This Canned Green Beans Recipe is an easy and delicious way to use those green beans in your pantry—in a way your family will actually eat! Just 5 simple ingredients and 10 minutes is all you need to get this flavorful side dish on the table.
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🍽️ Using canned green beans keeps costs low while still delivering great taste. This recipe proves that you don't need expensive ingredients to create a satisfying and flavorful vegetable side dish!
My 2 Best Tips For This Canned Green Beans Recipe
Don't Skip the Simmering Step: The most important technique in this recipe is allowing the liquid to completely evaporate. This concentrates the flavors and prevents your seasoned beans from becoming watery when served.
Taste and Adjust: Since different brands of canned green beans have varying salt levels, always taste your beans before serving and adjust the seasonings accordingly. You might need a bit more salt, pepper, or even a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.
I always like to have a stock of canned goods in my pantry. Even though I usually have preserved produce in my freezer or fresh from my garden, some days call for a quick veggie fix if I'm going to get one on the table in time for dinner.
Please don't ever just dump a can of green beans into a pot, heat them up, and serve them. Your kids probably won't eat them! This is where this easy canned green bean recipe comes in!
Seriously, it's so easy. But so dang good. There are only a few ingredients: butter and onion powder with salt and pepper. Simple but magical.
A great way to use up home canned beans from the garden or using your pantry stockpile when you find a good sale at the store!
🩷 Melissa
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Easy Canned Green Bean Recipe
Equipment
- Non-Stick Frying Pans
Ingredients
- 1 can green beans (any cut, see note)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Drain half of the liquid out of the green beans.
- Pour the green beans and the reserved half of the canning liquid into a skillet.
- Add butter, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until almost all of the cooking liquid has evaporated. This should take no more than 10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Flavoring Ideas For Making Canned Green Beans Taste Better
- Crispy Bacon Bits: Cook bacon until crispy, crumble it up, and fold it into your finished green beans. The smoky, salty flavor creates an irresistible combination that's always a crowd-pleaser.
- Quality Butter: Finish your green beans with a pat of real butter, which melts into a silky coating that adds richness and helps marry all the flavors together beautifully.
- Fresh Garlic and/or Onion: Dice and sauté fresh garlic and onion until fragrant, then toss with your cooked green beans for an aromatic flavor boost that transforms the entire dish.
- Toasted Nuts: Add chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, or pine nuts for extra crunch and nutty flavor. Toast them lightly in a dry pan first to bring out their natural oils and enhance their taste.
- Broth Instead of Water: Replace the canning liquid with chicken or vegetable broth for deeper flavor that penetrates the beans during cooking, creating a more complex and satisfying taste.
- Fresh Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the entire dish and adds a zesty freshness that makes canned vegetables taste more vibrant and garden-fresh.
- Fresh Parmesan or Feta Cheese: Grate fresh Parmesan directly over hot green beans just before serving. The cheese will melt slightly and add a rich, savory depth that elevates this simple side dish. I also love the flavor of fresh feta with green beans (especially when it has toasted almonds, too!)
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but only drain half of the liquid from the can of beans. The rest of the liquid is needed for the cooking process.
Yes! You can scale this recipe up as needed. We usually make 2 or 3 cans at a time and just adjust the seasonings accordingly. When making multiple cans, use a larger skillet to ensure even cooking and proper liquid evaporation. Don't overcrowd the pan, as this can lead to steaming rather than proper simmering, which affects the final texture and flavor concentration.
The green beans will need to be cooked until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Since you're starting with canned green beans, they are already tender, so they just need to be warmed and cooked long enough for the seasonings to set in.
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Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Bobby Laine
I'm always looking for different ways to make simple recipes pop. I stumbled across this gem and it's quickly become a favorite side as well as my movie food. Not too recipes stay on my list without modification, but this one needs no tweaking at all. Simple and it indeed pops.
Melissa Griffiths
It's odd how good something so simple is, right? Thanks for the comment Bobby!
Tonya
I love this recipe. It is just enough for one person and I plan on adding bacon next time.
Tina
My new go to green bean recipe! Made it many times! I like to add a little garlic powder but it’s perfect as is!
