This Trader Joe’s Sautéed Green Beans recipe is a crispy, savory, and incredibly easy side dish, which uses frozen green beans and a simple blend of pantry seasonings. It’s the perfect way to turn a basic frozen vegetable into a delicious and flavorful accompaniment for any meal, ready in under 15 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Sautéed Green Beans Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) bag Trader Joe’s Frozen French Green Beans (Haricots Verts) or Cut Green Beans
- 1 tablespoon Trader Joe’s California Estate Olive Oil (or any oil of your choice)
- ½ teaspoon Trader Joe’s Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Trader Joe’s Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Trader Joe’s Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Trader Joe’s Italian Style Soffritto Seasoning Blend (or dried Italian herbs)
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- Optional fresh toppings: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, or fresh herbs like parsley or dill
How To Make Trader Joe’s Sautéed Green Beans
- Heat the Pan: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over a medium-high heat.
- Add the Frozen Beans: Add the frozen green beans directly to the hot pan (no need to thaw them). Stir briefly with a wooden spoon just until the beans are coated in the oil.
- Season and Sauté: Sprinkle all the dried seasonings—garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper—all over the beans.
- Cook Until Tender: Sauté on a medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring or tossing occasionally, until the beans are perfectly tender-crisp and have some nice browned, caramelized spots.
- Serve: Serve immediately, scattering over any optional fresh toppings like a squeeze of lemon juice or some fresh parsley just before serving.
Recipe Tips
- How to get browned, not soggy, beans? The most important secret is to add the green beans to the pan while they are still frozen and to use a medium-high heat. This allows the excess water from the ice crystals to evaporate quickly, so the beans sauté and brown rather than just steam and become soggy.
- Can I customize the seasonings? Absolutely! This recipe is a perfect template. Feel free to use your favorite Trader Joe’s seasoning blends, like their Everything but the Bagel seasoning, 21 Seasoning Salute, or a pinch of their Crushed Red Pepper Flakes for some heat.
- How do I prevent the beans from sticking? Make sure your pan is fully preheated before you add the oil and the beans. A hot pan is key to getting a good sear and preventing sticking.
- Why not overcrowd the pan? For the best crispy, browned result, make sure the beans are in a relatively single layer. If you use a pan that’s too small, the beans will be too crowded and will steam instead of sautéing.
What To Serve With Sautéed Green Beans
This is a classic and incredibly versatile side dish that pairs wonderfully with almost any main course. Serve them alongside:
- Roasted Chicken or a seared steak
- Grilled Salmon or other fish fillets
- Pan-seared Pork Chops
- As a simple, healthy side for a pasta dish
How To Store Sautéed Green Beans
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: For the best results, reheat the green beans in a hot skillet with a tiny splash of oil for a few minutes to restore some of their texture. You can also reheat them in the microwave.
Sautéed Green Beans Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 serving
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Sodium: 650mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
No, and it’s actually better if you don’t! Cooking them directly from frozen is the key to preventing them from becoming waterlogged and mushy.
Yes, an air fryer is a fantastic way to cook frozen green beans! Toss the frozen beans with the oil and all the seasonings in a bowl, then air fry at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are tender and have crispy, browned spots.
You can, but you will need to adjust the method slightly. It’s best to blanch fresh green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes first, then shock them in ice water and dry them completely before proceeding with the sautéing steps.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Espresso Martini Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Egg Bites Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Style Crunchy Coleslaw Recipe
Trader Joe’s Sautéed Green Beans Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings2
minutes8
minutes120
kcalA quick, easy, and flavorful side dish that transforms a simple bag of frozen green beans into a delicious, perfectly tender-crisp, and seasoned vegetable in under 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 (14-16 oz) bag Trader Joe’s Frozen Green Beans
1 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings: ½ tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, & paprika; 1 tsp Italian herbs; ½ tsp salt; ⅛ tsp pepper.
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Add the frozen green beans directly to the hot pan and stir to coat in the oil.
- Sprinkle all the seasonings over the beans.
- Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender-crisp and have browned, caramelized spots.
- Serve immediately, with an optional squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Notes
- Cook from Frozen: The most important tip for this recipe is to cook the green beans directly from frozen. Do not thaw them first, as this is the secret to a crispy, not soggy, result.
- Use a Hot Pan: Make sure your skillet is fully preheated over a medium-high heat. This ensures the beans sear and get color, rather than just steaming in the pan.
- Don’t Overcrowd: For the best browning, use a large skillet so the beans can cook in a relatively single layer.
- Customize with TJ’s Blends: This is a perfect recipe to customize with your favorite Trader Joe’s seasoning blends. Everything but the Bagel or their Onion Salt are also delicious options.
