• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook Fast, Eat Well
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contact
  • Cook Fast, Eat Well helps you make great food fast.
  • Recipes
  • Terms and Conditions
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » All Recipes

    How to Cook Frozen Green Beans (So they taste amazing; not watery!)

    Dec 20, 2019 · 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Want to make great tasting frozen green beans? It’s easy! Start with a bag of petite green beans (this is key!), add a generous amount of garlic and black pepper, and you’ll make some really fabulous frozen green beans. 

    How to Cook Frozen Green Beans (So they taste amazing!)

    Cooked green beans in a skillet

    Step One: Buy the Right Green Beans

    Good frozen green beans start at the grocery store. Seriously. When shopping you want to select thin green beans. It really matters! 

    Look for bags labeled

    • thin green beans
    • petite/tiny green beans
    •  green beans”
    • haricot verts.  

    Avoid

    • regular green beans. These are often tough and flavorless.
    • cut green beans. These tend to be watery
    • French cut green beans. These are thinly sliced and, like cut green beans, tend to be watery and bland. 

    Step Two: Thaw

    Remove the green beans from the bag. Place them in a microwave-safe container. Add water and cover. Heat until the green beans are just warm. You don’t need to get them piping hot at this point. Drain the green beans and set aside. 

    Cooked frozen beans in a skillet with garlic

    Step Three: Saute with Garlic and Black Pepper

    Heat some olive oil in a cast-iron skillet or nonstick frying pan. (You can also use butter for this.) Add several cloves of minced garlic. You want to use way more than you think you need. Then add lots of freshly ground black pepper.

    Cook until the garlic is golden brown. Stir the garlic occasionally while cooking it. This prevents it from burning. 

    Then add the green beans. They’ll sizzle nicely when you add them to the pan. 

    Cook until they’re bright green. There shouldn’t be any water left in the pan. Shake the pan occasionally as the beans cook. 

    Salt to taste and serve. 

    That’s really it. Simply start with a good bag of petite green beans, add a generous amount of garlic and black pepper, and you’ll make some really fabulous frozen green beans. 

    Cooked frozen beans in a skillet with garlic.
    4.69 from 16 votes
    Print

    How to Cook Frozen Green Beans

    Great tasting green beans from the freezer? Yes! Start with petite green beans, add some garlic and black pepper and you're all set!

    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 (12 ounce) bag Petite whole green beans, see note
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 2 teaspoons olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced or put through a garlic press
    • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • Kosher salt, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Place green beans in a microwave-safe container. Add water. Cover. Microwave until green beans are thawed but not hot, about 45 seconds. Drain and set aside.

    2. Heat olive oil in a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until oil shimmers but does not smoke. Add the garlic and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is light brown.
    3. Add the drained green beans to the skillet. Shake the pan to coat the beans in the oil. Cook until beans are hot, about three to four minutes.
    4. Season with kosher salt to taste.

    Recipe Notes

    Ingredient Note

    It's important to use petite (thin) green beans in this recipe. Traditional green beans are too large and cut or French cut green beans are too watery. Be sure to check the bag before buying. 

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ashley says

      March 19, 2020 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      Green beans have always been difficult for me to cook, especially frozen green beans! They’re either too crunchy or too mushy. This recipe has helped me master cooking green beans, they come out perfect every time!

      Reply
    2. Ann Maureen says

      April 27, 2020 at 7:19 pm

      4 stars
      Perfect for a fast side dish. Tastes more like fresh than frozen done this way.

      Reply
      • cheryl says

        October 01, 2020 at 2:25 pm

        perfect that’s what i was looking for – something to take away that “frozen” taste!

        Reply
    3. Gina says

      May 25, 2020 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      These were deliciously tasty. Unfortunately our chicken wasn’t quite done, so they spent extra time in the hot pan and weren’t as perfect as when I turned off the heat and tested them, but still – I will always make them like this from now on!

      Reply
    4. PATRICIA Harrington says

      June 02, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      Love the recipe. Sew

      Reply
      • PATRICIA Harrington says

        June 02, 2020 at 5:31 pm

        5 stars
        Quick tasty and easy.

        Reply
    5. Jim says

      October 28, 2020 at 7:53 pm

      Not good! They really don’t crisp up at all. Made the recipe as listed and it really tasted bland. Had to add tons of salt afterwards and ended up with soggy salty bland potatoes. Will not make again.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        October 29, 2020 at 9:29 am

        Hi Jim,
        Did you make potatoes or green beans?

        Reply
        • Allison says

          February 07, 2023 at 8:34 pm

          5 stars
          Came out great! Could not tell from fresh! Beans had snap, not mushy. Finally a freezer vegetable and recipe that work great. Thank you!

          Reply
      • Jacqueline says

        May 18, 2021 at 7:28 pm

        Jim, instead of ordinary salt, try adding Herbamare or Herbed sea salt. Its an organic seasoning by A. Vogel. Makes veggies taste awesome with less sodium.

        Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 12, 2023 at 6:19 pm

        Beans aren’t supposed to crisp up! They are best nice and tender like this recipe instructs. 🤗

        Reply
    6. Jenni says

      November 11, 2020 at 6:24 pm

      What is the exact brand and type of green beans you used for the photo and recipe?

