Sides · Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter
Green Beans with a Little Main-Character Energy
Lemon-butter green beans that stay bright and fresh beside richer holiday dishes, making an easy Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter side for a full table.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Serves
- 6 side servings
The recipe card
Green Beans with a Little Main-Character Energy
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Serves
- 6 side servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb (680 g) green beans, trimmed
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp fine salt, plus salt for water
- Black pepper to taste
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook 4–6 minutes, until bright and tender-crisp.
- Drain thoroughly. Melt butter in the empty pot over low heat.
- Add beans and toss for 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and add lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Taste and serve promptly.
Make Ahead
Up to 2 days ahead: trim the beans and refrigerate in a bag lined with a paper towel. Up to 1 day ahead: boil the beans 3 to 4 minutes, plunge into ice water, drain very well, and refrigerate. Day of: toss the blanched beans in the melted butter until hot, then add the lemon right before serving so they stay green.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers covered up to 3 to 4 days. Not recommended for freezing once cooked.
Reheating: Toss in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add a fresh squeeze of lemon after reheating.
Make It a Meal
Goes well with:
