Green Beans With Almonds

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This green beans and almonds recipe is a twist on classic green beans almondine. It’s made with fresh green beans, tossed in a lemony butter sauce with toasted slivered almonds, and bread crumbs for a little extra crunch. It’s a simple yet elegant side dish that everyone will love.

Green beans in a serving bowl topped with bread crumbs and almonds

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This green bean recipe is the perfect combination of flavor and texture; the crispy almonds and bread crumbs add subtle flavor and just the right amount of crunch.

Why you will love it

It’s a simple recipe with simple ingredients that takes minutes to make.
It’s a healthy side dish that is perfect for busy weeknights or a holiday meal.

the ingredients: Green beans, almonds, bread crumbs, garlic, and lemon in little bowls

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Fresh green beans
Unsalted butter or olive oil
Raw almonds (sliced or chopped)
Panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs
Fresh lemon juice
Garlic or garlic powder

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How to make green beans with almonds and lemon

Prepare: Rinse and trim the green beans, and chop the garlic, and cut the almonds if you are not using pre-sliced almonds. Measure the butter and bread crumbs.

a picture of green beans in a steamer basket in a pan

Step 1. Add a small amount of water to a saucepan, and place a steamer basket over the water. Add the green beans to the steamer basket, cover the pan and cook the green beans over high heat until they are tender and bright green. Once they are cooked, rinse them under ice cold water, pat them dry with a paper towel and set the green beans aside.

almonds and bread crumbs toasted in a skillet

Step 2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the almonds and bread crumbs and cook for just a few minutes until they start to turn golden. Remove them from the heat and set aside.

Step 3. In the same skillet melt the butter and garlic over medium heat. Cook until the garlic begins to soften, and add the lemon juice. Toss the green beans in the butter sauce and stir in the toasted almonds and bread crumbs.

a close up picture of green beans with crispy topping

What to serve with green beans and almonds

An easy side dish like green beans with almonds tastes great garnished with fresh lemon zest and served with just about any main dish.

We like to serve these tender green beans with One Pot Creamy Chicken, Instant Pot Pork Loin in Apple Cider, Turkey Cranberry Meatballs, Hasselback Pork Tenderloin, grilled chicken breasts, pork chops with vinegar peppers, turkey meatloaf or beef.

Storing and re-heating leftovers

Store leftover green beans and almonds in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat the green beans on top of the stove in a skillet or in the microwave. Freezing leftover green beans and almonds is not recommended.

Make ahead instructions

Get a head start on preparing this dish; steam the green beans up to two days ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Prepare the crispy topping and store it at room temperature to retain the crispness or you can make it just before serving the green beans which is recommended.

An hour or so before serving, bring the beans to room temperature, make crispy topping and the lemon butter sauce. Add the beans to the sauce over low heat to warm them up and top them with the crispy topping.

an overhead shot of Green Beans with almonds

Variations

This recipe is a flavorful recipe as it is, and is also a blank slate to add some interesting flavors. Here are some suggestions.S

Bacon – add one to two strips of cooked and crumbled bacon to the

Shallots – add 1 tablespoon of chopped shallots to the butter and garlic in the skillet.

Cranberries – just before serving, stir in a 1/4 cup of dried cranberries for a festive look and sweet flavor.

Cheese – add a quarter cup of shredded parmesan cheese on top of the toasted bread crumbs and almonds.

Nuts – instead of almonds use chopped walnuts, pecans or macadamia nuts.

Need help making veggies more exciting?
This guide has flavor tips and simple techniques to make any vegetable delicious.

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Tips

If you don’t have a steamer basket, place the beans into a pan with just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, making sure they are not completely submerged.
If you like your beans short, line them up on a cutting board and cut them all in half with a sharp knife.
Steamed beans will be slightly crispy. If you prefer softer green beans, cook them for a few minutes longer.

Can you make green beans almondine with frozen green beans?

Frozen beans can be used in place of fresh green beans to make green beans almondine. Cook the green beans according to the package instructions and add the cooked beans to the skillet with the butter lemon. Sprinkle on the topping and serve.

Why do you rinse the cooked green beans in ice water after steaming them?

The green beans will continue to cook once they are removed from the heat. Running them under cold water or placing them in an ice bath (a large bowl of ice water) will stop the beans from cooking and they will remain crispy.