      I’ve tried three different kinds of “frozen whole green beans” and none of them are whole when I open the package (they all have cut ends) and are watery/bland. Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        November 12, 2020 at 9:53 am

        There are two brands that I use regularly. It’s either Hanover or Aldi. I honestly can’t remember which is in the photo.

        Reply
        • Carol says

          November 15, 2020 at 10:52 pm

          If you have blanced your fresh green beans and put them in the freezer, how long do you need to cook them? I want to use them for my Thanksgiving green bean casserole but not sue if I need to cook them before adding the other ingredients. Thank you.

          Reply
          • Elizabeth says

            November 16, 2020 at 12:05 pm

            Good question! Since you’ll be cooking the casserole, you can use the blanched green beans without additional cooking. I like to thaw the green beans and drain before adding them to a casserole. If you don’t do this, the casserole can be watery.

            Hope this helps!

            Reply
            • Carol says

              November 16, 2020 at 4:16 pm

              5 stars
              Yes, this was very helpful advice! Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

        • Lois Fussi says

          April 18, 2021 at 3:35 pm

          Aldi has the best frozen green beans anywhere. I always tell people to go there for the best ones and they are reasonably priced.

          Reply
          • Elizabeth says

            April 20, 2021 at 10:09 am

            Aldi has great green beans. You’re right!

            Reply
      • Terri says

        February 19, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        Look for whole green beans in the freezer section in the market. That’s the item in the photo, whole green beans. I only buy the whole green beans, store brand, Birds eye, Hanover. Whichever is on sale.

        Reply
    7. Shivy says

      December 09, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t own a microwave. Can I thaw in water on the stove?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        December 09, 2020 at 5:53 pm

        Yes! To thaw the on the stove:
        1. Place the frozen green beans into a 2 quart saucepan. Add about ¼ cup water.
        2. Heat over medium-high until thaw and warmed through, this takes about 8 minutes.
        3. Drain before using.

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Sarah says

      December 22, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      It came out delicious! This is a keeper!
      (But it took a lot longer than 45 seconds in the microwave…)

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        December 22, 2020 at 3:53 pm

        Hi Sarah,
        Glad you liked the recipe! Microwaves are so funny. Sorry that yours took longer to lightly thaw the beans!

        Reply
    9. Dio C says

      February 25, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      These were the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever made. Not salty or soggy at all!

      Reply
      • Hannah says

        March 04, 2021 at 12:42 pm

        This is a green bean recipe…

        Reply
        • Bonnie says

          November 25, 2021 at 5:23 am

          Right? Where are these potato comments coming from??

          Reply
    10. Tu hearts says

      March 12, 2021 at 8:36 pm

      I don’t like fresh garlic cloves can I use granulated garlic?

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        March 13, 2021 at 10:41 am

        Absolutely!

        Reply
    11. Lella says

      March 23, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, thanks! The Organic Green Beans from Costco turned out perfectly using your method.

      Reply
    12. Mary Burgdorff says

      October 07, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe multiple times, and they always turn out great!

      Reply
    13. R says

      February 10, 2023 at 10:02 pm

      1 star
      “Several” “way more” and “lots” are crap measurements. This sucked. Maybe it won’t next time when I adjust the measurements.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        August 19, 2024 at 4:58 pm

        I’m perplexed by this comment because the full recipe–with amounts–is listed. ““Several, way more, and lots” are included in the essay part of the post. Not the actual recipe. Follow that next time.

        Reply
    14. Shannon says

      April 08, 2023 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      The only way I make green beans now. Thank you for this recipe! I even put some freshly squeezed lemon to jazz it up even more. 🙂 Appreciate this simple tasty recipe!

      Reply
    15. Loree Frank says

      January 04, 2024 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe as written and it came out amazing. I used whole frozen Haricot verts that we grew and froze. They were tasty and still crunchy. My husband and teen son had seconds – that’s only happened with fresh beans. I probably will add thinly sliced onions the next time I cook them. I also used a nonstick skillet. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    16. Amy says

      November 02, 2024 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      Wow – color me surprised! I wasn’t sure anything could make that big bag of green beans in my freezer taste good, but they were amazing. Maybe not quite as nice as fresh, but way better than any other method I’ve tried. Thank you!

      Reply
    17. Shirley Brown says

      November 26, 2024 at 9:59 am

      What about using bacon grease for flavor instead of olive oil

      Reply
      • Elizabeth says

        November 26, 2024 at 10:01 am

        That would be lovely!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Get Recipes Delivered to Your Inbox! (Free Weekly Newsletter!)

    Elizabeth Barbone

    Elizabeth Barbone is the founder and recipe developer behind Cook Fast, Eat Well. A food writer for over 15 years, she's built a reputation for creating easy recipes that work.

    Learn More →

    New and Popular

    • Baked French toast casserole in an oval pan. The casserole is topped with oat streusel topping.
      Easy French Toast Casserole
    • Pull apart coffee cake baked in a pan.
      Easy Pull Apart Coffee Cake
    • Easter crispy treats on a plate.
      Easter Crispy Treats
    • Bowl of pico de gallo.
      Two-Minute Easy Pico de Gallo

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    TERMS

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    FOLLOW US

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    ABOUT

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Cook Fast, Eat Well.