Garlic green beans are a delicious, easy to make holiday side dish! Fresh green beans are lightly steamed and tossed with a bright, lemon garlic butter sauce with caramelized shallots.
I was having a heated conversation with myself the other day about what constituted worthy content for the blog. (What? Like you don’t talk to yourself?) On one hand, I love sharing easy weeknight dinner recipes like Apple Cider Pork Chops, and Broccoli Bacon Carbonara. I’m a firm believer that one can’t have too many simple recipes at their disposal.
On the other hand, how simple is too simple? I make a lot of tasty morsels on a regular basis that I almost feel silly writing about because they almost seem too easy, such as Cheesy Asparagus Spirals, or this 3-Ingredient Lemon Blackberry Braid. So I go about my business, cook super easy stuff, and talk myself out of writing about the recipes. Nearly without fail, right about when we eat the last bite, one of the Sons will say, “You should totally blog this, Mom!” When I roll my eyes and cast the idea aside, Bacon Slayer jumps in and explains that while it may be a simple combination of ingredients to me, not everyone would think to toss them together. Then he’ll say something to the effect that not everything has to be elaborate in order to be blog-worthy.
Sigh. That man is almost too logical for my own good.
Garlic Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon Butter is an easy recipe that I make some variation of just about every week.
Lightly steam fresh green beans, then toss them with a bright, buttery lemon garlic sauce with caramelized shallots mixed in. The beans come out crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and bathed in just enough tangy, buttery goodness to make it an affair to remember. With a mere 15 minutes of preparation time, Garlic Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon Butter is easy enough to serve everyday, and special enough to dish up to company along with a Perfectly Roasted Turkey or other holiday meal.
Comfortably Domestic Confession: Sometimes I’m too lazy to bother with squeezing lemons or chopping garlic and onions. When that happens, I skip it in favor of adding a little salt and pepper to the butter sauce and call it good. Heck, sometimes I skip the green beans all together and use asparagus or broccoli in the recipe. I know! I’m a rebel.
Kirsten Kubert
Lightly steamed fresh green beans coated with a bright, buttery lemon garlic sauce with caramelized shallots.
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 lb. whole green beans, ends trimmed
- 1/4 C. (2 small) thinly sliced shallots (or sweet onion)
- 1 1/2 Tbs. unsalted butter
- 1 tsp. light olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
- 1 1/2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Place the trimmed beans into a large pot. Fill the pot with 1/2-inch of cold water. Set the pot over medium-high heat, and steam the green beans for 3 to 4 minutes or until mostly tender, but still retaining a crisp bite.
- While the green beans are cooking, prepare the sauce by melting the butter with the olive oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Sauté the shallots in the skillet for about 3 minutes or until soft and beginning to caramelize. Add the garlic, and continue to sauté for an additional 30 seconds. Stir the lemon juice and dill into the sauce.
- Use a pair of kitchen tongs to transfer the green beans to a wide serving dish. Pour the sauce over the beans, lightly tossing to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
The green beans in this recipe are cooked to a crisp-tender texture. Cook the beans longer for a softer texture.
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