Chinese Green Beans Recipe (Made in 15 Minutes)

These Chinese green beans are just so, so flavorful. The recipe combines, of course, fresh green beans with the perfect balance of savory-and-sweet flavors that are too good to resist. In addition to tasting great though, these Chinese green beans also happen to be super easy to make too! Seriously,  just a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to whip up this tasty veggie.

The Best Chinese Green Beans

If you've never had traditional Chinese green beans before, then get ready to be impressed. After all, these sweet and savory green beans are quite different than any other green bean recipe out there.

The fresh green beans are sauteed until they're perfectly tender yet still crunchy. Then they're cooked in a rich stir fry sauce flavored with a mixture of garlic powder and soy sauce - for a little salty, savory goodness - and a little bit of honey for a dash of sweetness. Seriously, every bite is filled with umami deliciousness.

Also, another thing to love about these Chinese green beans is the fact that they're made in just one pan. So, not only is making 'em a breeze but clean up is too.

Now, of course, every great side dish needs a great main dish to go with it. So, if you're looking for some all star recipes to pair with these green beans a few of my favorites are this sushi bake recipe, this Beijing beef recipe, or this general tso shrimp recipe. Honestly though, they're really so versatile you can pair them with practically anything.

Ingredients Needed

• Soy Sauce- low sodium soy sauce or even coconut aminos works too.
• Rice Vinegar
• Honey
• Corn Starch
• Garlic Powder
• Avocado Oil- or peanut oil, vegetable oil, or toasted sesame oil.
• Green Beans- fresh green beans, trimmed. If you want to use frozen green beans, thaw them first. 
• Sea Salt Flakes

By the way, my all-time favorite thing to eat with these Chinese style green beans is this orange chicken, and you can use some of these same ingredients to make it. So I highly suggest making that Chinese chicken with these beans!

How To Make Chinese Green Beans

Step 1: Prepare Sauce

First, you'll want to prepare the sauce so you have it ready for later.

So, to do this, take out a medium bowl and add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, and garlic powder to it. Then, you can mix everything together with a whisk or fork until it is well combined.

By the way, don't worry too much if the sauce isn't thickening after adding the cornstarch - this will happen once you add the sauce to the green beans over the heat.

Step 2: Cook The Green Beans

Now it's time to cook the green beans.

First, heat a wok or large skillet over medium heat and add the avocado oil to it. Also, when you add the oil make sure you move the pan around a little bit so it coats the entire surface.

Anyway, once the pan is ready well oiled and hot, you can add the trimmed green beans to it, and cook them for about 15 minutes - or until they begin to brown.

Step 3: Add The Sauce

Once your green beans are fully cooked, you can reduce the heat to low and add the sauce ingredients to 'em.

Then, after you've added the sauce, you'll want to continuously stir everything together until it thickens. Finally, when the sauce thickens, you can serve these Chinese garlic green beans with a sprinkle of sea salt on top, and enjoy 'em.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container, and they'll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days.

Alternatively, if you want your leftovers to last even longer, then you can transfer these Chinese green beans to a freezer-safe bag, and they'll last in the freezer for 10-12 months.

To reheat, I recommend using the stovetop. Just transfer your leftovers to a skillet over medium heat and warm the green beans for a few minutes, stirring constantly until they reach your desired temperature. 

Alternatively, them for a quicker method. To do this, I recommend simply placing your green beans in a microwave-safe dish and heating them in 20-second increments, stirring between each, until they are fully warm.

More Side Dish Recipes

• Honey glazed candied carrots
• Green bean casserole with bacon
• Din Tai Fung cucumber salad
• Kani salad
• Sugar snap peas
• Pineapple casserole