Green Bean Recipes That Are Absolutely Not Boring

Caramelized Green Beans

This recipe from Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Julie Tanous in their cookbook Food Between Friends ($16, Target) has become a fast favorite among our own friends. A touch of sugar and a single piece of ginger add a caramelized sweet spice to this skillet green bean recipe, but fresh garlic, shallots, and dried dill are what bring the flavors home. Top it with fresh lemon zest and serve it hot for a delicious side dish.

Toasted Sesame Green Beans with Teriyaki Glaze

This green bean side dish takes an Asian-inspired twist with ginger, sesame oil, and hoisin sauce stirred into the wok. The green beans are boiled for just four minutes to make them tender without losing their crunch. You can clean and prepare the green beans, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, and ginger up to 24 hours ahead for quicker prep.

Buy It: Analon Wok ($70, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Bacon-Topped Green Bean Casserole

Green bean recipes with bacon are the ultimate side dish crowd pleaser. Studded with cremini mushrooms and chopped bacon, our green bean casserole recipe is a hearty upgrade from the classic. Fresh rosemary brings sophisticated flavor to this wholesome favorite.

Roasted Green Beans with Beets, Feta, and Walnuts

Fresh is better, especially when it comes to fresh green bean recipes. The colorful combination of green beans, tender beets, and savory shallots makes this side dish a stunner. Add crunchy walnuts and a sprinkling of salty feta cheese to make this one-pan crowd-pleaser.

Two-Tone Green Bean Salad with Hazelnuts and Parmesan

Crispy hazelnuts and shaved Parmesan cheese top this zesty Dijon-spiked green bean salad recipe. The colorful blend of green beans and wax beans makes a fun, nutritious alternative to lettuce salad. Try this with toasted walnuts or pecans or opt for roasted chickpeas for a nut alternative.

Sicilian Potato and Green Bean Salad

This fresh and filling side-dish salad will be a favorite green bean and potatoes recipe. Olive oil, capers, garlic, and anchovies take the place of mayo for this Italian-style green bean recipe idea. With protein-packed eggs, hearty potatoes, and crunchy green beans, this salad could be a quick dinner just waiting to happen if you add tuna or leftover chicken.

Green Beans with Shallots, Thyme, and Shiitake Mushrooms

We're all about recipes using fresh green beans, and this skillet green bean recipe is no exception. A stunner of a side dish, this snappy green bean recipe is filled with hearty mushrooms and subtle shallots—the perfect combination. Pair it with mashed potatoes and chicken or turkey for a classic dinner.

Green Bean Hobo Pack

An aluminum foil hobo pack makes cooking this grilled green bean recipe a breeze—plus it infuses the green beans with the savory goodness of garlic and shallots. A garlic green beans recipe complements just about any meal but tastes even better when eaten outdoors. Just toss the pack onto the grill, cook, and enjoy.

Cheesy Green Beans and Fennel

For a gourmet twist on green bean casserole, try adding crunchy slices of fennel. This delicious side dish features two different types of cheese (Gruyère and chèvre) and two pounds of fresh green beans. Toss in some lemon peel with the rich cheeses, and you've got a roasted green beans recipe worthy of a special occasion.

Green Bean Salad

Simple and fresh, this snappy and tangy green bean salad is one of our favorite green bean recipe ideas. The crunchy combination of fresh green beans and chopped celery in this recipe is refreshing when drizzled with bright lime-and-parsley dressing. Squeeze some fresh lime juice on top before serving for a tart topping.

Green Beans with Pancetta and Browned Butter

The rich flavors of pancetta, browned butter, and roasted chestnuts elevate this sautéed green beans recipe above the ordinary green beans and ham recipe. Even the shallots are cooked in the drippings from the pancetta to make this one of the best green bean side dish recipes of all time. Try it alongside beef tenderloin, roast chicken, or grilled salmon.

Parsleyed Green Beans

Two teaspoons of garlic, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper make this simple green bean recipe a superstar. Serve it hot with an extra sprinkling of fresh parsley. We like flat-leaf Italian parsley in this dish for its subtle flavor and smooth mouthfeel.

Green Bean Casserole

Frozen green beans are the secret to perfecting our Better Homes and Gardens green bean casserole. To top off this classic green bean casserole, try the delicious combination of crispy breadcrumbs and tender, sweet onions. They're just as delicious as fried onion rings but much lower in fat.

Green Bean Bake Revisited

This tangy twist on baked green beans features a bold drizzle of balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. Swap fresh beans for what you have on hand in your freezer for one of the ultimate frozen green bean recipes of all time. Watch out: This green bean casserole is deliciously addictive.

Green Beans with Lime

If you like to mix up flavors and textures, then this is the best green bean recipe for you. Crisp green beans go Mediterranean with parsley, rosemary, and a splash of olive oil. Lime juice adds tanginess while chopped hazelnuts bring on the crunch.

Minted French Green Beans

This green bean recipe features a light combination of haricots verts—thin, sweet green beans—and freshly snipped mint. Fresh haricots verts are easy to find April through July, but you can find them frozen year-round for this and other green bean dish recipes. Serve chilled as a salad or as a side dish.

Green Beans with Almonds

This classic green bean almondine recipe is delicious and simple. The entire dish comes together in just 20 minutes in a Dutch oven and will quickly become a favorite on your dinner table. Serve it for a holiday gathering or a backyard barbecue and let the buttery and nutty flavors of this French recipe complement your feast.

Buy It: Staub Dutch Oven ($220-$240, Williams Sonoma)

Blistered Green Beans with Bacon

Blistered may just be our new favorite way to eat our green beans, now that we've discovered this great green bean recipe. Cilantro, garlic, and shallots add bright bursts of flavor, but it's the bacon that will have your guests going back for seconds. The fresh jalapeño garnish is optional, but it adds a nice crunch and spice to this blistered green bean recipe.