Game-Changing Green Bean Recipes

Green beans are super easy to incorporate into everything from side dishes to main courses. Also called string beans, green beans are made up of small seeds encased in long pods. Because beans are harvested while still young, the pods are tender and edible.

In Season: Green beans are available year-round with a peak season of May to October.

What to Look For: It's best to buy green beans that are sold loose rather than in packages so you can pick the freshest ones. They should be crisp and bright green without blemishes or signs of wilting. For even cooking, choose beans that are of similar size.

How to Store: Although they taste best if used right away, green beans can be refrigerated in a sealed plastic bag for up to five days.

How to Prep: Rinse the beans under cold water, then trim the stem end by snapping it off with your fingers or cutting with a paring knife. You can trim the other end if you like, but it's not necessary.

White-wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey flavor tender green beans and crisp celery, an ideal sidekick to fried chicken or grilled steak.

In this easy-but-sophisticated side dish, Gorgonzola's rich, creamy texture offers a nice counterpoint to crunchy hazelnuts and tangy sherry vinegar.

Green beans and parsnips are cooked in the same pot until crisp-tender, then paired with quick-pickled onions and a red wine vinegar-mustard dressing in this easy, colorful side dish.

This from-scratch version of the family favorite calls for fresh green beans, a creamy homemade mushroom sauce, and a flavorful topping of crisp fried shallots.

This hearty Mediterranean side dish takes its inspiration from salade Nicoise. Serve with grilled tuna, salmon, or chicken.

Paprika and cayenne add a kick to the crunchy breadcrumb topping on simple steamed green beans. You can also transform pita into seasoned breadcrumbs for our Crispy Green Beans.

Mild-mannered green beans get a new lease on life when tossed with an intensely savory dressing of green olives, parsley, anchovies, and red-wine vinegar.

Coriander, white wine, and sherry vinegar punch up this fabulous all-purpose side dish.

Golden brown caramelized onions amplify the flavors in this perfect-for-entertaining, room-temperature side dish. Making it even easier for the host, you can trim the green beans and caramelize the onions a day in advance.