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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
40+ Green Bean Recipes for Thanksgiving

40+ Green Bean Recipes for Thanksgiving

Updated September 13, 2019

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't argue that green beans aren't a holiday staple. Whether they're cooked into casseroles, steamed, or paired with complementary flavors like garlic or lemon, our Thanksgiving green bean recipes are sure to steal the show.

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Prosciutto Green Bean Bundles with Crispy Mushrooms

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Prosciutto Green Bean Bundles with Crispy Mushrooms Recipe

Though it may look complicated, this recipe is quite easy to prepare. To save prep time, look for bags of prewashed, pretrimmed beans in the produce section. If you can’t find the slender haricots verts, you can use regular green beans—they’ll just need to cook a few minutes longer in step 1. You can blanch the beans and prepare the dressing the day before, but wait to combine them; the acid will discolor the beans.

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Green Beans Amandine

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Green Beans Amandine Recipe

Adding lemon juice and water to the browned butter mixture creates a lovely, glossy sauce that coats the beans beautifully. The overall impression is that there’s far more butter than is actually there. You can easily get a head start by completing step 1 up to two days ahead; then the recipe can come together in the last few minutes before the feast.

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Charred Sesame Green Beans

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Charred Sesame Green Beans Recipe

One taste of these quick-charred green beans, and you’ll never just steam again. Letting the beans sit in the hot skillet without stirring is the secret to getting a nice char; adding the sauce to the still-hot skillet helps it reduce quickly and cling to the crispy, smoky beans. Serve with roasted pork or salmon.

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Italian-Style Green Bean Casserole

Credit: TIFS

Italian-Style Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Artichoke hearts, breadcrumbs and parsley add Italian-style flair to this holiday staple.

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Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa Recipe

Resist the urge to stir the green beans often—that’s the secret to getting a nice amount of char. For even better flavor, use 13 oz. of fresh green beans from your local farmers market; trim them yourself before steaming in a covered container in the microwave.

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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Recipe

We upgraded this classic holiday side dish with a tangy balsamic glaze and sweet caramelized onions.

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Quick and Easy Green Beans

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Quick and Easy Green Beans Recipe

Here's a fast, efficient way to cook green beans (and other vegetables), eliminating the fuss of bringing a large pot of water to a boil or draining the veggies. (Cost for 4: $1.12)

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Garlicky Blistered Green Beans and Tomatoes

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Garlicky Blistered Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe

The broiler does all the work in this easy, impressive side. Pile leftovers on a sandwich or add to a big salad.

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Green Bean Casserole with Cauliflower Cream

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Green Bean Casserole with Cauliflower Cream Recipe

Once simmered in milk and pureed, cauliflower transforms into a silky, luscious cream sauce—a dead ringer for the classic yet with a much better profile, saving nearly 500mg sodium and 4g fat per serving. We intensify the mushroom presence by using meaty cremini and shiitake mushrooms and roasting them first to cook out the excess liquid. If you can’t find shiitakes, use 2 (8-oz.) packages of cremini mushrooms. Skip the fried onions and use torn whole-wheat bread for a rustic, crunchy topper.

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Classic Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Victor Protasio

Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Who doesn't love a classic? This traditional recipe is everything you could want in a holiday side—and more! Frozen veggies make this classic green bean casserole simple and speedy, which leaves you ample time to focus on the rest of your Thanksgiving feast. Hungry for more inspiration? Find more than 200 recipes for appetizers, side dishes, dinners, and desserts at our Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide.

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Victor Protasio

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Recipe

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Lemon-Almond Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Victor Protasio

Lemon-Almond Green Bean Casserole Recipe

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Farro, Green Bean, and Kale Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Farro, Green Bean, and Kale Salad Recipe

This recipe goes with: Farro Salad Lunch Box

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Credit: Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks Recipe

You might have a go-to green bean casserole recipe, but you have to try this one. These thin, crispy fried leeks are an absolutely delicious casserole topper and look way more elegant than the canned fried onions. The leeks fry up very quickly; keep a close watch on them as they cook.

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Lemon-Feta Green Beans

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Lemon-Feta Green Beans Recipe

Searing lemons is one of our favorite tricks for upping the ante on any dish. The tart juice mellows out, providing the perfect balance for the briny capers and feta in this skillet side. If you have any leftovers, try adding halved cherry tomatoes and enjoying as a cold salad; some cooked chicken or shrimp would turn it into a lovely main dish.

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Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce Recipe

Substitute fresh thyme or dill for the tarragon, if you prefer. To blanch haricots verts, cook them in boiling water 2 minutes, and immediately transfer to an ice bath to cool.

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Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Hold the mayo. Replace the usual creamy potato salad dressing with this lively lemon-dill vinaigrette. Easy to make and easy to transport, you will love this fresh take on the picnic staple. If you are taking this to a party, chill the cooked potatoes in the dressing for 30 minutes, and then assemble the salad (with the green beans, radishes, chives, and remaining dressing) on a platter just before serving.

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Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Recipe

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Green Bean and Radish Sauté

Green Bean and Radish Sauté Recipe

A side dish that is as delicious as it is versatile, green beans and prosciutto is a savory flavor marriage that works with nearly any main dish you’re serving. Cut prep time in half—and use fewer dishes—by crisping prosciutto in your microwave.

