How To Cook Frozen Green Beans
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Look no further if you’ve been wondering how to cook frozen green beans the right way. This simple roasting recipe transforms a humble bag of frozen green beans into a crispy, cheesy, and crave-worthy side that steals the show every time. The beans are tossed in onion and garlic powder, roasted to perfection, then finished off with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top – a vibrant dish that takes 30 minutes or less to make.
Sure, fresh green beans get all the love, but let’s be real – frozen green beans are a kitchen lifesaver. They’re pre-washed, pre-trimmed, and always ready to go, making them the ultimate shortcut to a quick and tasty dish. I often use them to make keto green bean hamburger casserole, and now for our new favorite side, roasted green beans.
Roasting is hands down my favorite way to cook frozen green beans because it brings out an incredible depth of flavor and gives them that perfect crisp-tender texture. This recipe is super easy and makes a tasty vegetable side that’s perfect for family dinners, just like creamed keto collard greens and cauliflower mac and cheese.
Learning how to cook frozen green beans is important, and while we will be focusing on roasting them, I’ll also cover other methods so you can choose what works best for you!
Table of Contents (click to view)
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly easy: Just toss the frozen green beans with oil and seasoning, and let the oven do the work! No washing, chopping, or thawing required.
- Amazing flavor: Cheese and garlic are a match made in flavor heaven. Add the crisp tenderness of roasted green beans and you’ve got the most crave-worthy side!
- Quick cleanup: One bowl and one sheet pan are all you need, so there’s less mess in the kitchen.
- Keto and low-carb: Green beans are naturally low in carbs, making them a great vegetable choice for keto diets. Roasting them with healthy fats like olive oil or butter makes them even better for keto.
- Pairs with everything: Whether it’s chicken, steak, fish, or tofu, these green beans are a perfect match.
- Great for meal prep: Roast a big batch and store leftovers for an easy side dish throughout the week.
How to Cook Frozen Green Beans Through Roasting
No more settling for limp, lifeless green beans from here on out – when cooked the right way, frozen green beans can be crisp, flavorful, and downright delicious! This roasted green beans recipe is so quick and easy that the beans can go straight from the freezer to the mixing bowl to the oven in 30 minutes or less. To save time, roast your main dish along with it!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Frozen cut green beans: Frozen cut green beans are best for this recipe, but you can use whole in a pinch. Don’t use French green beans – they tend to dry out very quickly in the oven.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Helps the green beans roast to crispy perfection.
- Garlic and onion powder: The essentials for achieving that well-rounded savory flavor that makes this dish delicious!
- Salt and ground black pepper
- Parmesan cheese: I use parmigiano-reggiano. I grate it myself for the best flavor, but you can also use store-bought.
Step-By-Step Instructions
It only takes 2 simple steps and 5 minutes of prep time to make this tasty side dish. Simply toss the frozen green beans in olive oil and seasoning, and your oven will take care of the rest. If you want to learn how to cook frozen green beans, this is the easiest (and tastiest) way to do it!
Step 1: Toss
First, preheat your oven to 400 F. Toss the frozen green beans with olive oil in a medium mixing bowl, then season with garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Toss again to thoroughly coat the beans.
Step 2: Bake
Next, arrange the green beans in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and stir them around on the sheet.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of all the green beans. Return to the oven and continue baking for another 10 minutes. The reason why we’re adding the parmesan cheese towards the end is so that it gets nice and golden without burning, as it will burn if cooked at a high temperature the entire time.
Lastly, check your green beans – they are done when they’re soft and tender. Remove them from the oven, cool for a few minutes, then serve.
Substitutions
- Extra virgin olive oil: Substitute with avocado oil, sesame oil, or any vegetable oil of your choice. You can also use melted unsalted butter or ghee.
- Garlic and onion powder: While garlic and onion powder are classics, feel free to use your favorite spices or seasonings. Italian seasoning and smoked paprika are ideal options.
- Parmesan cheese: Use nutritional yeast to make this recipe dairy-free. I recommend using half of what the recipe calls for parmesan.
How To Cook Frozen Green Beans: Other Methods
Aside from roasting, it would also be helpful to learn how to cook frozen green beans using other methods, depending on what equipment you have or what recipe you have in mind. Try these other easy ways to turn frozen green beans to a delicious dish!
