Green beans are a super versatile and delicious side dish no matter which cooking method you use. But this method for oven roasted green beans is one of my favorites. Unlike boiled green beans, baked green beans are tender in the middle but crisp outside with caramelized edges. However, they require no hovering over a pan like sautéed green beans. Plus, this recipe produces similar results to air-fryer green beans! At its most basic, this roasted green beans recipe requires just salt & pepper. Plus optional lemon to season the beans as it allows their fresh flavor to shine. However, this versatile veggie can also be jazzed up in almost endless ways. Keep reading for some of my favorite seasoning alternatives and add-ins, perfect for enjoying an abundance of green beans from your garden without getting bored (and freeze any you aren’t ready to cook yet). All you have to do is trim the green beans, toss them with the oil and seasonings, and bake to perfection. When ready, these oven baked green beans have a wonderful tender-crisp texture in the middle with slightly crispy, blistered patches on the skin that you’ll adore. Honestly, they’re bursting with flavor – you’ll want to eat them with everything. Looking for more simple oven-baked sides? Check out this roasted broccoli and cauliflower, honey-roasted carrots, or roasted asparagus.
How to Season Oven Baked Green Beans
You don’t need many ingredients to help these green beans cooked in the oven shine. The base recipe uses just 5 ingredients (including the oil and salt & pepper), and the oven caramelization does the rest.
Green beans: Use green beans (aka string beans/snap beans) that are firm and free from wrinkles. Fresh or frozen green beans work for this baked green beans recipe method.
You could also use Haricot verts for this method, reducing the roasting time by a few minutes.
Olive oil: Or another neutral cooking oil. For a richer flavor, use a combination of oil and melted butter. Salt & Black pepper: Season to taste. I recommend using sea salt or kosher salt.Lemon: I recommend using fresh lemon (organic and unwaxed is best, especially if you plan to add some lemon zest for extra flavor to the roasted green beans).
What Spices Go Well with Green Beans
The truth is that oven-baked green beans are incredibly versatile. There are plenty of ways to add flavor to your green beans with extra herbs, spices, veggies, and other ingredients like cheese. Check out my sautéed green beans recipe for all my top recommendations. In terms of spices and herbs, my favorite options to roast fresh green beans in the oven include:
Red pepper flakesSmoked paprikaOnion powderGarlic powder (or fresh sliced garlic or minced garlic, but I recommend powder)Cajun seasoningItalian seasoningCurry powderCuminTaco seasoningZa’atar
Regarding fresh herbs, parsley and basil pair particularly well with oven-roasted green beans. Mint, chives, and green onion would also work.
What Else Could I Add to the Roasted Green Beans Recipe?
Add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar over the green beans for an extra tangy flavor. Grated parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegan option) sprinkled over the roasted green beans a couple of minutes before they’re ready is also a winner. For super crispy roasted beans, sprinkle over some breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs before roasting the green beans. Depending on where and when you plan to serve the roasted string beans, you might also want to mix in lightly toasted slivered almonds or pecans and dried cranberries (making for a simple and delicious Thanksgiving side dish).
How to Roast Green Beans
Preparing and roasting green beans in oven requires minimal effort for maximum flavor; you’ll love them.
How to Prepare Fresh Green Beans
First, rinse the beans in a colander and pat them dry. Make sure they are completely dry. To trim green beans, grab a handful of the beans and place them on a cutting board with the stem ends lined up. Using a long, sharp knife, slice off the ends of the beans, then flip them over and repeat. Do this with all the beans. If any of the beans have tough strings running down the seam of the pod, remove them now, too.
How Long to Roast Green Beans
Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC (or to 400ºF/200ºC fan-assisted). I do this while preparing the beans. Transfer the prepared green beans to a large baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with the oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat. Roast the green beans for 12-15 minutes, flipping/tossing them halfway. Taste and adjust the seasonings of the sauteed green beans, then serve them optionally with a drizzle of lemon juice! For more citrus flavor, zest the lemon first and add about a teaspoon of the zest to the green beans in the oven.
Can You Roast Frozen Green Beans
Roasted frozen green beans are super simple to prepare and require no thawing. Simply preheat the oven. Then toss the frozen green beans with the oil and seasonings just before spreading them across the baking tray. If your green beans have lots of excess ice, I recommend rinsing off the excess and patting them dry. Roast the frozen green beans for between 25-30 minutes at 450ºF/230ºC, flipping them halfway.
Serving Recommendations
These crispy oven roasted green beans are a proudly versatile side dish you can pair with almost any meal. For tons of inspiration, check out my sautéed green beans recipe. Also, here are a few dishes you could pair with the baked green beans:
Chicken, steak, and meatloafSalmonCrispy breaded tofuCreamy mashed potatoBurgers (they make for a healthy French fry alternative)Stuffed zucchini boatsPasta dishes
Tell me how you like to serve these oven baked green beans in the comments!
More Roasted Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
Simple roasted cherry tomatoesRoasted cabbage steaksRoasted onionsMediterranean roasted vegetables
If you try this super easy oven roasted green beans recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. I would appreciate a rating on the recipe card below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