Jo
What size can of green beans? I'll rate after making.
Ann
Yes!
Kim S.
Great recipe - simple, quick & easy. It is delicious as is but would also be easy to customize to your preferences (ex. add bacon bits, garlic salt and/or a dash of heat from your personal spice collection). Thanks for sharing!!
Carol from Indiana
Absolutely delicious! I highly recommend this recipe. It’s so quick and easy. This is now my go to recipe for green beans. It’s also really good with bacon crumbled on it. Sometimes I like to sauté a little chopped up onion in the butter first and then add the rest. I haven’t tried adding toasted almonds yet, but that sounds really good too. I’ve made this several times now and just had to let everyone know how good they are. Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
Maybe I just don’t like canned green beans. I found these too salty and mushy though. I think sautéing a little fresh onion and garlic in butter, then tossing in the (fully drained) green beans and cooking until just heated through, would work better.
Bob S
Excellent recipe this is the only way i cook green bean now. Thank You and keep the recipes coming.
Sadie Davis
Were very delicious
Melissa G
Thank you, Sadie, so glad you liked them!
Cindy
My husband hates vegetables and he actually liked this recipe.Of course, I added a little bit red pepper seeds to kick it up a notch.
Melissa G
Red pepper seeds sounds like a great flavor to add!
Brandall Jones
Just an FYI a can of green beans has a full cup of water, so you need to drain 1/2 cup. Just thought I'd throw that out there, since I really didn't know what 1/2 the water was
Brooke
was honestly shocked at how great this turned out as it's just a few simple ingredients added. Definitely going to be having more green beans in the rotation from now on! Thanks for sharing!
Joshua
I was on the fence about trying this recipe until I read this comment. This is by far the most influential comment on this page. Thank you Brooke for your review, I will also be having more green in the rotation from now on.
Kelly
This is such a great way to make canned green beans. My family loves it.
Heather
Someone was giving away a bunch of canned green beans on my local buy nothing facebook group, and after grabbing the cans I had no idea what to do with them. I stumbled upon this recipe and made as written, except I omitted some of the liquid (in my opinion it was too much- since you want most of the liquid to cook off, the cooking time made for super mushy brans). With about a quarter can of liquid I was amazed at how good these were, thanks fir the easy recipe!
Elise
LOVE THIS RECIPE!!
I’ve also sometimes added Red Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, and Bacon for personal taste, and it’s really good if you want some extra flavor!!
Melissa Griffiths
Ohh thanks for the tips Elise!
Carol Johnson
I made this today as a side dish for our Easter dinner and I was amazed at the compliments. We had 13 people, I did 3 cans of beans, following the recipe exactly, and none were left. My super picky daughter said she really liked them and my husband even raved about them. We are big canned green bean eaters and I'm so grateful I found this recipe and it will now be the only way I do green beans. I'm going to drop the green bean casserole at Thanksgiving and serve this recipe instead. I did add some bacon crumbles straight from the bag and next time I think I'll fry them up a bit first. Other than that this recipe definitely is a 5 star recipe & a keeper! Thank you so much for posting. Oh, I did 3 half cans of liquid. next time I would add half a can total, even for the 3 cans of beans.
nascar4433
Carol, thank you for your entire experience with this recipe! I'm glad to know a half can of water will suffice for 3 cans, and I especially appreciate how you used bagged bacon crumbles, sauteing them a little first. Last week I bought a 12-pack of green beans and a bag of bacon crumbles from Costco! I wasn't quite sure how to use them together so was looking for recipes when I came across this one. It sounds so easy, which I need, and yet delicious, particularly with the bacon crumbles. I've never used them, but figured they'd add taste to canned green beans. Can't wait to make this recipe tomorrow! And thank you Alli for a well-written recipe.
genie harris
So good! We like the flavor of canned green beans rather than frozen. This is an easy way to jazz them up — even to take to a potluck.
Nan
Can I substitute garlic powder for the onion powder?
Melissa Griffiths
Yes!
Amanda L. Boyd
These are so very good and a great way to use canned beans!!!!
