Simple Roasted Lemon Garlic Green Beans Are the Perfect Side Dish

A lot of people assume that I make epic feasts every single night for dinner.

They assume I am constantly cooking up fresh vegetables and hearty entrees that would wow a crowd, but I would be lying if I told you that I cooked like that every night of the week.

The truth is, between work and caring for the dogs, maintaining the house and yard, and keeping up with friends and family, dinner is usually a last minute dash to get something on the table that will keep me and my husband full and happy.

Of course, when it comes to getting dinner on the table, sometimes the side dishes become somewhat of an afterthought. I tend to get distracted by trying to perfect the main protein, whether it’s fish or poultry or meat. I’m so distracted with working on the star of the meal, as I like to call it, the sides can fall to the wayside.

There have been a few too many times when I’ve reached for frozen vegetables in lieu of fresh, just to make sure I get something green on the plate.

But relying on this simple fallback option was mostly due to the fact that I didn’t have an arsenal of simple side dish recipes at my disposal. When a side takes just as much effort as the star of the meal to make, it is just a bit too much for my weary brain to deal with after a long day at work.

Motivated by a desire to eat more fresh, seasonal produce, I created this simple recipe to share with all of your. In less than 20 minutes, these piping hot, freshly roasted green beans will be ready to hit the table.

Yes, you read that right – these take less than 20 minutes to make, and about half of that time is spent roasting in the oven, freeing you up to work on other things.

First and foremost, when it comes to dreaming up or selecting a flavorful side dish that I want to make on a near-constant basis, the recipe needs to be easy to prepare. Secondly, it needs to be flavorful. And finally, it needs to be versatile enough to pair well with a variety of different entrees, or composed in a dish like a Nicoise salad.

The magic of this recipe is that it only requires a handful of ingredients, and you probably already have most of them on hand.

Side note: this is also a particularly delicious way to use up those fresh herbs that you are growing in your garden, or that are left over from other recipes.

I think simple recipes are the best, and this veggie dish does not disappoint. It’s full of fresh herbal flavors with a bright zing of lemon and tang of garlic that elevates the green beans to become something truly delicious.

While I do love how simple and quick it is to pressure cook green beans, I do prefer to roast them every now and then for even more flavor and texture. By lightly roasting the green beans, they come out slightly caramelized, roasted and tender, while also having a little bit of crispness left to them.

This makes the beans a perfect side for so many different entrees. Whether you are grilling up some meat or poaching a simple fish fillet, this is a great pick for whatever you want to pair it with.

That’s what makes this recipe truly special, and it’s one that you will continually turn to fill an empty slot in your weekly menu rotation.

Roasted Lemon Garlic Green Beans

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• Author: Shanna Mallon
• Total Time: 18 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

The simplest recipes are often the best, and that’s true of these roasted lemon garlic green beans, a tasty side dish that goes with any entree.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups green beans, washed and trimmed
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• Zest of one lemon
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 Tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• 1/2 Tbsp freshly chopped basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together until the green beans are evenly coated.
3. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 8 minutes, until the green beans brown slightly and are crisp tender.
4. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Category: Vegetables
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Side Dish

Keywords: green bean, garlic, lemon, herb, side dish

Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep and Measure Ingredients

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Wash all of the produce in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Leafy herbs can also be dried in a salad spinner.

Trim the ends from the beans, and discard them along with any strings. Place in a large mixing bowl.

Zest and juice a lemon. Set aside.

Mince two garlic cloves as finely as possible. A garlic press is an excellent kitchen tool to have on hand for this. Add to the bowl.

Remove and discard the stems, chop the fresh herbs, and place in the bowl with the beans.

Measure salt and pepper.

Step 2 – Dress

Add all of the measured ingredients to the bowl with the green beans.

Toss with tongs or a large spoon to coat the beans well.

If you are not ready to roast these right away, you can place the bowl in the refrigerator until you are ready.

Step 3 – Roast

Place the green beans in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet.

Roast for 8 minutes, until the beans are crisp tender and just beginning to brown on the edges.

Serve immediately, with additional lemon wedges if desired.

Citrus Is the Key to Bright Side Dish Flavor

When it comes to fresh veggie side dish dishes, it’s all about the citrus.

From lemons to limes, grapefruits to oranges, citrus is an excellent ingredient to have on hand to lift the flavor of whatever type of green or leafy produce you’re planning to serve at your next gathering. And it’s excellent with many types of roots, and other veggies as well.

There are so many ways to use citrus in vegetable side dishes. Now that you have this recipe down, try the same method with broccoli, potatoes, bell peppers, or corn. Just adjust the cook time as needed.

My current favorite thing to do is to use up whatever leftover citrus I have in the fridge. If you happen to have a lemon, grapefruit, or a lime in your crisper drawer that needs to be used up, you’re in luck!

Go ahead and zest that fruit, and combine it with salt for a simple seasoning that you can use to season whatever fresh produce you have on hand. Squeeze the juice onto vegetables before you throw them in the oven, or use it in place of the vinegar in your favorite homemade salad dressing.

This simple roasting method is fantastic if you have a garden and are constantly picking fresh produce, trying to use it up as quickly as you can.

For more green bean sides, try some of our favorites:

• Three Bean Salad
• Green Bean Fries
• Italian-Style Green Beans

Tell us how much you love the lemony goodness of this easy green bean side dish in the comments below. And be sure to give the recipe a five-star rating if you loved it!

Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published by Shanna Mallon on August 17th, 2009. Last updated: January 6, 2023 at 9:28 am.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

About Meghan Yager

Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.

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