Sautéed Green Beans Recipe with Apple Cider
Posted Oct 30, 2017, Updated Jun 26, 2024
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In this sautéed green beans recipe, green beans are blanched, then sautéed in an apple cider reduction for a delicious fall side dish perfect for Thanksgiving!
These sautéed green beans are one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes!
They’re easy to make with 5 ingredients in 20 minutes and are a lighter option than casseroles during the holidays.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sweet potato casserole. But when it comes to green vegetables, like sautéed green beans, I like to cook them in a few nutritious ingredients to let their flavor and texture really shine!
Sautéed Green Beans Recipe: Substitutions
There are only 5 ingredients in this recipe, and as always, I recommend making them exactly as written for the best results. However here are a few possible substitutions:
- Olive oil. melted butter and avocado oil are great substitutions.
- Garlic powder. 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic is a good substitute.
- Apple cider. apple juice can be used in place of apple cider.
How to Make Sautéed Green Beans
Let’s discuss how to sauté green beans, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Blanch the Green Beans
The first step is to blanch the green beans.
When working with fresh green beans I like to blanch them first. To do this, cook the beans in boiling water for 2-4 minutes until they are slightly soft (cook time varies with the size of the beans).
Then rinse them in cold water and plunge them into an ice-water bath to stop the cooking process. This makes the final step of sautéing incredibly easy because the beans are already tender! Blanching can be done the day before, to help you streamline your day-of holiday cooking.
Reduce the Apple Cider
Next, reduce the apple cider so it forms a thick glaze. The cider takes about 20 minutes to thicken and reduce by half.
You can reduce the cider a day in advance and store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
Sauté the Green Beans
Once the beans are blanched and the cider is reduced, transfer the beans to a large sauté pan.
Then, add the olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the beans become warm.
Then, add the apple cider reduction and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid coats the beans.
Serve
Serve the sautéed green beans warm with your favorite Thanksgiving recipes like this roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole.
Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a sauté pan.
Sautéed Green Beans Recipe FAQs
I prefer to blanch and then sauté green beans for the best flavor and texture.
I made this more of a sweet/savory dish but using the rich spices in apple cider – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.
How do you keep green beans green when cooking?
Blanching the beans before cooking them helps them retain their bright green color.
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Sautéed Green Beans with Apple Cider
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds green beans (fresh, 8 cups)
- 1 ½ cups apple cider
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Trim the ends of 2 lbs (8 cups) of fresh green beans and place them in a colander and rinse.
Blanch the Green Beans
- Fill a large pot, ¾ full with water and bring to a boil.
- While water is coming up to a boil, fill a large bowl ½ full of water and ice. If the ice melts add more. Set aside.
- Cook the trimmed & rinsed beans in the boiling water for 3-4 minutes or until they are slightly soft to the touch.
- Pour boiling water/beans into a colander and rinse with cold water.
- Then, transfer the beans to the prepared bowl of ice water.
- Once beans are completely cool (or cold) drain and rinse.
Make the Apple Cider Reduction
- While the water is boiling, place 1 ½ cups of apple cider into a small saucepan.
- Bring liquid to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally. Be aware, stirring can cause the liquid to bubble more vigorously for a moment so be careful.
- Cook until the cider is reduced to ½ of its original volume and begins to coat the back of a spatula (about 20 minutes).
- Remove from heat and set aside.
Sauté the Green Beans
- Transfer the green beans to a large nonstick fry pan or sauté pan.
- Add the olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the beans become warm.
- Add the apple cider reduction and cook, stirring occasionally, until the reduction coats the beans.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Olive oil. melted butter and avocado oil are great substitutions.
- Garlic powder. 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic is a good substitute.
- Apple cider. apple juice can be used in place of apple cider.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love this recipe. It’s easy, healthy and perfect! We had tremendously enjoyed this with grilled salmon.
Thank you so much Sheila! I’m SO glad you enjoyed it! This is one of my favorite ways to prepare green beans!