Kris
I LOVE this recipe!!!! Thank you🙌
Kelly S
Holy smokes! I'm on a mission to clean out the pantry. Came across this recipe and now I want to fill the pantry with green beans! I fully drained them and added a couple tbsp fresh water, couple dashes of garlic powder and sprinkled with cotija cheese.
Bellanira M. Bello
This was so simple and satisfying thanks for the recipe
Kris
This has got to be the easiest and tastiest way to fancy up plain ole canned beans! These are sooooo delicious! I did three cans for fam of 4 and barely any left over!!
Anna
These have become the go-to preparation for green beans in our house. Great option, especially on nights when we need to get dinner on the table quick!
Kris
Second time making these! What a great upgrade from “regular” canned green beans and so simple🙌thank you!!!
Jen Oliver
Love this recipe. Followed it as written. Very delicious. Little bit too peppery for me, but still tasty.
Thank you.
Lara
Super easy and they turned out much better than expected! So much better than just dumping the whole jar in a pot and heating them up. Definitely adding this to the recipe book. Thank you!
Melissa Griffiths
Surprisingly good right??
Rhett Weathers
Great recipe. I made these for Thanksgiving. You don't say what size can of green beans! I assumed you meant one regular 12 oz can. I had to use three 120 oz cans. I added 2 hamhocks and almond slivers. The beans cooked down so they did t keep that nice shape but they were fantastic. Probably could have used a little less butter. Quick. Easy. Delicious.
Anonymous
What size can of green beans? That wasn't mentioned.
Melissa Griffiths
It's the 14.5 ounce cans
Cathy
Has anyone tried adding dried cranberries and nuts to this recipe? 🙂 I know people use them with fresh green beans that are sautéed, but would they go well even with canned green beans?
Melissa Griffiths
I think they would be lovely with this recipe!
Key
I make these and add a little brown sugar for sweetness. Absolutely amazing!
Talula
I have fall bladder issues no onion or powdered garlic how much fresh garlic or leeks would you sub?
Chris
can I substitute butter for a little bit of vegetable oil by chance?
Melissa Griffiths
That would work great!
Anonymous
I have made this many times, and they are delicious! A very good and easy way to dress up canned green beans and give them more flavor.
Al
I'm not a big fan of canned vegetables, but husband likes them so I threw these together as a side dish to pot roast. I drained the beans and used equal part of chicken stock instead. I also sautéed onions before adding everything else to the skillet. Turned out pretty good, thanks!
Susan Rentz
I also put 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and sprinkle with dill and add bacon bits to taste, delicious!
Kay
Why is everyone saying they are using Onion SALT. Oh honey no. You don't cook do you? This recipe says Onion POWDER. Two seperate things yall. On top of that the posts complaining it's too salty? THAT"S WHY... YOU MESSED UP!
Cindy
LOL
Alex
You are taking this way too seriously for
a canned green bean recipe Kayren
Pam
You are taking a helpful hint too seriously.
nascar4433
Exactly! Can't imagine how salty they would be with onion salt rather than onion powder. Yuk!
Allie
I love this recipe. I make it for Thanksgiving and really anytime I make green beans, honestly.
(P.S. it's also awesome that I found this recipe because my husband and I go by Andy and Allie too! ;))
Patsi Klein
I will definitely try these! I drain all water out of my canned veggies and put fresh water in. Makes such a difference!
Anonymous
Some advise im seeing is to drain, rinse, or soak for 2 min in boiling water, use "brine" get rid of some chemical in there I'd never heard of before, use broth, better than boillion, so much different advice, I might have enough to try them all and see! I usually only eat tinned green beans when facing starvation. I won't eat tinned peas even then, except, my Russian friend uses them in potato salad with ham, apparently any neat can be substituted even shrimp according to a student studying abroad ( loaded) also from there..
nascar4433
Agreed. I always drain & rinse canned veggies to remove the "stuff" the manufacturer adds, especially salt. Even low-salt versions contain salt. Since I'm salt-restricted due to CKD, I was advised by Drs to always drain canned vegs. Besides, they taste better without the canning liquids!
