Garlic Green Beans
Updated: June 26, 2025, By Swasthi Shreekanth
These Garlic Green Beans are not only delicious, but also buttery and crunchy with mild heat from black pepper and chili flakes. They make for a great side in any meal. The flavors of garlic and butter complement each other, so anyone will love it. It’s toddler/ kids’ and senior friendly too. If you can’t eat butter use extra virgin olive oil.
There are different ways to make garlic green beans & my favorite method is to simply stir fry them for a brief time, before seasoning with garlic, butter and black pepper. A splash of liquid – water or stock help them to get tender without burning. I’m using fresh green beans here but frozen work the same way. However you won’t need that splash of liquid if you are using frozen beans.
This is one of those dishes I turn back to time and again when I have limited time to make our meals. While my rice and dal gets done in the cooker, these green beans are ready under a flash. Prepping up the green beans won’t take a lot of time. Rinse them well under running water, line a handful of them together and chop off both the ends to discard.
I prefer to chop them to 2 inch portions but it is up to you. You may use them as is. For a faster dish, you may prep up the green beans ahead. Wipe dry, chop and store them in a container in the refrigerator for a week.
Photo Guide
How to make Garlic Green Beans (stepwise photos)
This recipe serves 4. If you want you may halve to make 2 servings.
1. Prep up the following ingredients
- 450 grams green beans (1 pound or 4 cups chopped) (I prefer to chop mine to 2 inch portions, but that’s optional)
- Mince 5 large garlic cloves to make 1¼ tablespoon
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (or use ground pepper)
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes to garnish (optional)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter – not pictured ( or use oil)
- 1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, or use coconut nut oil or avocado oil
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water or stock
2. Heat a wok and pour oil. Stir in the green beans and salt.
3. Stir fry on a high heat for 2 to 3 mins and add 2 tablespoons stock/water in 2 batches, stir frying after each addition, until the beans are tender to your liking. It takes me 6 mins.
4. Make a well in the center and add the butter, garlic and black pepper. Let fry for 40 to 50 seconds & mix well.
5. Continue to stir fry for a minute or 2, to coat the green beans with butter and garlic.
6. Taste test to adjust salt and black pepper. If your pan is too dry, garlic can get stuck to the bottom of the pan. If so, splash a tablespoon stock/water and turn off. (The water will evaporate soon but will release the stuck garlic)
Garnish Garlic Green Beans with red chili flakes.
We usually serve this with rice and Lentil curry. Any simple Indian dal like this Masoor dal or Toor dal also goes well.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Garlic Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons oil (extra virgin olive oil/ coconut nut oil/ avocado oil)
- 450 grams (1 pound) green beans (or use 4 cups chopped to 2 inch)
- â…“ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or use oil)
- 1¼ tablespoon garlic minced (5 large cloves)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (freshly cracked)
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes to garnish (optional)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water or stock
Method
- Pour oil to a wok and add the green beans. Sprinkle salt and begin to stir fry on a high heat for 2 to 3 mins.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons stock/water in 2 batches, stir fry after each addition, until green beans are tender to your liking. It should take you about 6 mins.
- Add garlic, butter and black pepper to the center of the pan and fry the garlic for 40 to 50 seconds. Mix and stir fry for a minute or 2, until the green beans are coated with garlic, butter and pepper.
- Taste test and adjust. Garnish Garlic Green Beans with chili flakes.
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
Follow Swasthi’s Recipes
Comments
Much easier than my previous recipe. No blanching and no plenty of oil. Great for me
good recipes