This Green Bean Almondine recipe is an elegant, simple, dizzyingly delicious side dish made with crisp tender green beans, crispy bacon and crunchy almonds that pairs well with just about anything, perfect for the holidays or every day!

Green Beans Almondine is the fresh, sophisticated, approachable answer to green bean casserole – but with plenty of pizzazz. It’s ideal for the holidays, company, or anytime you need an easy side dish that goes with practically everything. This swoon worthy Green Bean Almondine recipe is made with crisp-tender green beans sautéed in nutty, browning butter, combined with shallots, garlic, freshly grated lemon juice and zest, all tossed with crunchy toasted almonds and crispy, meaty bacon. Serve it alongside holiday dishes like Roast Turkey Breast, Brown Sugar Glazed Ham and Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin or everyday favorites like Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Oven Fried Chicken and Weeknight Spaghetti.

Green beans are a favorite side dish this time of year and easy to find all year round! Don’t miss Italian Green Bean Salad, Bacon Wrapped Green Beans, Roasted Green Beans with Gruyere Sauce, Dijon Maple Green Beans and Green Beans with Bacon Mushroom Sauce.

PIN THIS RECIPE TO SAVE FOR LATER

How to Make Green Beans Almondine Video

top view of Green Beans Amondine recipe with almonds, bacon, garlic and shallots

What is Green Beans Almondine?

Green Beans Almondine is simply a fancy way of saying “Green Beans with Almonds.” Amandine is a French term for a dish that is prepared with toasted almonds, “almondine” in English. Green Beans Almondine is a classic French recipe in which green beans are sauteed in butter and combined with toasted almonds. Other ingredients such as garlic, shallots and lemon zest can also be added depending on the chef.

Why you’ll love these Green Beans with Almonds

An elevated recipe! Today’s Green Bean Almondine recipe is anything but bland and boring, it will have partakers losing their minds! It’s elevated by crispy bacon that adds meaty texture in contrast to the crunchy almonds, sautéed shallots and garlic which add zingy, aromatic sweetness, and fresh lemon juice and zest that brighten and balance the dish. You want to put your fork down!

BACON. While you don’t have to add bacon, I have to underscore what a dizzyingly delicious addition it is. The crispy, meaty, salty, bacon is the perfect foil for the garlicky green beans and crunchy toasted almonds.

Simple yet elegant. This recipe is approachable, elegant, and ideal for holidays, company, or every day!

Quick and easy to make. Blanch the green beans while the bacon crisps up, toast the almonds, add the shallots and garlic, followed by the green beans, lemon juice and lemon zest – that’s it!

Crisp tender green beans. Forget those memories of soggy green beans! These green beans are bright and perfectly tender thanks to a quick blanching in hot water then transferring to a water bath; the ideal crisp tenderness every time!

Infinitely customizable. Omit the bacon, add your favorite herbs and seasonings, red pepper flakes, cheese, dried cranberries, etc.

Green Bean Almondine Recipe Ingredients

What green beans can I use in this recipe?

French Green Beans: aka haricot verts (pronounced “arr-ee-co vair”) are the best green beans for this recipe. They are smaller, thinner and longer than regular green beans and make for an elegant presentation. French green beans are harvested earlier, so they tend to be more tender, more flavorful, and cook more evenly. Don’t confuse these with French cut green beans or Frenched green beans, which are beans that are thinly sliced.
Standard Green Beans: You can also use standard green beans (Blue Lake beans/string beans/snap beans) in this recipe. These are actually the green beans pictured (3 stores I checked didn’t have French green beans yet) and were still delicious! You may find you need to blanch them for 1 minute more than French green beans.
Frozen Green Beans: These are fresh green beans picked at the peak of freshness, then blanched and flash frozen. This means you can enjoy the freshness of green beans without having to blanch them first. To use frozen green beans, thaw them first (overnight in the fridge works well), then dry them very well before sautéing.
Canned Green Beans: I do NOT recommend using canned green beans because they aren’t fresh or crisp-tender, but on the soft side. However, if your family prefers, them, got for it! Omit the blanching step in the recipe.

