Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

If you like green beans, you will love them using this recipe!  It is a simple 4 ingredient recipe with flavorful, caramelized onions that make this dish worthy of holiday meals but easy enough for a weeknight.

The Ingredients

Head to your favorite produce section (or farmer’s market if possible!) for one pound of green beans and a small yellow onion. If you can find French green beans, they are thinner and tend to be more flavorful.   The only other ingredients you will need are olive oil and salt to taste.  Only 4 ingredients and so simple.

Making these Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

First, peel and then dice 1/4 of a small onion.  Set the onion aside.  Then, rinse and trim the ends of the green beans off.

Trimming the Green Beans

You can do this most efficiently by piling up 10 – 15 beans, lining them up on one side and cutting the ends all at once. I usually just snap off or cut the end of the bean where it connected to the green bean plant before.  It’s not necessary to cut both ends unless you prefer it this way.  If you want the beans to be shorter in length, cut in half.

Cooking the Green Beans

Next, heat a large skillet to medium low (may depend on the stove, but you don’t want them to cook too fast) and add 2 TBS olive oil.  I use garlic infused olive oil sometimes, but regular olive oil will be great too.

Once the oil is warm, add the trimmed beans to the pan.   Now, put on the lid of the pan, but tilt the lid of the pan so air can still get inside, leaving about a 1/2 -1 inch gap between the lid and the pan on one side.  This allows the beans to slightly saute and steam at the same time.  Continue to check them every 3- 4 minutes and use tongs to flip them around.

After about 15 minutes of cooking, the beans should be a bright green color.  Remove the lid of the pan and add chopped onions and continue sautéing, turning the beans and onions every couple of minutes to allow the onions to heat and caramelize.   This should take about 5 – 8 minutes.  After the onions have started to caramelize, if you would like to add garlic and salt, add it at this time with 1-2 minutes left to cook.

Modifications and Tips for Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

• If you do prefer beans to be more crunchy / less cooked, remove the lid of the pan and add onions earlier in the process.
• If you would like to add a hint of garlic, use your garlic press and press one clove into the beans after the onions have cooked through and begun to caramelize (about when you add salt and cook for 1-2 more minutes).
• We love serving these beans alongside a grilled meat like this Balsamic Flank Steak or this Citrus Rosemary Pork Tenderloin.Print
  

  Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

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  • Author: Gnarly Roots
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5-6 1x

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  This simple green bean with caramelized onions recipe is worthy of a holiday meal and easy enough for a weeknight!

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  Ingredients

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  • 1-pound fresh green beans
  • 1/4 diced yellow onion
  • olive oil (about 2 Tbs)
  • salt to taste
  • optional- one clove of garlic pressed or minced

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  Instructions

  1. First, peel and then dice 1/4 of a small onion.  Set the onion aside.
  2. Then, rinse and trim the ends of the green beans off.  Green bean trimming tips:  You can do this most efficiently by piling up 10 – 15 beans, lining them up on one side and cutting the ends all at once. I usually just snap off or cut the end of the bean where it connected to the green bean plant before.  It’s not necessary to cut both ends unless you prefer it this way.  If you want the beans to be shorter in length, cut in half.
  3. Next, heat a large skillet to medium low (may depend on the stove, but you don’t want them to cook too fast) and add 2 TBS olive oil.  I use garlic infused olive oil sometimes, but regular olive oil will be great too.
  4. Once the oil is warm, add the trimmed beans to the pan.   Now, put on the lid of the pan, but tilt the lid of the pan so air can still get inside, leaving about a 1/2 -1 inch gap between the lid and the pan on one side.  This allows the beans to slightly saute and steam at the same time.
  5. Continue to check them every 3- 4 minutes and use tongs to flip them around.
  6. After about 15 minutes of cooking, the beans should be a bright green color.  Remove the lid of the pan and add chopped onions and continue sautéing, turning the beans and onions every couple of minutes to allow the onions to heat and caramelize.   This should take about 5 – 8 minutes. When there is about 1-2 minutes left to cook them, you can season with salt to taste. (*and if adding garlic, you can press and add it at this time)

  Notes

  • If you do prefer beans to be more crunchy / less cooked, remove the lid of the pan and add onions earlier in the process.
  • We love serving these beans along side a grilled meat like this Balsamic Flank Steak or this Citrus Rosemary Pork Tenderloin.

  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 20 min