This quick and easy seasoning for frozen green beans will take your meal to the next level. It’s a super tasty side dish that can be served along side a holiday meal or for busy weeknights. All you need is 10 minutes and that’s it!
Skip the canned beans and use frozen for this recipe. Frozen green beans are more tasty, last longer than fresh, and retain their beautiful color. All you need is six ingredients and a large skillet to make these. This simple side dish is healthy, convenient, and has been our favorite way to season frozen green beans for years.
Types of Frozen Green Beans
There are all types of frozen green beans to choose from. The most common varieties you’ll find are:
- Fine
- Whole
- Italian
- Cut
- French Cut
These varieties all have different textures. Italian green beans are shorter and flat while thin green beans are long and round for example. In this recipe I used thin green beans because we love the texture. We have found that this recipe works for all types of frozen green beans. If you have another variety on hand use those for this recipe!
Canned vs Fresh vs Frozen
When comparing between canned, fresh, or frozen green beans the canned type are not nearly as good as fresh or frozen green beans. The color is dull, and the flavor is not great. Plus they’re more difficult to season since they’re already cooked and cooking them more could cause them to be too soft.
Fresh is best, however, they don’t keep for very long. Plus you usually have to wash them and trim the ends. There is more prep work that goes into fresh green beans than the frozen types.
Frozen green beans are great because they can be kept in the freezer for up to 10-12 months. They also come read to cook which means they’ve already been trimmed and washed which is super convenient for a tasty side dish that can be prepped in minutes. I'm sure you'll be looking forward to spending less time in the kitchen and more time at the dinner table.
The Ingredients
The ingredients are simple and there are only 6 of them!
- Olive Oil - I love using olive oil for the flavor and the way it cooks the onion and garlic! You can also use vegetable or canola oil as a substitute
- Onion and Garlic - These are used to build the foundation of the flavor. Fresh garlic is the way to go!
- Italian dressing and recipe seasoning mix - This is where the flavor comes from. No need to build your own seasoning when this mix has it all. The mix contains sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried bell peppers, and more. It’s a very easy way to bring the flavor without all of the measuring!
- Parmesan cheese - Using this as a garnish at the end takes the green beans to the next level. Use as much or as little as you want. Freshly grated is preferred.
While these are the only ingredients you need for this recipe, you can feel free to add others as you see fit. Want to use bacon grease instead of oil? Go for it. You can also add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you wish to add a spicy kick The basic idea is that you can make this veggie side dish your own by starting with this simple recipe.
The Quick and Easy Cooking Process
All you need for this recipe is a skillet with a lid. The lid is important for the frozen beans because it helps thaw and steam them without all of the moisture escaping.
To start the cooking process you’ll need to heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and garlic to the hot pan and sauté until they’re fragrant and the onion is translucent. Then add the frozen green beans and toss in the onion and garlic.
Add the Italian seasoning mix. Stir until the beans are well combined. Place the lid on the skillet and let steam. Let the beans cook for about 5-7 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes for the best results and to ensure the beans cook evenly. There will not be much liquid in the pan. If you find that you need some you can add a tablespoon or two of chicken broth.
Once you’re done cooking. Top the sautéed green beans with parmesan cheese and serve warm. Use as much or as little as you would like. You can even top with salt and black pepper at the end for added flavor.
Storing and Meal Plans for Frozen Green Beans
Frozen green beans are a great way to help with healthy eating! They’re a great option as a side dish for weeknight dinners. If you have left overs you can easily store these in an airtight container for up to a week in your refrigerator.
If you’re looking to meal plan these frozen green beans, I suggest serving these alongside your favorite meat and starch. We cooked these with grilled chicken and cheesy rice. Packing this for a work or school lunch is a great way to eat healthy outside of your home.
Quick and Easy Seasoning for Frozen Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 12 oz frozen thin green beans
- 1 Italian dressing and recipe seasoning mix 0.7 oz
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a skillet heat oil over medium heat. Once heated add the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onions become fragrant and translucent.
- Add the green beans and stir until well combined with the onion and garlic. Add the italian dressing mix and stir well coating all of the green beans. Place a lid on top of the skillet and let cook for 5-7 minutes. Be sure to stir every couple of minutes to ensure all of the beans cook evenly. There will not be a lot of liquid in the pan. If you find that this is needed you can 1-2 tablespoons of water or chicken broth.
- Once the beans are done cooking, top with parmesan cheese and serve warm