Supriya Kutty
The recipe includes make-ahead or meal-prep options, making it a convenient choice for those who like to plan ahead or have busy schedules.
Joyce
Can I make these in a crockpot for a church potluck?
Alli
Part of what makes these delicious is simmering out the liquid. You could prep them before hand and then keep them warm in a crockpot!
Tanya O'Connor
Hi Alli,
I have read that pouring out all of the canning liquid and rinsing the beans in fresh water is the best method for flavorful green beans. The canning liquid is not so pleasant. Do recommend using the canning liquid or would fresh water be better?
Alli
I've always used the canning liquid. If you prefer not to, you can use water instead.
nascar4433
I totally agree with draining canned veggies, especially green beans. Have been told by my gastroenterologist, cardiologist, and nephrologist to always drain canned veggies to reduce the salt content, and it also helps give them a much better flavor. Even the so-called best name brand canned green beans have a weird flavor if I don't drain & rinse them. I just bought a package of green beans from Costco and have been wanting an easy, delicious way to cook them in a flavorful way, so 3 cans are going to be cooked tomorrow! I also bought a bag of bacon bits, so will add those as well. Thanks for an easy sounding recipe for canned green beans!
Melody Wagstaff
My family declares this is the only way to serve canned green beans now! Fantastic!
*I'm not a fan of high sodium in canned veggies. I did drain and rinse the beans. The canned liquid is slightly less than 3/4c. So eyeball half of that in water and I used that instead of the can liquid. Plenty of salt and flavor to go around in just the recipe as written beyond the can liquid.
Pinned recipes for sure!
Toni
I had 4 cans of green beans I was going to throw out and I found this recipe. Definitely made them edible
Stacy
I never leave comments on recipes…flavor of this was PERFECT! Thank you so much 😊
Amy Hinton
I'll definitely try this, looks SO yummy!!!
Jackie
These really are the best green beans ever! LOVE them.
Becky
I don’t like green beans but I enjoyed these! My family eat them quickly! Thank you for the recipe! Much appreciated!
Mel
Yes they’re canned beans but this recipe is becoming a favorite!
Nice way to cook beans when fresh is not available. My husband comments how good they are every single time 😆
Christina Schamp
Can I use turkey sausage in it instead of bacon
Alli
I've never tried that so I can't say for sure.
Mtnbiker7777
My goodness this was delicious! I actually used a can of French green beans, cooked them this way, and now it might be my fav new healthy side dish. Thanks!
Steve
I have never liked green beans and I'm almost 60. I made these since my wife likes them so much so I figured I'd surprise her. Without a doubt, these are the best green beans I've ever had. The only thing I did differently was to add a1/4 tsp. of granulated garlic. Thank you for posting this...will may healthy eating easier!
Melissa
Could you use garlic powder instead of onion powder?
Alli
Yes you can.
Steve Sunkel
I use garlic powder every time I make them. I became my wife’s caregiver in 2016, and the 1st time I made these beans, she said: oh good, you can finally cook!
Lauren
I could never cook green beans and now I’m getting praised left and right. Super easy recipe and so good!!
Alli
So glad you loved it, Lauren!
Rachel in Maine
Tasty but too salty as written, in my opinion. Will try again with half the salt. Great, easy preparation method, thanks!
Patty
Made the recipe as is, and it is delicious. I would like to add bacon, but I'm not sure how. Should I fry it up first? Or should I put it in raw? And should I let it simmer in the beans the entire time or add the cooked bacon right before serving?
Alli
Hi Patty! I actually have a whole post on how to do it: https://longbournfarm.com/canned-green-beans-with-bacon/
Roni
Use Costco bacon crumbles.
nascar4433
So glad you posted that tip! I bought the Costco bagged bacon crumbles & 12-pack of canned green beans last week, and then ran across this recipe. It must have been cosmic karma that brought it all together, lol.
myasia
I love theses this is one of the first recipes that I have used as a 12-year-old that is trying to cook
Alli
So happy to hear that! Great work!
Dustin
Such a wonderful recipe and a very beautiful photo! I will definitely try to cook. I love your blog! I look forward to updates.