Steamed for a Simple Side
Place frozen green beans in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. Cover and steam for about 5 minutes, or until they are tender but still vibrant green. Toss with a bit of butter and season with salt, pepper, or even a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a quick and healthy side dish.
Air-Fried for Extra Crispiness
Preheat the air fryer to 400 F. Toss green beans with a little oil, salt, and your favorite seasoning (paprika, garlic powder, or Parmesan work well). Spread them out in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking halfway through. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.
Sautéed with Garlic and Butter
Heat a little butter or olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Toss in frozen green beans and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become tender and slightly caramelized. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice for extra brightness.
Stir-Fried with Soy Sauce and Sesame
Heat a bit of sesame oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add frozen green beans and stir-fry for 5 to 6 minutes until they start to soften. Drizzle with soy sauce, a dash of rice vinegar, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes.
Expert Tips
- Don’t take the beans out too early: Keep the beans in the freezer and only take them out when your oven is preheated. They will start to thaw when taken out too early and the baking time will be off.
- Don’t thaw: Following that thought, roast the green beans straight from frozen. Thawing can make them soggy.
- Toss halfway through: Flip or shake the green beans about 10 minutes in for even roasting.
- Roast to your liking: This recipe gives you tender-crisp green beans, but if you prefer them softer, simply roast them a bit longer until they reach your perfect texture.
- Add texture: If you want crispier beans, add 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs to the seasoning mix and toss the beans until they’re coated in the crispy crumbs. You can also top the green beans with 1/4 cup slivered almonds or chopped pine nuts during the last 10 minutes of roasting.
- Skip the foil: Foil is great for keeping meat moist, but when roasting frozen veggies, we want them to crisp up. Leaving them uncovered allows for better airflow and helps achieve that perfect crispy texture.
How to Store This Recipe
Cool completely, place leftovers in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the broiler or air fryer until warmed through.
You can also freeze roasted frozen green beans but note that the texture will change when reheated. I recommend using them for soups, sauces, or casseroles. To freeze this dish, transfer to a small sheet tray and store in the freezer. Once the beans are frozen, place them in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Roasted Green Beans
These delicious roasted frozen green beans pair well with a wide variety of dishes, but they’re best paired with starch and protein for a well-rounded meal. They’re delicious with mashed potatoes (also with mashed cauliflower!), and regular or cauliflower rice dishes like Cajun dirty rice and Italian ground beef skillet.
Serve green beans as a side to your favorite protein mains, may it be chicken, pork, beef, fish, or seafood. We love them with blackened pork chops, spinach salmon burgers, bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin, and keto chicken francese.
Cheesy garlic roasted green beans also make a nice addition to a holiday spread; perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner and for sharing with a party crowd!
More Easy Side Dishes To Try
- Easy braised cabbage
- Homemade sauerkraut
- Keto coleslaw
- Stuffing with sausage and low-carb bread
- Baked cauliflower mac and cheese
The Best Way To Cook Frozen Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) bag green beans frozen and cut
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
- Toss the frozen green beans with olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Season with garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Toss again to thoroughly coat the beans.
- Arrange the green beans in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir them around on the sheet. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of all the green beans. Return to the oven and continue baking for another 10 minutes. Green beans are done when soft and tender.
Notes
- Keep the beans in the freezer and only take them out when your oven is preheated. They will start to thaw when taken out too early and the baking time will be off.
- Following that thought, roast the green beans straight from frozen. Thawing can make them soggy.
- Flip or shake the green beans about 10 minutes in for even roasting.
- This recipe gives you tender-crisp green beans, but if you prefer them softer, simply roast them a bit longer until they reach your perfect texture.
- If you want crispier beans, add 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs to the seasoning mix and toss the beans until they’re coated in the crispy crumbs. You can also top the green beans with 1/4 cup slivered almonds or chopped pine nuts during the last 10 minutes of roasting.
- Foil is great for keeping meat moist, but when roasting frozen veggies, we want them to crisp up. Leaving them uncovered allows for better airflow and helps achieve that perfect crispy texture.
Nutrition & Macros
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