These French Style Green Beans are crisp, quick, and full of flavor. A simple sauté in olive oil and garlic turns them into an elegant side dish that goes with everything.
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Why This Recipe Works
This French Style Green Beans recipe is one of my favorite ways to elevate an everyday veggie. Here’s why I keep coming back to it:
- Crispy, Garlicky, and Full of Flavor: These green beans stay perfectly crisp with just the right amount of garlic. They’re simple but seriously delicious and remind me of our Garlic Parmesan Asparagus.
- Elegant Without the Effort: They look refined on the plate but only take about 15 minutes from start to finish. Perfect for dinner parties or weeknights.
- Goes With Everything: I pair them with roasted salmon, Grilled Skirt Steak, or even a holiday roast. They’re that versatile.
- Made With Just Four Ingredients: All it takes is olive oil, garlic, salt, and green beans. No complicated steps or fancy prep.
- Always a Hit at the Table: Whether I’m serving family or guests, everyone loves these. They’re bright, fresh, and a welcome break from heavier sides.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. I ❤️ hearing from you!
Ingredients
- French Green Beans (Haricots Verts) – These slender, elegant beans are slightly longer and more tender than regular green beans. They cook quickly and have a crisp texture that makes them perfect for a refined side dish.
- Olive Oil – A light coat of olive oil helps the green beans sauté evenly, adding richness and helping them brown slightly without getting soggy.
- Garlic – Minced garlic brings savory flavor and aromatic depth. Sautéing it briefly at the end keeps it fragrant without burning.
- Sea Salt – A simple seasoning that enhances the natural flavor of the green beans and garlic.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
Instructions
- Heat the Oil: Warm olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat.
- Cook the Beans: Add green beans, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook for 8–10 minutes, tossing occasionally.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Season and Serve: Sprinkle with sea salt to taste and serve warm.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
Here are some of my favorite substitutions and variations:
- Green Bean Options: I love using French-style green beans (Haricots Verts) for their elegant shape and extra snap, but regular green beans work just as well. Just try to choose ones that are slim and uniform in size for even cooking.
- Add Citrus or Acid: Add a splash of lemon juice or a sprinkle of zest at the end to brighten things up. A drizzle of balsamic glaze or red wine vinegar works great for more depth.
What to Serve with French Style Green Beans
Main Dishes
- These garlic French style green beans are crisp, flavorful, and versatile enough to serve with just about anything. We love them alongside Everyday Baked Chicken Breast, Rib Eye Steak, or juicy Pork Chops for a classic weeknight dinner.
- They also pair beautifully with lighter mains like Baked Salmon, Shrimp Skewers, or Pan Fried Salmon with citrus fennel salad for a vibrant, well-balanced plate.
- If you’re keeping things plant-based, serve them with Cauliflower Steaks or add them to a grain bowl with roasted vegetables and hummus.
Other Sides
- French green beans go well with other simple, elegant sides. Try them with Cauliflower Mash, Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes, or Zucchini Fritters for a flavorful spread.
- They also pair nicely with Chopped Greek Salad, Roasted Carrots with Pesto, or Sweet Potato Fries In Air Fryer when you want to add variety to the table.
- We like adding a small bowl of Loaded Hummus or Baba Ganoush on the side for a bit of contrast in texture and flavor.
FAQs
French green beans, also called Haricots Verts, are thinner and slightly longer than regular green beans. They have a more delicate texture and a subtly sweet, crisp flavor that makes them feel a bit more elegant.
Yes. If you can’t find French green beans, regular green beans will work just fine. Try to choose slender, uniform ones for the best texture and appearance.
Yes. You can sauté the green beans in a splash of water or vegetable stock instead of oil. The texture will be slightly different, but still delicious.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat to bring back their crisp texture. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep them from getting too soft.
More Side Dish Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes – Make these Easy And Creamy Mashed Potatoes to serve with all of your meals! All you need are 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes to whip them up.
- Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme – These easy Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme are the perfect 15 minute side dish to serve with any meal.
- Miso Butter Glazed Carrots – Sweet and savory Miso Butter Glazed Carrots are the ultimate side dish for this holiday season. Taking less than 30 minutes, it’s an easy and creative recipe that makes eating vegetables fun!
- Sautéed Broccolini – Prepare this Easy Sautéed Broccolini With Garlic and Lemon in only 10 minutes! It’s a bright, flavorful, and vibrant veggie side dish that pairs perfectly with weeknight meals.
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!
French Style Green Beans (Haricots Verts)
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.
Notes
- French green beans, also known as Haricots Verts, are thinner and more tender than regular green beans and cook quickly while staying crisp.
- Make sure the green beans are rinsed and dried well before cooking to prevent splattering when they hit the hot oil.
- Heat the oil fully before adding the green beans so they sauté instead of steaming.
- Stir only once during cooking to allow the beans to caramelize slightly and develop more flavor.
- Add the garlic toward the end to avoid burning and keep its flavor fresh and aromatic.
- Season with salt at the end so the beans stay tender and don’t release excess moisture too early.
- For a richer flavor, you can sauté the beans in butter instead of olive oil.
- If you can’t find French green beans, use thin, evenly sized regular green beans as a substitute.
- To make this recipe oil-free, replace the olive oil with water or vegetable or chicken stock.
- This dish pairs well with proteins like chicken breast, steak, pork chops, baked salmon, shrimp skewers, or cauliflower steaks.
Emily
So easy and delicious! I haven’t really cooked green beans much, but this will be my go-to recipe from now on!
lena
That’s so great to hear, thank you!
Damaris
A couple simple ingredients, a few minutes of sautéing and voila, a delicious side dish full of flavor! Will definitely make again!
Terrsa
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!!
Olga
Really simple but so good! Added some red pepper flakes to make it spicy.