Fresh vegetables can be a delight. But for simplicity, versatility, and convenience, it’s hard to beat good old-fashioned canned green beans. They’ve been a weeknight dinner staple for generations of home cooks, whether mixed into casseroles, tossed in a salad, added to a soup or stew, or allowed to shine on their own.
If you’re in need of some inspiration, try these delicious and varied canned green bean recipes that make the most of this reliable and affordable veggie.
Green Bean Casserole
There’s no more iconic retro green bean dish than green bean casserole, the creamy, crunchy, flavorful side that’s become a Thanksgiving must-have for many. This ultra-simple recipe requires just a few ingredients and is simple enough for chefs of any skill level.
Get the recipe
Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
Enjoy a hearty green bean casserole with ground beef and mushrooms for dinner. A classic recipe beefed up to satisfy hunger that's great for any day of the week.
Get the recipe
Tuna Green Bean Casserole
Combine the delicious flavor profile of the green bean casserole side with the filling, healthy protein of tuna (also from a can) in this retro-style recipe. It’s a true standby weeknight meal for generations of hungry diners.
Get the recipe
Hot Dog Green Bean Casserole
A creamy green bean casserole topped with hot dogs and bacon is sure to be a favorite for kids of all ages.
Get the recipe
Southern-Style Canned Green Beans
Down-home Southern cuisine is known for infusing rich flavors into vegetable dishes, and this recipe is a perfect example. The canned green beans are cooked in bacon drippings and then supplemented by the chopped bacon itself, providing an ideal combination of veggie-forward freshness and tasty pork undertones.
Get the recipe
Country Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
These classic southern-style green beans with bacon and onion have been enjoyed for generations. Simple ingredients and loads of flavor.
Get the recipe
Three Bean Salad
Simple, fresh, and filling, this cold salad combines canned green beans with canned yellow wax and kidney beans to form the basis for this familiar side. It’s dressed in a delicious and vibrant vinaigrette that complements rather than overpowers the bean flavor.
Get the recipe
German Green Bean Salad
An alternative flavor profile for cold bean salad, this German take on the dish uses a mustardy dressing instead. It can easily be bulked up with chopped hardboiled eggs, feta cheese, or cooked beets.
Get the recipe
Toasted Almond Green Beans
Crunchy almonds and tender green beans provide a perfect textural contrast in this classic recipe, while Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice add big flavors with relatively little work.
Get the recipe
Red Wine Beef Stew
When you need a filling, stick-to-your-ribs dish that will warm you from the inside out, opt for this beef stew, which features green beans among a medley of ingredients like carrots, potatoes, celery, and succulent chunks of beef.
Get the recipe
Green Bean Soup
Try this green bean-centric take on the reliable comfort food standby that is veggie soup. It’s easy to make in batches for meal prep and suitable for vegetarians when swapping chicken stock for vegetable stock.
Get the recipe
Green Beans With Tomato Sauce
This staple side dish is popular in cultures across the Mediterranean, from Greece to Lebanon to Italy, where this version hails from. It’s a straightforward yet delicious way to meld these two everyday ingredients with flavorful pantry staples.
Get the recipe
Rotel Green Beans
Send your taste buds south of the border with this twist on the classic tomato and green bean combo. Green chiles complement cajun/creole seasoning to add a mouthwatering infusion of flavor that amps up any main course.
Get the recipe
Green Beans and Mushrooms
Another ultra-simple side that pairs with whatever meal you’re craving, the freshness of the green beans shines when played off the earthiness of the mushrooms. Meanwhile, just a light seasoning allows the flavors of the veggies to move to the forefront without heavy sauces covering them up.
Get the recipe
Canned green beans may not be the trendiest or most exciting ingredient, but there’s no reason they can’t be the centerpiece of delicious dishes. Keep these simple and versatile recipes in mind the next time you need to transform this canned veggie into a dinnertime star.
Leave a Reply