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Prosciutto-and-Almond Green Beans

Prosciutto-and-Almond Green Beans Recipe

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Green Beans with Crisp Meyer Lemon Bread Crumbs

Credit: Greg DuPree

Green Beans with Crisp Meyer Lemon Bread Crumbs Recipe

Looking for a simple side dish to make for dinner? These green beans and carrots are a delicious way to eat your veggies and they come together in under 15 minutes. The tarragon carrots really steal the show with their fresh, herbaceous flavor, while the haricots verts add a little crunch.

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Tarragon Carrots with Green Beans

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Tarragon Carrots with Green Beans Recipe

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Slow-Cooker Green Beans

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Slow-Cooker Green Beans Recipe

This recipe frees up precious stove-top space and reminds us of the traditional green beans our grandmothers used to make.

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Skillet Green Bean Casserole Recipe

We've shortened (and lightened) this holiday classic by bringing everything together in one pan and using the stovetop and broiler rather than baking. To save yourself even more time, you can substitute panko in place of homemade breadcrumbs.

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Green Bean Fries with Spicy Mayo

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Robyn Valaryk

Green Bean Fries with Spicy Mayo Recipe

A light cornmeal coating and chipotle chile dip make these green beans as addictive as french fries. If you like more texture, use medium-grind cornmeal.

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Steamed Green Beans with Cracked Pepper and Chèvre

Credit: James Baigrie

Steamed Green Beans with Cracked Pepper and Chèvre Recipe

The combination of tender, sweet green beans and the tartness of chèvre makes this side dish a nice complement to most main dishes. And it adds color to the plate.

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Crispy Garlic and Mushroom Green Beans

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Crispy Garlic and Mushroom Green Beans Recipe

We love meaty shiitakes here, but any mushroom will work. Crisping the garlic adds great texture to the finished dish.

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Sweet Heat Green Beans

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Hadduck Hillegas

Sweet Heat Green Beans Recipe

Sambal Oelek, a fiery chile paste typically found on the Asian foods aisle, adds kick to bowls, salads, and vegetables. Here, it's tossed in crispy green beans and mixed with honey for the perfect sweet-meets-spicy, Asian-style veggie dish. Serve this as a side or bring it to a potluck for a flavorful surprise.

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Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Radish and Green Bean Quinoa

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp with Radish and Green Bean Quinoa Recipe

Radishes become tender and blushing pink when sautéed, a lovely addition to the quinoa. Paired with a simple lemon-garlic shrimp, this is an easy dinner to add into your weeknight rotation. It's simple and refreshing, and with 23g of protein, there's no doubt that it's satisfying. Sub out your favorite whole grain if you don't have quinoa.

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Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans

Credit: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans Recipe

You can turn any ordinary side of green beans into an extraordinary accompaniment with the help of lemon.

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Red Pepper and Pesto Green Beans

Credit: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Red Pepper and Pesto Green Beans Recipe

For this quick side, Red Pepper and Pesto Green Beans, we toss roasted green beans with a parsley-pistachio pesto. Traditional pesto is made with walnuts and basil, but we went with pistachios and parsley to switch things up in the kitchen. This vegetable side comes together in minutes and tastes best straight out of the oven. Bring it to a potluck or serve it as a side with dinner that the whole family can enjoy. Save the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Marinated Dill Green Beans

Marinated Dill Green Beans Recipe

Choose fresh green beans that are crisp and blemish free for this dish. Marinate for several hours to allow the dill, garlic and onion flavors to permeate. Grated lemon rind brings fresh acidity and sharp flavor to this strong, aromatic blend of herbs. Combining the herbs with vinegar and letting the concoction sit for several hours allows for the different flavors to combine and create a salty, slightly pickle-like taste that brings these green beans to a whole new level.

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Green Beans in Vinaigrette with Feta

Credit: Oxmoor House

Green Beans in Vinaigrette with Feta Recipe

Washed and trimmed fresh green beans are a real time-saver. Cook them and toss with a homemade vinaigrette to liven up any dinner plate. Top with fresh crumbled feta cheese for a zingy, salty twist that brightens the flavor of the vegetable. Ready in no more than 15 minutes, this is a super simple recipe that brings excitement and a cheesy punch of flavor to green beans. We opted for feta with basil and sun-dried tomatoes for an added dose of herbs and sweet flavor.

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40+ Green Bean Recipes for Thanksgiving

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Prosciutto Green Bean Bundles with Crispy Mushrooms

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Green Beans Amandine

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Charred Sesame Green Beans

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Italian-Style Green Bean Casserole

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Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa

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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

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Quick and Easy Green Beans

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Garlicky Blistered Green Beans and Tomatoes

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Green Bean Casserole with Cauliflower Cream

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Classic Green Bean Casserole

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

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Lemon-Almond Green Bean Casserole

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Farro, Green Bean, and Kale Salad

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

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Lemon-Feta Green Beans

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Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

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Green Bean Casserole

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Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

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Green Bean and Radish Sauté

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Prosciutto-and-Almond Green Beans

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Green Beans with Crisp Meyer Lemon Bread Crumbs

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Tarragon Carrots with Green Beans

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Slow-Cooker Green Beans

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole

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Green Bean Fries with Spicy Mayo

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Steamed Green Beans with Cracked Pepper and Chèvre

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