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Home » Weeknight Meals » Sides

Easy Garlic French Green Beans (Haricots Verts)

Posted: November 5, 2020 by lena gladstone | Updated: March 19, 2024

1.9K shares

These Easy Garlic French Green Beans (Haricots Verts) are elegant, quick, and so crisp. Sautéed in oil and garlic, they’re a healthy and versatile side dish with big flavor!

Jump to Recipe
Large white serving dish full of cooked green beans

Crisp and never soggy Easy Garlic French Green Beans are ready in no time and can be enjoyed for any occasion.

With unique flavors and a beautiful presentation, this isn’t your average veggie side dish. French style beans are simple to prepare, just like most green bean recipes, and go with almost anything. It’s a stress-free side dish and only takes 15 minutes from start to finish!

With only 4 ingredients, we’re transforming simple French green beans into a savory and satisfying side dish. Sautéed with olive oil and garlic, the list of flavors and aromatics can fit in the palm of your hand. Make it your next go-to side dish when you need something fancy in a flash!

What are French style green beans (Haricots Verts)?

Haricots Verts translates to “green beans” in French. Just think of them as the slightly longer and thinner version of regular green beans. 

Their shape makes them look a little more fancy and refined, plus they have a distinctly crisp and flavorful taste. French green beans can be a little more expensive but are worth it when you want to go all out at a dinner party.

Raw green beans next to minced garlic on a wood cutting board

Ingredients you need

Look for the greenest, crispiest green beans you can find. They shouldn’t have many brown spots or blemishes. For the best presentation, make sure your beans are uniform in shape and size.

This is what you need:

  • French green beans
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Sea salt
3 images of green beans cooking in a pink skillet

How to make garlic French green beans

This simple side dish takes only 2 steps and under 15 minutes to prepare. It’s low maintenance and looks elegant once it’s done.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Sauté the green beans: Heat your olive oil in a pan over high heat. When it’s hot, add the green beans and turn down the heat. Cook for around 10 minutes, flipping halfway.
  2. Add the garlic: Sauté the garlic in the pan for 1 minute, then season with salt to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Can you roast the green beans instead?

Roasting green beans in the oven is still very easy and only takes a few extra minutes. To roast, preheat your oven to 425ºF and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or oil. Roast the green beans with the garlic and salt for around 20 minutes or until the beans are just about fork tender.

Woman's hands holding a white serving dish full of green beans

What goes well with garlic green beans?

Feel free to mix and match to boost the flavor. You can sauté the beans with sliced shallots and lemon juice in the pan, or go ahead and add diced ham for a little protein. Once they’re done, top the beans with toasted almonds, parmesan cheese, or crunchy bacon.

You can serve this dish on the side of almost anything. Green beans go well with my everyday baked chicken breast, rib eye steak, or even pork chops. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, serve the beans next to baked salmon, shrimp skewers, or cauliflower steaks.

Close up of cooked green beans with garlic and salt

Recipe variations

  • Make it creamier by substituting the olive oil for unsalted butter.
  • Can’t find French style green beans? Just use regular, uniform green beans instead.
  • Want to make it oil-free? Replace the olive oil with water or vegetable or chicken stock.
  • Need a classic Thanksgiving side dish? Use French green beans for extra flavor in a traditional green bean casserole.
Large white serving dish full of cooked green beans

More side dishes

Your next great dinner party will be a hit with all of these tasty side dishes:

  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme
  • Miso Butter Glazed Carrots
  • Sautéed Broccolini

If you fall in love with these Easy Garlic French Green Beans (Haricots Verts) as much as I think you will, make sure to post and tag @lenaskitchenblog on Instagram and use #lenaskitchenblog!

Easy Garlic French Green Beans (Haricots Verts)

3.9 from 50 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lena Gladstone
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
These Easy Garlic French Green Beans (Haricots Verts) are elegant, quick, and so crisp. Sautéed in oil and garlic, they’re a healthy and versatile side dish with big flavor!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb French green beans, Haricots Verts, rinsed and dried
  • 2 tbsp extra light olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • sea salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a saucepan on high heat.
  • Add in the green beans and turn the burner down to medium-high heat. Cook the beans for 8-10 minutes, folding the beans on the bottom to the top once.
  • Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
  • Season will salt and enjoy.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: appetizer, holiday, side dish, sides, vegetarian, veggies

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 782IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg
1.9K shares

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3.92 from 50 votes (46 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




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Comments

  1. Emily

    at

    So easy and delicious! I haven’t really cooked green beans much, but this will be my go-to recipe from now on!

    Reply
    • lena

      at

      That’s so great to hear, thank you!

  2. Damaris

    at

    5 stars
    A couple simple ingredients, a few minutes of sautéing and voila, a delicious side dish full of flavor! Will definitely make again!

    Reply
  3. Terrsa

    at

    5 stars
    I have made these green beans twice now and they are the best! Because my family doesn’t like the traditional green bean casserole for thanksgiving dinner- we are having this green bean dish- a new tradition for our thanksgiving dinner! I am thankful for all your recipes and ideas Lena- thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  4. Olga

    at

    5 stars
    Really simple but so good! Added some red pepper flakes to make it spicy.

    Reply

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Welcome, glad you’re here!

Hi, I’m Lena Gladstone, the recipe developer and food photographer behind Lena’s Kitchen. Here you will find approachable food recipes to share with the whole family. Keto friendly, weeknight dinners all made with fresh ingredients. Click here to learn more!

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