This is the best canned green bean recipe because it's cheap, easy, and quick too! Perfect for a fast and simple vegetable side dish to complement any meal. A few ingredients make a veggie the family will love in just 10 minutes.
There is a lot to love about canned green beans. While they may not have the most glamorous and nutritious reputation, they are an easy and convenient side dish that, with the proper preparation and seasoning, has a lot of potential to be delicious! I’ll walk you through the best ways to make canned green beans taste better so you can enjoy this simple vegetable with your family.
Some people enjoy the simple flavor of beans on their own, but you might want to try them with some additional seasonings and flavors to mix things up and better pair with your main dish.
The Benefits of Canned Green Beans
Some benefits of canned green beans deserve attention—they are affordable and shelf-stable vegetables that have absolutely no chance of rotting in your produce drawer.
According to the CDC, nine out of ten Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of vegetables. So don't discount canned green beans, which are an easy way to add more vegetables to your diet.
Top Three Ways to Make Canned Green Beans Taste Better
Cooking method: While there are many different ways to cook canned green beans, the most important consideration is not overcooking them. The downside of canned veggies is that sometimes the texture can get a little mushy.
Since canned green beans are already cooked, you don’t want to cook them so long that they turn to mush. Think reheating instead of fully cooking so that you are not cooking them too long, and they turn too mushy.
Fat: Butter and oil are easy cooking fats that will also help add delicious flavor to the beans, but if you want to add major flavor, bacon grease is a winner with canned green bean fans. And if you believe that bacon makes everything better, canned green beans are no exception to this rule!
Seasonings: There are many different ways to season green beans, but the important thing is to use a seasoning with a lot of flavor and potentially a little salt, depending on your personal preferences. I’m sharing a list of seasoning ideas below, and we have everything from fresh ingredients like garlic to liquid seasonings like soy sauce to dried seasonings like garlic powder and seasoning salt. You probably already have a lot of these items in your pantry!
Maike Corbett, founder of Cheerful Cook, has a recipe for Crack Green Beans, which she describes as “a delicious twist on a traditional green bean casserole.” It’s seasoned with a variety of flavors and textures (cranberries, crispy bacon, a sweet and savory sauce, and crunchy almonds) that come together in a mouthwatering way. As someone who loves a variety of sweet and savory flavors, I think it sounds delicious!
What you'll need to make the best ever canned green beans
Equipment
Strainer: This helps drain the canned green beans; if you plan to rinse them, a strainer will make it easy. Take note of if your recipe calls for the canning liquid, as some rely on that liquid to add a deeper flavor. Drain the liquid into a bowl or measuring cup if you need to reserve it.
Skillet: I prefer a large cast iron skillet because it won’t stick and is easy to clean, but you can really use any skillet.
Ingredients
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.
Canned Green Beans: You can choose whatever type of green beans you prefer. The most common varieties are cut, French-style, or Italian beans. Traditional cut is what's pictured above with round log-looking cuts. French-style green beans are cut differently, using a julienne cut so they are thinner and cut against the bias. Italian-style green beans are cut like the traditional cut beans, but they are a different variety of beans, so they are more flattened.
There are also many different options for your salt preferences. A common complaint of canned vegetables is the high sodium levels, and if this is a concern to you, look for low-sodium or salt-free canned green beans. This is the easiest way to cut down on the sodium levels. You can also rinse the beans to remove any excess salt.
Bacon grease: Bacon grease adds such delicious flavor to simple vegetables, so we’re using it here. The seasoning list includes more fat options, as fats perform double duty in cooking green beans, adding both flavor and texture.
Seasonings: We’ve included a whole list of seasoning ideas below, so use the ones I've suggested or pick one or two that will enhance your main dish. You can also add finishing touches to the cooked green beans with slivered almonds, crispy crumbled bacon, or grated Parmesan cheese.
How to make the best ever canned green beans
- Rinse the green beans under cold water and drain thoroughly.
- Add the bacon grease to the skillet and heat over medium heat until sizzling.
- Add the drained green beans and seasonings.
- Cook over medium heat until heated through, stirring occasionally, about five minutes. Don't overcook the beans or they will be mushy.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
Seasoning Ideas
Canned green beans are a great veggie because they can be seasoned in many different ways. This list is not exhaustive but should inspire you to season your green beans. Feel free to combine a few for a more complex seasoning.
- Pressed fresh garlic
- Crumbled bacon or bacon grease
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Honey
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic salt
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Ranch seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- Bacon salt
- Smoked salt
- Seasoning salt
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store the seasoned green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheat the green beans in the microwave or a hot skillet until heated through. Since they have already been cooked a few times, be sure not to overcook them again!
FAQs About Canned Green Beans
Are canned green beans still healthy?
While the assumption is that fresh vegetables are the only nutritious vegetables out there, this is simply not true! Frozen and canned vegetables still offer nutrition and should not be discounted, especially when they are an affordable and convenient option for many people. Most canned green beans are prepared within hours of harvesting, making them a preserved option that’s still fresh. If you are concerned about the salt, there are low-sodium and salt-free options.
Should you rinse canned green beans before cooking?
If you are concerned about the sodium, yes, rinse your canned green beans. This will help remove some of the excess sodium but not all of it. Lots of recipes recommend saving the canning liquid as it adds a deeper flavor, but if you want to remove as much sodium as you can, you can discard it.
You can also buy low-sodium or no-salt canned green beans, which will cut down on the sodium levels considerably and will allow you to add your own seasonings and salt, according to your preferences.
What can I add to canned green beans for flavor?
Canned green beans are prepared pretty simply in the canning process, so it’s up to you to add some extra flavor. I have a whole list of seasoning ideas above that will infuse your green beans with sweet and savory flavor options, so be sure to try some of them out.
If you’ve written off canned green beans in the past, I hope you’re inspired to give them another chance with these ideas on how to make them taste good. They deserve a spot in your pantry and are an easy vegetable side dish to just about any main dish.
More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
Easy vegetable sides are a must for busy weeknight dinners. Here are a few other convenient and delicious favorites:
- Roasted beets with feta cheese
- Roasted Parmesan carrots
- Grilled zucchini and squash
- Garlic roasted asparagus
- The best frozen brussels sprouts
- Air fryer asparagus
- Air fryer potato chips
- Air fryer glazed carrots
- Air fryer mushrooms
Recipe
Best Ever Canned Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15 ounces green beans one standard can
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease or butter
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground if possible
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Rinse the green beans under cold water and drain thoroughly.
- Add the bacon grease to the skillet and heat over medium heat until sizzling.
- Add the drained green beans and seasonings.
- Cook over medium heat until heated through, stirring occasionally, about five minutes. Don't overcook the beans or they will be mushy.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
Nutrition
This article originally appeared on Pink When.
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