showing how to make Green Beans Almondine recipe by sautéing the green in butter

How to Select the Best Green Beans

You will need 1 pound of fresh green beans for this recipe. Here are some helpful tips to select the freshest and therefore the most flavorful green beans:

1. Check for color: They should be vibrant green and free of blemishes; not yellowish or brownish.
2. Check for texture: The skin should be smooth and tight. It should be free from bumps, bruises and blemishes which can indicate overripe green beans.
3. Check for freshness: They should be firm to the point they would snap in half if you bent them and not limp or flabby.
4. Check for uniformity: Select, thin, long green beans similar in size so they cook evenly. Avoid large green beans that are excessively thick because they can be tough or stringy. Don’t worry if your green beans vary significantly in length, the main factor is the thickness.

How do you prepare fresh green beans?

To prepare your green beans for this recipe, you’ll need to wash and trim them. To trim green beans quickly, gather a small portion of beans into a small pile, lining up the tips on one side. Trim the tips with one slice using a large knife. Push the beans to the opposite side so they are flush and trim that end. You can trim them straight or at a slight diagonal for a more gourmet presentation.

In addition to green beans, this speedy, full flavored side dish utilizes everyday ingredients in perfect proportions. Let’s review the ingredients you’ll need to make this Green Bean Almondine recipe (full measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Salt: You’ll need a full tablespoon of salt for seasoning the blanching water, plus a pinch for sautéing.
Sliced almonds: Purchase almonds that are raw (i.e. unsalted and not toasted).
Bacon: Use thick cut bacon because it’s meatier and won’t get lost in the recipe.
Unsalted butter: I prefer cooking with unsalted butter which allows you to season the Green Bean Almondine to taste.
Shallots: You’ll need ¼ cup shallots for this recipe. This should be about 1 medium shallot.
Garlic: Use 3 to 4 fresh garlic cloves depending on your garlic love.
Spices: Salt, pepper, dried thyme and ground nutmeg round out the flavors of this recipe.
Lemon juice + zest: Lemon pairs beautifully with green beans and adds a pop of freshness to enliven the dish. Freshly squeezed is preferred since you’ll also need lemon zest for this recipe.

serving Green Beans Almondine in a bowl garnished by almonds and bacon

HOW TO MAKE Green Beans almondine

You’ve selected the freshest green beans and know how to trim them — now it’s time to get cooking! Below is an overview of how to make Green Bean Almondine (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Step 1: Blanch the green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with 1 tablespoon of salt. Make a large ice bath and set it to the side in the sink. Blanch the beans for 3-4 minutes, then drain and immediately transfer to the ice bath. Le the beans cool while you proceed with the recipe.

showing how to make Green Beans Almondine by blanching the green beans in a bowl of ice water

Step 2: Cook the Bacon. Cook the bacon in large skillet over medium-low heat until crispy. Remove bacon and discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease.

showing how to make Green Beans Almondine by cooking bacon in a skillet

Step 3: Sauté the almonds. Melt the butter in the remaining bacon grease. Add the almonds and sauté until lightly golden brown. They will become more golden as they continue to toast with the garlic and shallots in the next step.

showing how to make Green Beans Almondine by sautéing the almonds in butter to toast

Step 4: Sauté the aromatics. Add the shallots, garlic, and spices to the almonds. Sauté an additional 2 minutes, or until the shallots are tender.

a collage showing how to make Green Beans Almondine by adding the garlic and shallots and sautéing with the almonds

Step 5: Sauté the blanched green beans. Drain the green beans and add them to the skillet, or transfer them using a strainer (you don’t need to dry the beans first). Mix all of the ingredients together, then sauté until the green beans reach your decided level of crisp-tenderness. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.

top view of making Green Beans Almondine by sautéing greens with butter, almonds, garlic and shallots

Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance?

Green Beans Almondine is best freshly made because both the bacon and almonds soften while sitting. Still, the dish can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm in the crockpot or even reheated, just know the almonds won’t be quite as crunchy, but still plenty tasty.

