These delicious garlic green beans are a must-have family recipe. The beans are blistered and dehydrated in the pan and bursting with garlic flavor!
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Fresh vegetables are usually preferred here, along with a handful of frozen veggies that we like to keep stocked in the freezer. I don’t typically buy canned vegetables…
…with the exception of green beans, specifically kept on hand for this garlic green beans recipe which has been in my husband’s family since he was a child.
These green beans, packed with a hefty garlic punch and cooked until mostly dehydrated in a skillet, make an appearance at EVERY FAMILY DINNER.
I’m not really exaggerating about that, but I have come to accept it. After all, they are delicious and my kids love them too.
I have been promising to share the recipe for these green beans for quite some time, but other recipes and posts kept getting ahead in the queue. But I keep getting asked about them, and I’m happy to finally be delivering on this family recipe!
Blistered Garlic Green Beans — A Must-Have Family Recipe!
I love how humble and yet celebrated these beans are. Despite having eaten them SO MANY TIMES, they are still tasty and my kids still cheer. If possible, look for Hanover green beans in the white can. They are the best.
Also, if possible, lots of fresh garlic. LOTS. Don’t be shy.
The garlic is briefly sautéed first in a little olive oil, then the beans are added. (Just be sure to give the beans a good rinse first). Once you add the beans, stir them well to make sure the garlic is incorporated and the flavor is evenly distributed. You don’t want a lot of garlic on the bottom of the pan because it is more prone to burn.
Cook the beans over medium to low heat for about thirty minutes. You want a “low and slow” approach that results in beans that are mostly dehydrated, and somewhat shriveled and blistered. The beans become super flavorful and so delicious this way!
Suggested Pairings ::
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Meatloaf Family Dinner
- Pan Fried Chicken Strips
- Instant Pot Honey Mustard Ham
- Almond Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Blistered Garlic Green Beans — A Must-Have Family Recipe!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
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Cook Time: 35 minutes
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Total Time: 40 minutes
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Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
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Category: side dish
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Method: skillet
Description
These delicious garlic green beans are a must-have family recipe. The beans are blistered and dehydrated in the pan and bursting with garlic flavor!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3–4 heaping tablespoons freshly minced garlic*
- 50oz can green beans (Hanover Blue Lake in the white can are the BEST)
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Drain and rinse 2-3 times the green beans (you can do this right in the can, or use a colander).
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the green beans, then stir well to incorporate the minced garlic throughout the beans. Season the beans with the granulated garlic, onion powder, and kosher salt.
- Bring the beans up to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the beans cook and become blistered and dehydrated, stirring every so often (once or twice in the cooking process). The process will take about 30 minutes.
Notes
*Our family enjoys a LOT of garlic in this recipe, but you can adjust to taste. (But really, can you have too much garlic? We have yet to find this to be the case).
These Are Amazing!!!! I added chickpeas and topped with sour cream when plated to make a main dish. So yummy!!!!
★★★★★
Looking to make these for the first time this week…has anyone used minced garlic in a jar for this recipe? Or is the key in the fresh garlic?
(I realize I’m asking this on the week of the cookbook photo shoot…so really I was looking to see if a community member could help me out 🙂
I know that I’m late to the game here…but just had to say, Amazing Recipe!!! I made these for a big spaghetti dinner we were having and they were gone almost immediately, 6 lb can of beans and gone! So that speaks for itself, everyone continues to rage about the garlic beans, I had to bring them to Thanksgiving, 12 lbs now…. I am currently making them for Christmas tomorrow. They are now the dish everyone wants me to bring, YAY, Because they are so easy to put together and I can make them the day before. Thank You for sharing this recipe.💞
★★★★★
I’ve made this for my family countless times and it’s Always a hit! Thank you for such a simple yet wonderful recipe!!
Thank you!!!! I made this recipe, it’s the first time I have enjoyed canned green beans!!! Yay!!! Addictive…. In the rare case you have leftovers (maybe make extra, for this purpose…) they are even delicious cold!!! Made a delightful next day snack, straight out of the fridge! They would make a great snack to have on hand for travel… As they are Coated in oil, they are even semi-preserved and would not expire quickly if not refrigerated. I have been searching several times for a “canned green beans” recipe and this one is the winner!!!! Thank you, saved a lifetime of rejecting canned green beans into savoring canned green beans. I found it slightly similar to well done mushroom slices, fried in pan with oil &/or butter- where some are crisp, and some are chewy and there is a tender, almost meaty texture with deep, layered flavor! Thank your Husband’s Family for sharing their family recipe and spreading the joy… (I will never understand secret recipes). THE BEST CANNED GREEN BEANS RECIPE, HOW TO MAKE CANNED GREEN BEANS TASTE GOOD, BEST GREEN BEANS RECIPE MADE FROM CAN, #bestgreenbeans #bestgreenbeansever #cannedgreenbeans #greenbeansfromtin
★★★★★
Yummy! Will make again. Thanks.
★★★★★
Do they taste as good the next day?
Definitely.
Made these tonight and they were delicious! I love your simple yet delicious recipes! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Do you leave all the liquid out?
Yes the beans are rinsed and drained.
Then what is the liquid the beans are cooking in that your recipe refers to? Seems like with no liquid at all garlic will burn and the beans. Please let me know what liquid will be reduced if none is added. Thank you.
There is a small amount of olive oil added to the pan first thing, but no other liquid is added. The beans themselves are full of moisture/liquid, and they dehydrate as they cook down in the pan. (As for the garlic burning, stirring it into the beans after the garlic briefly sautés prevents them from burning).
So quick so easy and very healthy! We like these with a steak or salmon. Smells great too while cooking.
★★★★★
Can you use fresh green beans?
Is the only liquid in the pan the olive oil—no water at all ?
Yes, and the liquid on/in the green beans from the can. The beans shrivel a bit and take on a great garlic flavor.