Looking for a tasty and impressive side dish to serve at your next gathering? This classic green beans almondine is so simple, but looks so beautiful!
With its combination of fresh green beans, hint of lemon, and crunchy almonds, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. This version is made all in one skillet!
One of my sons proclaimed that he only liked canned green beans. But after one bite of these almondine green beans, he changed his mind. That’s how good they are!
What is almondine?
It may sound fancy, but almondine (or amandine) is simply a french term that means “with almonds”. Typically the almonds are sliced or slivered.
For green beans almondine, the almonds are toasted with butter and often seasonings such as garlic.
Why you’ll love this almondine green bean recipe:
- With tender green beans, crunchy almonds, garlic, and butter, every bite is an explosion of texture and flavor. Seriously, so, so good!
- It tastes simply amazing, but it isn’t so bold that it will compete with other flavors. So it’s a perfect side to any dish!
- Not only is it perfect for Thanksgiving and other special gatherings, it’s easy enough for busy weeknight dinners.
- Unlike many recipes, you don’t have to blanch the green beans in another pot. Everything is done all in one skillet. Who wants to wash extra dishes?
HOW TO MAKE GREEN BEAN ALMONDINE
- PREP – Wash your green beans and trim of the stems.
- TOAST ALMONDS – Melt one teaspoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced almonds; cook and stir until lightly browned. It should take 3-5 minutes. Remove to a plate. They will be added back later.
- STEAM – Add the remaining tablespoon of butter, lemon juice, salt, water, and green beans to the pan. Cover and cook for 7-9 minutes, or until crisp tender.
- SAUTE – Remove the lid and cook off any remaining liquid. Scoot the beans to the side of the skillet. Add the last 1/2 teaspoon of butter and garlic to the side of the beans. Saute for 30-60 seconds, just until it’s fragrant. Stir into the beans.
- FINISH AND SERVE – Place beans on a serving dish; sprinkle the toasted almonds over the top. Serve immediately.
This dish is definitely best served fresh while the almonds are crunchy. But if you have any leftovers, they will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Just keep in mind that the almonds will soften as they sit on top of the beans.
Can this dish be made ahead of time?
You can prep both the green beans and the almonds ahead of time. Cook the beans until they are barely tender, then cool and refrigerate. Toast the almonds and let them cool completely.
Refrigerate the beans for up to two days. You can store the toasted almonds in a ziplock bag at room temperature.
When you are ready to serve, simply reheat the beans in a skillet with a bit of water, or in the microwave. When they are hot, top them with the toasted almonds. If you need to, you can also reheat the almonds in a skillet or the microwave.
I don’t recommend freezing the leftovers, because the almonds get soft. If you need to freeze the leftovers, I would freeze the green beans and almonds separately.
Pro tips:
- The more thin and long French green beans, often called haricots verts, are extra tasty for this dish. But regular string beans are also delicious.
- Don’t add the almonds until you are ready to serve; they turn soft very quickly after being added to the hot green beans.
- When sauteeing the garlic, just cook until it’s fragrant. If garlic burns, it gets a bitter flavor.
VARIATIONS:
- If you don’t have sliced almonds, slivered almonds work nicely as well.
- Really love lemon flavor? Add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon zest with the lemon juice.
- For an extra decadent side dish, add some crispy bacon to the green beans, or sprinkle it on top of the almonds.
- Parmesan cheese can be sprinkled over the beans before you add the almonds.
What to pair with green beans?
- Potato Chip Chicken
- Crock Pot Cube Steak
- Chicken Catalina
- Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
- Pork Chops with Onions
MORE TASTY SIDE DISHES:
GREEN BEANS ALMONDINE RECIPE
Green Beans Almondine
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1 ½ Tbsp salted butter divided
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup water
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Wash the green beans and trim off the stems.
- Melt one teaspoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and cook 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside.
- Add the green beans, one tablespoon of butter, lemon juice, salt, and water. Cover and cook 7-9 minutes over medium low heat, or until crisp tender.
- Uncover and cook off the remaining water. Scoot beans to the side and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter and minced garlic. Saute just 30-60 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Stir the garlic into the green beans. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle almonds on top. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Just cook the garlic for a few seconds. If it burns, it will taste bitter.
- Don’t overcook the beans. They are best when they are still slightly crispy. If you overcook them, they start to fall apart.
Nutrition
Tender green beans flavored with butter, garlic, and lemon juice, topped with crunchy toasted almonds. It’s hard to resist almondine green beans, and they can be made in a flash!
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Such an amazing side dish! I love how quick and easy this recipe is! SO perfect for busy holidays!
So glad you loved it! It is a perfect dish for holidays because it looks fancy, but is so easy! 🙂