Option 1: Blanch the green beans. Blanch the green beans only for 3 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath. Dry the cool beans thoroughly (it’s helpful to line then in a single layer on towels/paper towels). Transfer the dried green beans to an airtight container or large Ziploc bag lined with paper towels and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Option 2: Combine and reheat. You may wish to skip the bacon (use butter instead of bacon drippings) and make the bacon fresh before serving so its supremely crispy. Follow the recipe as directed, but don’t sauté the green beans (still blanch). Instead, combine them in the pan, then immediately transfer to a container to cool. When ready to serve, melt a pat of butter in a skillet, then sauté over medium-low heat until the beans are heated through completely. You may wish to add a splash of fresh lemon juice because it can mellow in the fridge (taste first!) and some additional butter if the beans seem dry.

Option 3: Keep warm in the crockpot. Transfer the prepared recipe (hold the bacon) to a greased slow cooker and keep warm. Take extra care not to overcook the green beans, and only keep warm for a few hours, not all day. Add the bacon just before serving so it stays crispy.

Tips for Green Bean Almondine

Don’t skip the blanching. Set a timer and don’t blanch the green beans for too long. Have the ice bath ready to immediately shock the green beans so they stop cooking.
Salt the water very well. One tablespoon of salt may sound like a lot, but the green beans won’t absorb most of it! You need to heavily salt the water in order to season the green beans.
Don’t shock the green beans for too long. Let the green beans chill until no longer warm, but don’t forget about them. If they sit in the water for too long, they will start to absorb the water.
Watch the slivered almonds closely. When the almonds are first added to the pan with the butter, you need to stir them regularly and keep the heat on medium-low heat, no hotter. The almonds will still be pretty pale when you add the shallots and garlic, but will continue to brown with the aromatics.
Cook the beans until crisp-tender. I don’t recommend sautéing the green beans for too long or you’ll wind up with mushy green beans. On the opposite end of the spectrum, now is the time to sauté the green beans to your liking if the blanching time wasn’t sufficient. You’re aiming for crisp-tender, not tender-crisp.
Cook the bacon until crisp: Crispy bacon is best for this recipe, so make sure to cook it low and slow to render the fat, cook until super crispy, then drain in a single layer on paper towels.
Add bacon later, if making in advance: If you’re making the this recipe well in advance, reserve the cooked bacon and stir it in just before serving. The bacon will soften the longer it sits.
Season to taste: You may find you like more lemon juice, more salt, pepper or even a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Green Beans Almondine Recipe Variations

Swap the bacon for ham: leftover holiday ham or a good-quality deli ham will also provide the coveted salty-sweetness like bacon.
Use turkey bacon: for a lighter version.
Add cheeses to garnish: sprinkle with goat cheese, feta cheese, gorgonzola cheese or Parmesan after cooking.
Add balsamic vinegar: swap out the lemon juice for balsamic vinegar for a different flavor profile.
Caramelized almonds: instead of sautéing the sliced almonds in butter, try caramelizing whole almonds, then chopping, for a sweet candied crunch.
Swap nuts: Greens Bean Almondine is always made with almonds (hence the name), but you could also try it with chopped pecans, pistachios, cashews, or walnuts – just don’t call it almandine!
Add seeds: a sprinkle of toasted sunflower seeds or pepitas would be tasty.
Add dried cranberries: add plump, sweet, juicy gems of dried cranberries.
Dairy-free: swap the butter for dairy-free butter or oils like coconut oil or olive oil.

easy green bean almondine recipe with garlic being served in a white dish

WHAT to serve with Green Beans Almondine

This easy green bean side dish pairs well with just about everything! Try pairing it with:

Holiday food: Herb Butter Turkey, Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast, Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, Honey Baked Ham, Garlic Herb Butter Pork Tenderloin, Pot Roast, Beef Tips and Gravy, and Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Roast Beef.
Any protein: fish, shrimp, steak, pork, chicken etc.
Italian food: Lasagna, Spaghetti, Chicken Parmesan, Baked Penne, Million Dollar Mac or Shrimp Fettuccine.
Comfort food: Meatloaf, Beef Brisket French Dips, Pot Roast or Oven Fried Chicken.

showing how to serve Green Beans Almondine by adding to a bowl and garnishing with bacon

How to store Almond Green Beans

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

How do I reheat This Recipe?

