauté pan over medium-high, add 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil and heat for about 10 seconds. Add the drained green beans, 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, ¼ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper, and remaining 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Sauté until each green bean is evenly coated in oil, about 2 minutes. Serve warm.