Green beans have an important role to play in the low-carb world. Healthy and delicious but with a subtle flavor, it means they pair well with many other ingredients. From salads to casseroles, there are plenty of delicious green bean recipes to keep you entertained all year round.
From tasty starters to filling mains, let’s explore the world of green bean recipes. Here are our favorites, which we’re sure will soon be yours too.
Cashew Green Beans With Bacon
This green bean recipe is tasty and comes together in just 25 minutes. The pairing of bacon and green beans is always a good idea and this recipe is a brilliant example of how to do it right. Even if you have fussy eaters in the house, this one is sure to please and get everyone eating green beans and asking for seconds.
The quantities in this recipe make 6 servings and there are just 131 calories in each portion. It also contains protein and, of course, minimal carbs.
To make cashew green beans with bacon, you first need to boil a large pot of salted water. Once the water is boiling, add 1lb. of fresh green beans (cleaned and with the ends trimmed). Boil the green beans until they are crisp-tender (about 5 minutes). When they are ready you can drain them and set them aside.
Next, take a large skillet and add 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, ½ cup of diced onion, ½ cup of raw cashews, and 2 large cloves of garlic. On low-medium heat saute until the onion and garlic are fragrant and the cashews are toasted.
Cook 6 slices of thick-cut bacon until it is crispy and crumble it. Add the bacon and green beans to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Saute for another 5 minutes, tossing everything to coat the green beans.
Low Carb Green Bean Casserole
This delicious low-carb green bean casserole is great for feeding the masses or if you want leftovers for lunches or subsequent dinners. A beautiful blend of creamy goodness and salty flavors, it blows other casseroles out of the water.
This recipe makes 8 servings and each portion has 155 calories and 8g of carbs. To get started, clean, trim, and halve your green beans (1 pound). Boil some water in a large pot with salt and boil the beans for 5 minutes. Drain the beans and then place them into ice water. Drain again and set your beans aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add ½ cup of blanched almond flour, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper and mix. Add 1 small onion (thinly sliced) and 2 large shallots (thinly sliced) and toss everything.
Place a large skillet on medium-high heat and add ½ inch of avocado oil. When the oil is hot introduce the breaded onions and shallots in batches so that you can make them crispy and golden brown. Place them on a paper towel when they are ready.
Drain the skillet and reduce the heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons of butter, 3 cloves of minced garlic, and 8 ounces of cremini mushrooms (chopped roughly). Saute for 5 minutes. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Add ½ cup of chicken stock and ½ cup of heavy cream to your skillet and bring to a boil on medium heat, then reduce to low heat. Once the sauce begins to thicken add ¼ cup of parmesan cheese and stir.
Add the green beans to the sauce and stir through. Put the mixture into a casserole dish and scatter the onions and shallots around the perimeter of the dish and bake it for 15 minutes.
Italian Green Bean Salad
This fresh salad combines gorgeous salad ingredients with a zesty Italian dressing. It’s low carb and full of nutritious veg and herbs. Bursting with color and flavor, it’s a salad even for those most resistant to the idea normally! The recipe calls for cheese which makes it hearty but you can leave this out.
You can whip this salad up in just 10 minutes which makes it great for weeknight meals or preparing ahead for lunch. There are just 7 quick steps to get the perfect Italian green bean salad. To begin you blanch green beans for 5 minutes and place them in an ice-water bath. Once they have cooled for 5-10 minutes, drain them and place them directly into your serving bowl.
Then you combine all of the other ingredients to the bowl: English cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, fresh curly or flat-leaf parsley, Pecorino Romano cheese (optional).
To make the Italian dressing, whisk the following ingredients together in a bowl: extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice ; zest, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss. Sample to see whether or not you need to add any more salt and pepper. You can eat it straight away or store it in the fridge.
Sesame Garlic Green Beans
These sauteed green beans are truly sensational. Simple, fast, healthy, and low carb, it’s a winning combination. This dish would work well as a side or even as a snack. The recipe allows you to play around with quantities and ratios so that you find your perfect balance. That means you can cook for 1 person or make a large batch and share the love.
The ingredients you need are fresh green beans, coconut oil (or olive oil), fresh minced garlic, sesame oil, lightly toasted sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. Grab all of your ingredients and have them ready before you start cooking becuase that part will be quick.
To prep, trim your fresh green beans. Take as many garlic cloves as you want to use and peel them and mince them. Grill some sesame seeds until they are lightly toasted. Now you’re ready to throw it all together.
Heat your oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Once the oil is heated, add the green beans and saute until they start to go a lovely golden color and crisp up. Add the minced garlic and let it cook a few seconds longer.
