If you're only busting out green beans around Thanksgiving, you're missing out. These recipes dress up the crisp, fresh beans with savory, spicy, and sweet punches of flavor that will have everyone (even those who swear they don't like any green vegetables) asking for seconds. Make these versatile green bean recipes for the holidays, or even just to spice up a weeknight meal.
First things first: Green beans might just be the easiest vegetable to cook up as a healthy side dish for your favorite proteins, especially pork, tofu, and steak. Did you know you can air-fry, steam, roast, blanch, and even grill green beans? Now you do! Personally, we're pretty partial to air-frying green beans since it often results in these crispy, crunchy air-fryer tempura-inspired green beans that are very ideal for dipping in an herby sauce. Even if you go a more simple route by stir-frying green beans with bacon, you're guaranteed to have a side dish that's bound to upstage the main event.
And don't worry, we've also got plenty of clever spins on green bean casserole, whether you're a purist or craving something a bit non-traditional for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Looking for a lighter spin on the classic casserole? Try our healthy, from-scratch version of green bean casserole, or even our easy vegan green bean casserole. Looking for a version that's more potluck-friendly? Look no further than our recipes for and our green bean casserole bundles. Everyone at your party will flip.
1
Green Bean Casserole
For this recipe, we ditched the canned cream of mushroom soup and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with thinly sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor. Trust us, it's SO worth it.
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
2
Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans
We set out to make crispy delicious tempura green beans, minus the deep frying. Boy, did we succeed, thanks to panko breadcrumbs! They give all the crunch you love, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil.
Get the Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans recipe.
3
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
This side is like if green beans dressed up as cheesy garlic bread. 😍 Tossed in garlic and black pepper and showered with cheese, this simple, yet irresistible side will steal the spotlight at every holiday table.
Get the Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe.
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4
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Is it even Thanksgiving without this cozy side? This recipe makes green bean casserole even simpler; instead of using an oven, it can be mixed and cooked in your slow cooker. Save all that oven space for the turkey!
Get the Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe.
5
Brie & Green Bean Bundles recipe
If you're looking for the easiest last-minute appetizer, look no further than these cheesy brie & green bean bundles. Perfect for a Thanksgiving potluck or holiday party appetizer, these bundles of joy turn the classic green bean casserole into a handheld delight, all wrapped in flaky crescent dough.
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6
Green Beans Almondine
Sautéed with shallots and garlic, tossed with buttery, toasted almonds, and finished with lemon, these French green beans are quick enough to serve for a weeknight dinner while also being fancy enough for holiday meals and dinner parties.
Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.
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7
Cheesy Green Bean & Mushroom Tart
These flavors are a classic combo we never tire of, and that goes double for this shareable tart. Fresh blanched green beans are layered onto a creamy blend of ricotta and goat cheese, topped with garlicky mushrooms and cheddar cheese, then baked on a puff pastry crust until perfectly melty.
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8
Niçoise Salad
Since no two Niçoise salads are exactly alike, we figured we’d we follow our stomachs and gather some of our favorite ingredients. Drizzled with a mustard-spiked vinaigrette, this salad features a pleasant balance of flavors and textures that makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.
9
Roasted Green Beans
For a vegetable side to reach the regular weeknight rotation, it has to be delicious and a no-brainer—just like these shallot-y roasted green beans. Simply toss fresh beans in olive oil and season with some salt and pepper before roasting on high heat, then finish under the broiler.
Get the Roasted Green Beans recipe.
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10
Green Bean Salad
If your family cookout doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
11
Thanksgiving Crunchwrap
Tired of the same ol' leftover Thanksgiving sandwich? This crunchwrap is the perfect way to shake things up. Don't have all the leftover ingredients? No worries! Just use what you've got. Pretty much everything short of pumpkin pie will work just fine. 😎
Get the Thanksgiving Crunchwrap recipe.
12
Ginger Beef Stir-Fry With Ramen
This stir-fry has a ginger-garlic kick that you won't be able to resist. It's our favorite way to class up a pack of instant ramen!
Get the Ginger Beef Stir-Fry With Ramen recipe.
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13
Air Fryer Green Beans
Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven. This rendition also comes with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for bites of delicious roasted garlic.
Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.
14
Green Bean Casserole Bundles
Looking to switch up your Thanksgiving menu but don't want to upset any of traditionalists? Look no further than these green bean casserole bundles. We took our favorite green bean casserole and then wrapped individual portions in bacon. It's genius, really.
Get the Green Bean Casserole Bundles recipe.
15
How To Cook Green Beans
Green beans are one of the most versatile and delicious summer veggies. There are so many ways to prepare them, and even more ways to serve them. (With feta! With toasted nuts! Squeezed with lemon!) Whatever mode you choose, you'll have a pretty killer side dish.
Get the How To Cook Green Beans recipe.
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16
Stir-Fried Green Beans
Stir-fries are fast, easy, and simple, and this classic green bean offering is no different. We go the extra mile here and use 2 slices of bacon for some extra smoky flavor, but you can simply substitute in extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer to go the vegetarian route.
Get the Stir-Fried Green Beans recipe.
17
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Never fear, this lightened-up green bean casserole is here to help you save room for pumpkin pie. Forgoing canned cream of mushroom for a quick homemade mushroom gravy, we'd argue this version is healthier and more delicious than the classic.
Get the Healthy Green Bean Casserole recipe.
18
Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower
A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!
Get the Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower recipe.
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19
Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole
Never has there ever been a holiday table (looking at you, Thanksgiving) without green bean casserole. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors.
Get the Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole recipe.
20
Pizza Niçoise
Pizza Niçoise is exactly how it sounds—a mashup of classic Niçoise salad toppings piled on top of a warm, doughy crust. It’s a taste of the Mediterranean right from your kitchen table.
Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.
Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
