These green beans almondine are made in one skillet, steaming the beans right in with the butter and almonds then finishing them off with some lemon juice.
Easy Green Bean Recipe
I remember my mom making a version of this super easy green bean recipe since before I could even decide if I liked it or not. At our house, there wasn’t really an option. You ate what was served and that was that. But I always loved these green beans.
They’re crisp. Buttery. A little bit lemony, and always with the crunch of almonds. And they are totally unlike the Brussels sprouts my mom tried to poison me with, where with each forkful I’d chew just enough to be convincing, then fake cough the mouthful into my napkin so I could feed them to our dog Posey. But Posey was smart. She didn’t like Brussels sprouts either. But she would have loved these green beans, if I’d been generous enough to share with her.
While this simple recipe for fresh green beans topped with almonds has always been at the top of my side dish list, my husband prefers the canned version and has passed that preference along to our daughter, too. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, especially when it’s totally convenient to pull a can out of the pantry to get a quick veg into a meal.
But in my starry eyes, there’s really nothing better than the al denté snap of these babies. And whether you call it green beans almondine or amandine, those brown buttered almonds are the perfect topper for an easy side dish any time of year.
What’s in Green Beans Almondine?
If you’re not sure how to cook green beans so they turn out perfectly every time, look no further. This is the best green bean recipe to have on hand if you’re looking for an easy, flavorful side to whip up at a moment’s notice.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this green bean almondine recipe:
- Fresh green beans
- Butter
- Slivered almonds
- Water or chicken broth
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Lemon juice
How to Make Browned Butter Green Beans Almondine
The almonds are cooked in the butter and continue to brown with the beans as they steam. The butter will begin to brown with the fat solids starting to separate. Be sure to reduce the heat so the almonds and the butter don’t burn. I used sliced almonds (cut into thin sheets) but slivered almonds (the skinnier matchsticks) work well too.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of water or chicken broth to add a bit of steam to the pan when cooking the beans. Or, more lemon juice works too. Cover the pan and continue steaming the green beans until al dente.
Add the remaining butter and lemon juice to the beans and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Once you make this easy side, it’s bound to become part of your recipe rotation. And sorry my little poochie dogs! You’ll just have to wait and watch.
Can I Prep This Green Bean Side Dish in Advance?
No, this easy green bean recipe is best enjoyed right away. However, you can trim and rinse the green beans ahead of time and let them chill out in your fridge until you’re ready to use them. That would at least cut back some of the prep work.
Tips for Making Green Beans Almondine
While you could make this dish with canned green beans, it’s the fresh beans that work best here. Choose beans that are firm and blemish-free. Always give them a good wash and trim the stems before cooking.
I keep things easy and make these beans—nuts, butter, and all—in just one skillet, steaming the beans right in with the butter and almonds. If you prefer to speed up the bean cooking process, you can blanch the beans in a pot of salted boiling water for about 2 minutes, drain, and add to the butter mixture. I have a gas stove where the heat is easy to regulate quickly. If you’re cooking on electric, be sure to monitor your heat levels closely so the nuts and butter don’t burn.
The amount of butter used in this recipe can totally be adjusted according to your taste and calorie-hawking. Add less if you’re counting calories for bikini season. I use 2 tablespoons at the beginning of the recipe to brown the nuts in and 1 at the end to finish it off, but that extra tablespoon can totally be optional too.
More Easy Side Dishes You Need to Make
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- The Best Grilled Asparagus
- Baked Balsamic Vegetables
- Classic Three Bean Salad
- Roasted Asparagus with Brown Butter and Almonds
- The Best Buttery Parsley Potatoes
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats.
Green Beans with Browned Butter Almondine
These green beans almondine are made in one skillet, steaming the beans right in with the butter and almonds then finishing them off with some lemon juice.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 1/2 cup slivered sliced almonds
- 1-2 tablespoons water or chicken broth
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon to taste
Instructions
- Trim the ends of the green beans and rinse well, set aside.
In a large skillet over medium low heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the almonds and cook for 2-3 minutes , stirring, until the nuts and butter become fragrantly nutty and begin to brown.
Add the green beans, and the kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add 1 or 2 tablespoon of water or chicken broth to the pan to add more steam to the pan and cover with a lid and simmer until the beans are al denté, 4-5 minutes more, tossing the beans and almonds occasionally so the nuts don't burn.
Add the remaining tablespoon of butter with the juice of 1/2 off the lemon, and season with more salt and pepper and toss. Add more lemon juice to taste.
Recipe Notes
Fresh lemon juice cuts the heaviness of the butter and adds a brightness to the dish that pairs well with just about every main meal. Add more or less lemon to your liking.
Main Meal Recipes to Serve with These Green Beans
From fish, to pasta, to meats, this side dish is so versatile there really isn’t anything you couldn’t serve them with. Here’s a few ideas to get your flavor juices flowing:
- A Healthier Meatloaf with Tomato Glaze (Sunday night dinner plans just got even better)
- Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts
- Crispy Parmesan Buttermilk Chicken Tenders (Baked and Air Fryer)
- Easy Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
- Grilled Salmon Fillet with Cucumber Dill Sauce (literally what we are having for dinner tonight!)
- Juicy Roast Turkey Breast
- Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon Rosemary Butter
- Daddy’s Baked Hamburgers
Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.
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Laura | Tutti Dolci says
Green beans with brown butter is perfection! Love this side dish for spring.
MauveTree says
love these! Perfect with grilled salmon; u can even use the same fresh lemon on both. Very diet friendly, non-starchy vegetable side dish. thanks!
Colleen says
How many does this recipe feed?
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
Depending on serving size, Colleen, this would serve 4-6.
Laurie says
I actually used Birds Eye steamable whole green beans which I like, and microwaved them for 2 minutes before putting them in the pan and it turned out great! Al dente. I will keep this recipe in my archives!
Food says
OMG now i am hungry after seeing all these images