These lemon pepper green beans are an easy 10-minute side dish packed with freshness and flavor. This fuss-free recipe is ideal to pair with weeknight favorites like barbecue beef stew or baked thin-sliced chicken breasts.
Easy, quick, and delicious! - Jeanette
Green beans are my go-to side dish. Whether I'm making green bean casserole without mushroom soup for the holidays or roasted green beans with pancetta and pasta primavera salad for weekday meals, they are always a family favorite.
These beans get a punch of flavor from fresh lemon and pepper. This dish is a great option for larger meals when you want to add something fresh without much work. You can easily pull this together at the last minute.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Minimal ingredients with maximum flavor.
- No prep and a quick sauté method mean you can have these beans on your table in no time!
- Searing creates caramelization, which means FLAVOR.
- Quick cooking ensures these beans are perfectly crisp-tender.
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Ingredient Notes
- Fresh green beans are a must in this recipe for their crisp-tender texture. They are widely available all year long. Look for packaged, ready-to-use beans from the produce section, which eliminates prep time.
- Lemon pepper seasoning provides an extra punch of flavor. If you don't have this on hand, there's no need to make a special trip to the store. Instead, add an extra squeeze of lemon juice and another pinch of pepper. To make this seasoning from scratch, try this homemade lemon pepper recipe.
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
Variations
- Toss in some minced garlic for an extra boost of flavor.
- Top with creamy Caesar dressing to turn these beans into Caesar green beans.
- Garnish with chopped almonds or toasted breadcrumbs.
How to Make Green Beans with Lemon Pepper
Step 1: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beans to the melted butter, tossing to coat. Season with lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the beans are slightly caramelized. They will have a crisp-tender texture. If you prefer a softer texture, cook a little bit longer. Add lemon zest and juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Recipe FAQs
They should be cleaned if you are using fresh out-of-the-garden beans or purchasing them loose from the supermarket. Rinse the beans in cold water to remove any loose dirt. Trim each end, removing the string with a paring knife if necessary. If you buy packaged green beans in the produce section of your supermarket, these are ready to eat. Just cook and enjoy!
Green beans are versatile and go well with many flavors. Try adding fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, oregano, thyme, or basil. Season with garlic, onions, bacon, or citrus zest, and garnish with chopped nuts.
This easy, versatile side dish pairs well with practically any protein. I love serving beans with meatloaf without breadcrumbs and Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet.
Have you tried this recipe? I'd love to hear it! Please leave a comment and rating below. You can also follow along on Facebook and Pinterest or sign up for my Newsletter for more recipe inspiration.
📖 Recipe Card
Lemon Pepper Green Beans
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 12 ounces fresh green beans (cleaned and trimmed, see notes)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning (see notes)
- salt and pepper (to taste, see notes)
- ½ lemon (zested and juiced)
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. When melted, add the green beans and toss to coat. Season with the lemon pepper seasoning and a pinch of salt and pepper.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 12 ounces fresh green beans, ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, salt and pepper
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the beans are slightly caramelized and crisp-tender. If you prefer a softer texture, cook for a few additional minutes.
- Add the lemon juice and lemon zest. Toss to combine. Season with another pinch of salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.½ lemon
Notes
- If you are using fresh out-of-the-garden beans or purchasing them loose from the supermarket, clean the beans before cooking. Rinse the beans in cold water to remove any loose dirt. Trim each end, removing the string with a paring knife if necessary. Packaged green beans found in the produce section of your supermarket are ready to use.
- If you don't have lemon pepper seasoning, add an extra pinch of pepper and extra lemon juice.
- Taste before adjusting salt and pepper. The amount of salt in lemon pepper seasoning can vary from brand to brand.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Jeanette says
Easy, quick, and delicious!
Abbey McDermott says
Thank you, Jeanette. I'm so happy you enjoyed this recipe!