17 Easy Green Bean Recipes That Complement Any Main Dish

Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

As far as vegetables go, we're pretty big fans of green beans. They're versatile, inexpensive, and pack a nutritional wallop with vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Did we mention that they're delicious, too? We've created a lot of green bean recipes over the years, because they seem to go with everything.

Need some crunch in a potato salad? Green beans to the rescue. Grilled pork tenderloin that needs a simple, summery side? Fresh green bean recipes are the way to go. Don't even get us started on that iconic Thanksgiving casserole. We love green bean recipes so much we must have invented dozens of twists on the dish over the years. We like them pretty much every which way, but these recipes for green beans all have one thing in common: They're darn delicious!

From our Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole to Pickled Green Beans and more, we've picked the best of the best green bean recipes from our repertoire.

01 of 17

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans
Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

This recipe delivers plenty of flavor, with minimal effort, thanks to minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, and bacon.

02 of 17

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

slow cooker green bean casserole in an oval dish with a gold spoon
Caitlin Bensel / Southern Living

Recipe: Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Your slow cooker does most of the work for this green bean casserole that requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time.

03 of 17

Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs

Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs

If you're looking to skip the heavy green bean casserole but still need a side that packs all the flavor and holiday appeal, look no further than our Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs. They're crunchy, vibrant, and just decadent enough to take a starring role.

04 of 17

Old-School Green Bean Casserole

13x9 casserole, green bean casserole
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Win over your guests this holiday season by making a homemade green bean casserole, topped with fried shallots.

05 of 17

Green Bean Almondine

green bean almondine
Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Green Bean Almondine

Let this be your go-to green bean recipe. These simple yet impressive beans are quick and easy to pull together and go with just about anything.

06 of 17

Slow-Cooker Green Beans

Slow-Cooker Green Beans Recipe
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Green Beans Recipe

Throw bacon and green beans in a slow-cooker to create the ultimate savory side dish that is perfect for any week night meal.

07 of 17

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

We reinvented potato salad by holding the mayo and adding green beans for a fresh take on the classic dish.

08 of 17

Pickled Green Beans

Spicy Pickled Green and Yellow Beans
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pickled Green Beans

Start with our Master Pickle Brine, then dress it up with some spice from a jalapeño and a twist of licorice-flavor from tarragon and fennel seed.

09 of 17

Smothered Green Beans

Smothered Green Beans
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Smothered Green Beans

What exactly are these green beans smothered in? How about thick-cut bacon, garlicky shallots, and a perfectly tangy tomato gravy.

10 of 17

Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Swap out canned fried onions for crispy leeks to top your medley of greens.

11 of 17

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole
VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Recipe: Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

The addition of brussels sprouts and bacon make this green bean medley a real side dish winner.

12 of 17

Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans

Lemon Sauteed Green Beans
Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans

Here we call for a minimal amount of ingredients that are designed to brighten up the crisp and lively veggie. Lemon and green beans go together like peas and carrots, and this recipe proves it.

13 of 17

Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette
Hector Sanchez

Recipes: Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Add zing to your salads with fresh dill, or swap it for basil, mint, or parsley. For pasta, try using whole wheat for its earthy, toothsome quality; any kind will do.

14 of 17

Green Bean Lasagna

Green Bean Lasagna
Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Green Bean Lasagna

Top this casserole with crushed buttery crackers and French fried onions and you will wonder how you ever enjoyed your green bean casserole any other way. This will be the update that will become your go-to family classic casserole for years to come.

15 of 17

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Recipe
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Green beans, pearl onions, and balsamic vinegar come together to create this elegant side dish.

16 of 17

Southern-Style Green Beans

Southern Green Beans
Southern Living

Recipe: Southern-Style Green Beans

These salty and smoky green beans taste best alongside homemade Fried Chicken.

17 of 17

Green Beans with Garlic

Green Beans with Garlic
Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel

Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic

Sauté fresh garlic to jazz up this simple yet delicious side dish.

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