Take your skillet off the heat and drizzle sesame oil all over the beans. Sprinkle over your toasted sesame seeds and add salt and pepper to taste. What could be more simple? Enjoy your tasty sesame garlic green beans.
Cheesy Roasted Green Beans
This cheesy roasted green beans recipe does exactly what it says it does. Utterly delicious and smothered in cheese, this makes the perfect side dish for any holiday celebration or roast dinner. It’s also super fast to prepare as you basically just throw everything together and the total time from start to finish is only 30 minutes.
The quantities in this recipe serve 4 people and you’ll be pleased to hear that it contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, Protein, Calcium, and Iron. Additionally, there are 238 calories and just 9g of carbs.
To get the show on the road, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 425°F and lightly grease a baking sheet using nonstick cooking oil spray. Trim the ends off 1 pound of green beans and lay them on the baking sheet in a single layer and set aside.
In a small mixing bowl, add ¼ cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of fresh parmesan (shredded), 4 cloves of garlic (minced), ¾ teaspoon of Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper. Stir it all together and drizzle the mixture over your green beans then toss.
Put it in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the beans are tender-crisp. Remove the baking sheet and cover the beans with 1 ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Place the baking sheet under the grill for about 4-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and gone golden.
Season with salt and pepper if you like and it’s ready to serve immediately.
Low Carb Green Bean Almondine
This gem of a recipe is a classic side dish. The fusion of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar with a sweetener makes the flavors really pop. Light and fresh, this can go with just about any main you wish to serve.
You can adjust the ratio of the ingredients in this recipe to make it as zingy or as sweet as you like.
To make this, you first need to blanch green beans until they are al dente. Place them in some salted boiling water for approximately 6 minutes. When you take them off and drain them, transfer them immediately into a bowl with ice and water and leave them until they have thoroughly cooled.
Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add butter, apple cider vinegar, garlic, almonds, your favorite sweetener, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook until the almonds are lightly toasted (4-5 minutes). Add the green beans and toss with the other ingredients so they are evenly coated and cook until they are heated through (4-5 minutes).
Your low-carb green bean almondine is ready to serve. Don’t forget to play around with the ratios and you can always add a little extra of something just before serving if it needs more sweet or savory notes.
Sweet And Spicy Green Beans
As the name suggests, this recipe has its root in Asian flavors. A gorgeous combination of colorful veg makes it an enticing dish for its appearance as well as its taste. This side goes well with just about any Asian-inspired main you are planning on serving. It’s vegetarian and the total time to get this dish on the table is 25 minutes.
The ingredients you will need are 1 pound of fresh green beans, ¼ cup of butter, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 small onion, 2 cloves of garlic, sea salt, black pepper, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar sweetener, and 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
To make this recipe you start by blanching your green beans. Then you will saute the green beans in butter and olive oil. Next, the bell pepper, garlic, onion, sea salt, and black pepper can be added and sauteed. Finally, the sauce (butter, soy sauce, sweetener, red pepper flakes) can be mixed together and then drizzled on top. Toss until the beans are well coated.
If you make too much by accident (or on purpose so you can have more later) this dish keeps for up to 4 days in the fridge. You can also choose to bulk it up and make it a meal of its own by adding chicken, pork, or prawns.
Green Bean Soup With Beef
A warming soup is also such a pleasant experience. There are plenty of great low-carb soup options out there but this one is family-friendly, includes loads of veggies, and the beef gives it added flavor. The best thing about this meal is it freezes well so you can make a big batch and thank yourself later!
The ingredients you need to make this are olive oil, onion, carrot, red pepper, beef meat, green beans, crushed tomatoes, water, salt, pepper, paprika, powdered garlic, turmeric, dried basil, and bay leaves. There’s also the option of adding crushed chili and sour cream.
To bring this recipe to life, you need an instant pot or large cooking pot. You’ll fry the onion and meat, then introduce the carrot and red pepper too. Finally, you add your green beans, crushed tomatoes, water, and spices.
Stir everything together and cook it on high pressure (for instant pot) for 30-45 minutes. If you’re using the stove cook with the lid on for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Once the meat is cooked your soup is ready to enjoy.
As you can see, there are plenty of nutritious ingredients in this dish, from fresh veg to spices. Don’t forget you can add chili flakes and sour cream to taste, depending on you and your family.
Conclusion
Cooking low-carb meals doesn’t have to be boring or a chore. These green bean recipes are proof of this. We love how versatile green beans are and how many flavor combinations you can put with them. Enjoy these recipes in winter, summer, spring, or fall, and know that you will get a tasty meal each time that is low carb and full of green bean goodness.