Alli
Thanks so much, Dustin!!
Craig McIlhargey
Great flavor. Just cooked up a can and ate it right out of the frying pan
Alli
So glad you liked them!
Nicole
Our family LOVES this recipe! We’ve had it many times and it is delicious each time. I usually make 4-5 regular cans or the large #10 can from Sams Club. And just today we added in bacon for the first time. Woah!!! Thank you for a great recipe!
Alli
Thank you so much, Nicole! So glad you love the recipe.
jamar
thank im 15 and my mom was at work so it helped and she liked it it was good 10/10 others must try
Alli
So glad you liked it!
Rebecca
So I was wanting something to eat with flavor and I was like I don’t want to eat just plain green beans. Well I came across this and it sounded flavorful. It was super easy and made a great late night before bed snack!! I love it and will be using this recipe again. Thanks!
Alli
So glad you liked it! Thank you!!
Roberta Hawes
What size can is used for this recipe? I have to scale up for 100 people.
Alli
It's just a standard 14 or 15-ounce can. Good luck!
Fred M
This is simple and delicious. Thanks for posting it! To up the nutrition, I saute about 1/3 lb tofu or tempeh squares as the first step before adding the beans. Yum!
Alli
Glad you liked it!
Kristen
Hi Alli! I've made this several times and thought I should let you know how much I like it. I was looking for a simple recipe that lets me elevate a can of green beans with ingredients I already have, and this does exactly that! The only notable change I make is to add the same amount of garlic powder. Thank you for a simple recipe that I can have in my back pocket when I need a veggie to serve but don't have anything fresh on hand.
Alli
Yay!! I'm so happy to hear that, Kristen. It's such a great and easy side dish. Thank you for letting me know!
Deborah
Delicious. My kids love green beans again. Thanks for recipe..
Alli
So glad to hear that!
Holly Burks
Excellent recipe. We used Dreamland BBQ sauce and it was amazing!!
Alli
So glad you liked it!
Christine @ myblissfulmess
I needed a simple veggie side dish and I had a lot of canned green beans in the pantry so I used this recipe to play dress up with them. This recipe did not disappoint at all. It’s very simple, simple ingredients and delicious! It’s also healthy with only 1 WW Smartpoint per serving which is a bonus for me! I doubled the recipe since we were having a couple friends over. This goes great with steak which is what we were having that night. It would also go with chicken or pork as well.
Alli
So glad you liked it, Christine! Thank you for letting me know.
Anonymous
Could I make a huge nesco full for a wedding?
Alli
I'm not sure what a Nesco is, but you can for sure scale up the recipe! Click on the servings number in the recipe card and then use the slider bar to increase the serving size to where you need it. Hope that helps!
Carl
You don't say what size can of green beans to use so I will assume it's the 15 ounce can.
Alli
Yes, 15 ounce can.
Candy
Can I mix it with canned sliced carrots as well or would it get too mushy?
Alli
Hi Candy, I'm not a huge fan of canned carrots so I'd try frozen or fresh.
Melissa
What temperature would you cook these at and for generally how long? Thanks!
Alli
Hi Melissa! Once I get the beans simmering, I usually turn the heat to medium low, but this will depend on your stovetop. It takes about 5 minutes for the liquid to evaporate out.
Wanda
Your green bean recipe was a big hit. I’m not a fan of cooking. But after getting rave reviews about the green beans. I will surly make them again. So thank you!!!
Alli
So happy to hear that!! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Judy
I have 3.-38 oz. Cans green beans. Would that be okay to use?
Lindsey
Yummy!! This took away the squeakiness that green beans often have and had tons of flavor!!
Alli
So glad you liked them, Lindsey!!
nascar4433
I'm so glad to know I'm not the only person who thinks canned green beans can be squeaky!! 😂. Nice to know this recipe takes the squeak out!
Anonymous
Could these be made ahead of time and warmed up? If so, what would be the best way to heat up ?
Alli
Yes, I warm them up in a glass dish in the microwave. Leave a little more liquid than the recipe calls for when you initially cook them, that way they won't get dried out when you reheat.
