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5.0 from 30 votes

Simple Boiled Green Beans

To make boiled green beans, simply drop them into salted boiling water and cook them until tender-crisp and not a second longer.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 35 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh green beans ends trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt divided; or 1 teaspoon, divided, of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
  2. Drop the green beans into the boiling water. Bring back to a full boil and cook, uncovered, until the beans are just tender, about 5 minutes. But start checking after 3 minutes (use a fork to take one out of the pot and taste. Careful - they'll be hot!). 
  3. Drain the beans into a colander, shake them dry, and season with kosher salt.
  4. Serve immediately. You can use other seasonings, and a generous pat of butter on top of the hot green beans is heavenly. But really, when they are fresh, they only need brief boiling and some salt.

Notes

  • Before cooking, pick through the beans and discard any that are withered or discolored. This simple cooking method is suitable only for the freshest of beans.
  • I prefer to leave the beans whole - they make a great finger food when left at their full length. But to serve at dinner, you can cut them into 3-inch pieces.
  • It's important that the beans remain firm. Soft and limp will not do! So take care not to overcook them. When properly cooked, they are so inherently tasty that the only seasoning they need is some coarse kosher salt and maybe a pat of butter.
  • Although they taste best when freshly cooked, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power, or chop them and add them cold to a salad. 
  • The nutrition info is for the green beans and the salt sprinkled on them after cooking. It does not include the butter or the salt added to the cooking water. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.25recipe Calories 35kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Sodium 286mg (12%) Fiber 4g (16%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 35

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.25recipe
Calories 35kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Sodium 286mg 12%
Fiber 4g 16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.