Microwave: Reheat for 30 seconds, then at 10-second intervals as needed. Microwave green beans will be softer.

Stove: Heat a pat of butter in a skillet and heat over medium-low heat. Add the green beans and heat until warmed through, turning occasionally.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the green beans in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months. Keep in mind, the green beans will have a softer, more watery texture when you thaw and reheat.

up close of easy green bean almondine recipe with garlic

Looking for more Recipes?

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Green Bean Salad
Dijon Maple Green Beans
Roasted Green Beans with Creamy Gruyère Sauce
Green Beans with Cremini Bacon Mushroom Sauce
Green Bean Casserole

WANT TO TRY THIS Green Beans RECIPE?

PIN IT recipe BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!

FIND ME ON PINTEREST FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES! I AM ALWAYS PINNING :)!

©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Tools Used in This Recipe

Pasta Pot and Strainer

Cast Iron Skillet 12-inch (Staub)

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

Citrus Zester

Citrus Press Juicer

Fine Mesh Strainer

See Favorite Tools

Green Beans Almondine Recipe

Green Beans Almondine is the fresh, sophisticated, approachable answer to green bean casserole – but with plenty of pizzazz. It’s ideal for the holidays, company, or anytime you need an easy side dish that goes with practically everything. This swoon worthy Green Bean Almondine recipe is made with crisp-tender green beans sautéed in nutty, browning butter, combined with shallots, garlic, freshly grated lemon juice and zest, all tossed with crunchy toasted almonds and crispy, meaty bacon. Serve it alongside holiday dishes like Roast Turkey Breast, Brown Sugar Glazed Ham and Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin or everyday favorites like Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Oven Fried Chicken and Weeknight Spaghetti.

Servings: -6 servings

Total Time: 35

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Ingredients

1 lb (16 oz) French green beans (haricot verts), trimmed
1 tablespoon salt, for cooking water
5 strips thick cut bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
1/4 cup diced shallots
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp EACH salt, dried thyme (or more to taste)
1/8 tsp EACH pepper, nutmeg
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
zest of one small lemon

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with 1 tablespoon of salt. Prepare a large bowl of ice water (ice bath). Blanch French green beans for 3-4 minutes (4-5 minutes for regular green beans). Use a strainer or tongs to transfer the green beans to the ice bath; set aside.
Meanwhile, cook bacon in large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat until crispy. Remove bacon to paper towels and discard all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease.
Melt butter in the remaining bacon grease over medium-low heat. Add the almonds and sauté until lightly golden brown, about 3 minutes (they will continue to toast in the next step).
Add the shallots, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg (don't remove almonds). Sauté an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the shallots are softened.
Drain the green beans and add them to the skillet (no need to dry). Mix all of the ingredients together until evenly combined. Sauté until the green beans reach desired crisp-tenderness.
Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Transfer to a serving platter and top with crumbled bacon. Season to taste. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

make ahead options

Green Beans Almondine is best freshly made because both the bacon and almonds soften while sitting. Still, the dish can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm in the crockpot or even reheated, just know the almonds won’t be quite as crunchy, but still plenty tasty.

Option 1: Blanch the green beans. Blanch the green beans only for 3 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath. Dry the cool beans thoroughly (it’s helpful to line then in a single layer on towels/paper towels). Transfer the dried green beans to an airtight container or large Ziploc bag lined with paper towels and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Option 2: Combine and reheat. You may wish to skip the bacon (use butter instead of bacon drippings) and make the bacon fresh before serving so its supremely crispy. Follow the recipe as directed, but don’t sauté the green beans (still blanch). Instead, combine them in the pan, then immediately transfer to a container to cool. When ready to serve, melt a pat of butter in a skillet, then sauté over medium-low heat until the beans are heated through completely. You may wish to add a splash of fresh lemon juice because it can mellow in the fridge (taste first!) and some additional butter if the beans seem dry.
Option 3: Keep warm in the crockpot. Transfer the prepared recipe (hold the bacon) to a greased slow cooker and keep warm. Take extra care not to overcook the green beans, and only keep warm for a few hours, not all day. Add the bacon just before serving so it stays crispy.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!