Every year at the holidays green beans are pride of place on the table. They’re one of the veggies that most people seem to like. With the invention of green bean casserole some years ago they have become a staple at family dinners. But, if you don’t want to make the casserole, which can be a bit heavy, here are 9 green dishes you can make instead- all of them brimming with freshness and flavor.
9) Sautéed Green Beans with Mushrooms
These easy green beans are rich and get a savory flavor from the mushrooms. A little bit of garlic makes these versatile green beans a wonderful side dish for almost any main. Get the recipe here.
8) Italian Green Bean Salad
If you want a cold option this Italian Green Bean Salad is perfect. This is a good alternative to pasta salad and is lower in carbs, too. But, don’t worry- it’s packed full of flavor. Get the recipe here.
7) Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Crisped parmesan cheese is the perfect flavor to go with these roasted green beans. Nothing too crazy- it’s a “just right” sort of flavor and so easy to make. Get the recipe here.
6) Pickled Green Beans
Another cold option is pickled green beans. If you and your family can’t get enough of pickles then this is a side you need to try. Dill and other seasonings make these snappy green beans a great alternative to pickles at the dinner table. Get the recipe here.
5) Polish Green Beans
The history of these tasty green beans goes back to a time when foods from Poland were considered quite exotic to those in France. After all this was before rail travel or plane trips made it easy to visit foreign lands. Buttered breadcrumbs seasoned with lemon and dill are poured over the top of cooked green beans for a veggie side dish that’s unlike just about anything else. Get the recipe here.
4) Green Beans Almondine
This classic is another recipe that come from French cooking. The mild flavors of green beans and almonds together is a real treat that makes it ideal for serving with a variety of mains. In my family we had this almost every year at Thanksgiving! Get the recipe here.
3) Ginger Green Beans
For something new and tasty these Ginger Green Beans offer a combination of flavors that will delight. Some tangerine and soy sauce go beautifully with either grated ginger or ginger paste to make an Asian-style green bean dish. Get the recipe here.
2) Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans
These Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans are a simple way to add another side dish to the meal without using precious stovetop or oven space. It can be hard to juggle all the different recipes at once! But, with these you can set them up to cook on the counter while you prepare other things like the turkey or the ham. Smokey bbq sauce and bits of bacon make this a hearty side dish that brings the flavor. Get the recipe here.
1) Skillet Potatoes With Green Beans And Herbs
If you can’t decide between potatoes and green beans, why not combine them into one dish?! The potatoes here give the green beans greater appeal and they also get flavor from some onion and plenty of herbs. Oh, and there’s some mushrooms in the mix as well. You could almost make a meal out of this dish alone! Get the recipe here.