Dee
I'm using the recipe right now
Hope it turns out ok, I didn't have onion salt so I used garlic salt since my kid doesn't like onion flavor, although it probably doesn't taste strong.REGARDING REHEAT: If u use an 8 oz glass about 3/4 full in the microwave as u reheat just about ANYTHING, it tastes absolutely fresh.
Carolyn olguin
Really delicious my family enjoyed ever bite . Will be making it next year
Alli
Thanks so much, Carolyn! So glad they were a hit with your family.
Catherine Redmon
So if you are using 4 cans of beans, would you leave 1/2 the liquid from each can?
Alli
Hi Catherine! If you use 4 cans of beans, drain two and leave the liquid in two 🙂 You just want to use 1/2 of the total liquid. Does that make sense?
Vonda
Just made a yr on the vegan journey so always looking for easy after work recipes. Always looking for ways to get more green into my diet so I decided to try this one. Definitely will try again..probably adjust the seasoning some but love the quickness/simpleness.
Alli
Glad you liked it, Vonda!
Patricia Jones
I love fresh green bean and most of the times I made some recipes with this. My family, as well as my sons, love bean recipe. Tried these yesterday. They were so good. Followed recipe as written. Thanks for giving me a quick & easy take on green beans!
Alli
So glad you liked them, Patricia!
Shelly R.
Add a half of beef bouillon cube and it will take it over the top!
Alli
Great suggestion!
Phil
This is my favorite way to eat green beans. And the bacon tip in an earlier comment is a great idea.
Alli
Such a great idea, we should make it like that more often!
Maddison
I love how simple and delicious this recipe is. Plus it's kid approved. My 10 year old sister will not eat vegetables but she loves these! She even goes for seconds.
Alli
I love hearing that! Thanks, Maddi!! 🙂
Mrs. Williams
Do you simmer with a lid on or off. Also can you cook in sauce pot like 3 quart size instead of skillet. I am vegan and can’t use butter or bacon. Any suggestions or alternatives to butter or bacon.
Alli
Hey! I simmer uncovered the whole time. You can make it in a sauce pot, just stir frequently so everything gets evenly coated. The original recipe doesn't call for bacon, so don't worry about adding that. As far as butter goes, you could use any oil in its place but it will be less flavorful. Hope that helps!
Anonymous
Coconut oil
Sadiya
Hi there! This worked out great with some leftover brown rice. Thanks for the super easy recipe! It was just what I needed on a day when I got home from work and really didn't want to put any effort into cooking!
Alli
So glad to hear you liked it!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Timothy Frank Boerste
Would you add the bacon in step 3 if you had bacon?
Alli
Hi Timothy! I'd cook the bacon very first thing, before step 1. After it's cooked, remove most of the grease but leave any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Proceed with the recipe as written and then yes, add the cooked bacon back in at step 3! Then be sure to scrape up those good flavorful bits in the bottom of the pan as the beans simmer. Thank you for asking! I'll have to add more clarity to the post.
Kody
Was just what I was looking for! My fiancee and 16 month-old daughter loved it. Thanks
Alli
Thank you so much, Kody!! I'm glad you and your family enjoyed it 🙂
Corlette
This was yummy and my kids loved it.
Alli
Yay!! So glad to hear that Corlette! Thank you for letting me know.
Stephanie
Really simple, really easy and it was a hit with the whole family. It definitely took the guilt out of only having plain old green beans in a can lol.
Alli
I'm so glad you and your family liked it Stephanie! Thank you for trying the recipe! Definitely no guilt for canned food 🙂
Melissa
Really good. I was looking for an easy way to spice up canned green beans with ingredients I already have. Will make again. Thanks!
Alli
Hi Melissa! I'm so glad you liked the recipe, thank you for letting me know!!
Tammy Wilson
The recipe shows onion powder but in your blog you say garlic powder. Just want to makes sure which is correct.
Thanks
Alli
Hey Tammy! AH! You are right. Thank you for pointing out that typo! It is onion powder and is now fixed in the post. I appreciate it!
Andrea Campbell
Tammy if you like Garlic using garlic powder is good too!! I've done both. So yummy.