This Boiled Green Beans Recipe with Butter Glaze is amazingly simple fresh green beans that are cooked and coated in a delicious butter glazed and then seasoned with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
I know this Boiled Green Beans Recipe with Butter Glaze is beyond simple, just like my Garlic Mashed Potatoes, but sometimes it’s the easiest dishes that can bring out the most joy. For me, this recipe reminds me of my childhood a bit, because I always remember my mom outside watching us run around while she picked fresh green beans and threw them into a pot.
Cooking green beans may seem like a no brainer but believe it or not we cook green beans different nowadays as I like a much firmer greener green bean, but the taste is still there. The recipe simply consists of:
- Green Beans
- Butter
- Salt and Pepper
How To Prepare Fresh Green Beans
My mom and I actually even trim the green beans different as well, mom I promise yours are still great! I remember when I was working at a country club in St. Louis I had to trim like 50 pounds of fresh green beans so there I was picking them with my hands…
Well, the chef didn’t like that so he taught me how to line up then ends and snip ’em off with one slice. That was the end of my picking green beans tenure, finished with a slice. I do have to admit, it’s a much faster process, sorry mom.
Just line up 10 to 15 fresh green beans with the bad ends on one side and then give them a little slice to remove. I know it may seem like it’s more tedious but it actually goes quite a bit faster and you’ll be thanking me in the end if you’re ever trimming up 50 pounds of fresh green beans.
I did the same process in my Ham and Bean Stew.
How Long To Boil Green Beans
Instead of putting them picked in a pot, then filling them with water and bringing them to a boil, I instead bring the water to a boil first. Doing this will ensure my fresh green beans only cook for a few minutes and remain nice and firm. There is nothing worse than mushy overcooked green beans!
Once the water is boiling, add enough salt to it so that it tastes like the ocean, which is a tip one of my old chefs game me. You add a lot of salt to the water to help keep the color of the beans as well as season them. Do it!
Next, you want to add the trimmed fresh green beans and boil them for 3 to 4 minutes. I know that seems like a short amount of time but just because you remove them from the boiling water does not mean they all of a sudden stop cooking.
The carry overcooking, as we call it, will continue on so by the time these perfectly cooked green beans hit your plate they will be absolutely perfect.
How To Make The Butter Glaze
While you are boiling the green beans for 4 to 6 minutes, add a few pads of unsalted butter to a large saute pan over low heat to make the butter glaze.
Start swirling the butter around by moving the handle in a circular motion. Remember we aren’t trying to fry with the butter, we want to glaze with the butter, so keep it over low heat while continuing to move until it’s completely melted.
The butter should appear milky and by doing this will allow you to coat all of the green beans instead of dropping a glob of butter of top hoping it touches all of the beans.
Glazing The Fresh Green Beans
After the green beans are boiled, remove them from the pot and strain them through a colander and then immediately pour them into your buttered pan. Season the green beans with salt and pepper and fold them over using tongs or are rubber spatula in the butter mixture making sure to coat on all sides.
There it is, a Boiled Green Beans Recipe with Butter Glaze! These are so simple to prepare but wow is this the absolutely best way to prepare and eat fresh green beans.
Chef Recipe Notes + Tips
How to Reheat: The best way to reheat green beans is by heating up a small amount of chicken stock or water with 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat and adding in the cold green beans and tossing until warm, about 1 to 2 minutes. You can also cook them in the microwave for 45 seconds to reheat.
Storing And Freezing: Green beans will hold in the refrigerator covered in plastic for up to 3 days, after that they start to break down. Green beans don’t freeze all that well after being cooked because they lose a lot of moisture. If you do decide to freeze cooked green beans, then it is best to thaw and use it in a soup.
More Awesome Side Dishes
- Elote Recipe
- Fried Green Beans Recipe
- Oven Roasted Garlic Green Beans with Lemon
- Creamy Polenta Recipe
- Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
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Video
Boiled Green Beans Recipe with Butter Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 pound of trimmed green beans
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season heavy with salt. Note, it should taste like the ocean.
- Next, add in the trimmed green beans and boil for 3 to 4 minutes or until al dente or slightly crunchy.
- Immediately remove them from the pot and strain them. Set aside.
- In a large saute pan over low heat add in the butter and coat the bottom of the pan. Be sure the pan is not too hot, you simply want to melt the butter not cook it.
- Add the green beans to the butter, season with salt and pepper and fold the green beans into the butter until coated on all sides.
- Serve hot!
Notes
- How to Reheat: The best way to reheat green beans is by heating up a small amount of chicken stock or water with 1 tablespoon of butter in a sauce pan over medium-high heat and adding in the cold green beans and tossing until warm, about 1 to 2 minutes. You can also cook them in the microwave for 45 seconds to reheat.
- Storing And Freezing: Green beans will hold in the refrigerator covered in plastic for up to 3 days, after that they start to break down. Green beans don't freeze all that well after being cooked because they lose a lot of moisture. If you do decide to freeze cooked green beans, then it is best to thaw and use in a soup.
Samuel Boutwell says
Tasted great. I twisted it a little and cooked them in the skillet after cooking the chicken and the flavor was amazing.
Megan says
Cooked the beans in boiling water for 6 minutes and they were perfect!
Florence says
These sound delicious! Will definitely try these. I also love the mushy beans of yesteryear.
Chef Billy Parisi says
For sure, and I’ve got an awesome recipe for those at -> https://www.billyparisi.com/southern-ham-green-beans-and-potatoes-stew-recipe/
Linds says
What does the ocean taste like?
Chef Billy Parisi says
salty!
Jeanette Brice says
I cook the green beans in beef broth then remove them add add whit potatoes to the broth then i put them together in a pot of melted butter mixing well with black pepper and italian seasoning its delicous!
Chef Billy Parisi says
sounds yummy
Mike says
Great cook time in the water. 4-6min is perfect
Sharon says
Simple and delicious!
Charlotte says
These are absolutely delicious! I sometimes add some garlic salt. And, thanks for the tip on cutting the ends rather than snapping each one. Phew! Much easier.
Patti Gangi says
Love green beans
Barb Bayer says
This is how I do mine too! Love the fresh picked taste of green beans, not the mushy gray-green beans of yesteryear.
Erika says
Mmm! I love green beans – any green vegetable, really. This recipe is right up my alley!
Melanie Smith says
I have to try this recipe. I’m a huge fan of green beans!