Published 10/30/2023 • Updated 3/17/2024 The holiday season is here and I’m excited to share a recipe that’s been on my Thanksgiving table since I can remember (thanks Mom!). Lots of Thanksgiving sides are heavy and cheesy (don’t get me wrong we love cheese), but this Thanksgiving side is fresh, zesty, and on the lighter side. This 2-part recipe features blanched green beans sautéed with shallot, garlic, almonds, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It’s made right on the stovetop, freeing up valuable oven space for other holiday staples like healthy sweet potato casserole and spatchcock turkey. Our #1 tip for green beans almondine success? Don’t skip blanching the beans! This extra (simple) step ensures the green beans stay bright green in color, while still being cooked inside. Add these green beans to your menu today!
What You Need for Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Olive Oil + Butter Shallot + Garlic Salt + Pepper Lemon Juice + Zest Almonds
Green Beans Almondine Variations
Citrus: We love the brightness that fresh lemon juice and zest add, but feel free to use orange juice and zest or omit it completely. Almonds: Feel free to use toasted almonds instead of raw almonds. To toast almonds, add 1 tablespoon of butter to a pan and heat over medium/high heat. Sauté almonds for a few minutes, or until they become golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat immediately and use as instructed in the recipe.
Storage
This one of few holiday side dishes that we recommend making fresh (no valuable oven space is needed, though!). The crisp green beans and crunchy almonds really shine if enjoyed right after making it. If you do have leftover green beans, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Veggie Side Dishes
Healthy Green Bean Casserole Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Garlic Glazed Carrots Roasted Root Vegetables Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
We don’t recommend freezing green beans almondine.
Serving Suggestions
Green beans almondine is most commonly enjoyed throughout the holiday season (though we often wonder why we don’t make them more often!). They’re a fresh and flavorful side dish addition alongside Thanksgiving turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, and cheesy scalloped potatoes. You could even make them in place of (or in addition to) healthy green bean casserole!
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for more healthy Thanksgiving recipes to fill your holiday table with? Check out all of our best turkey day recipes in one spot!
