Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

These Green Beans with Candied Pecans are sautéed to perfection and topped with sweet, candied pecans. These green beans are easy to make and are the perfect side dish to any meal.

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

If you are looking for the best green bean recipe, these Green Beans with Candied Pecans is the one!

We love serving these for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parties, and even Sunday dinner.

Green beans never tasted so good!

If you need some more ideas of what to make with green beans, try these recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Green Beans
  • Instant Pot Green Beans
  • Brown Sugar and Bacon Green Beans
  • Oven Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients needed for Green Beans with Candied Pecans:

  • fresh green beans
  • chopped pecans
  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • salt and pepper

Related Recipe: These make-ahead mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious! a great side dish for any meal.

How to perfectly sauté green beans:

To perfectly sauté green beans, start by placing them in a pot of water over medium-high heat and bring them to a boil.

Reduce heat to low-medium and let them continue to boil for 5-8 minutes, or until they are just tender and can be pierced with a fork.

While the green beans are boiling, submerge a colander into a bowl of ice water and set aside.

When the beans are done boiling, use tongs or a slotted spoon to place them in the colander to stop the cooking process.

This will help them to not become soggy.

Next, melt 1-2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet and toss green beans in it until they are heated through.

Season with salt and pepper or other desired seasonings and serve.

How to trim fresh green beans:

If you are wanting to quickly trim a large portion of green beans, start by rinsing them with water, patting dry with a paper towel and then lining them up on a cutting board.

Using a chef’s knife, cut off all the tips at once.

If you are nervous about cutting so many beans at once, do it in smaller groups until you are comfortable.

Flip the beans around, line up the tips again and trim off the other side.

If you don’t want to worry about fussing with a knife, you can always use kitchen shears to trim off the ends of each bean but it is a little more time consuming.

How to make Green Beans with Candied Pecans:

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

I started by washing and trimming my green beans like mentioned above.

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

Place green beans in a large pan of boiling water. While the beans are boiling, place a colander in a large bowl of ice water and set aside.

Let the beans boil for 5 minutes, or until they reach the desired level of doneness. I like to be able to easily pierce mine with a fork, but still slightly firm.

After they are done boiling, transfer the beans to the colander in ice water to stop the cooking process then drain well.

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

While the beans are set aside, make the candied pecans. Start by placing some waxed or parchment paper on the countertop to spread your hot pecans on to cool.

Then, place the pecans and the brown sugar in a frying pan over-medium high heat.

Stir continually and after a few minutes the brown sugar will begin to caramelize.

Continue stirring and once all of the sugar is completely melted and the pecans are evenly coated, remove from heat and spread in an even layer on waxed paper.

Let the pecans cool completely and then break apart into smaller pieces if necessary.

Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat (I usually use the same pan I boiled the beans in), add the beans and saute until they are heated through.

Season with salt and pepper then place in a serving dish and top with candied pecans.

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

Serve immediately and enjoy!

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Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (7)

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CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING DISHES:

  • 30 Minute Dinner Rolls
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • How To Make Turkey Gravy From Scratch
  • Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
  • Strawberry Jello Fluff Salad
  • Easy Sweet Cornbread
  • Simple Pumpkin Pie
  • Pumpkin Dump Cake
  • Fluffy Cranberry Salad
  • Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
  • The BEST Candied Yams without Corn Syrup
  • Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
  • Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Tray Recipe and Homemade Ranch Dip

Other delicious green bean recipes:

  • Balsamic Green Beans and Mushrooms
  • Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
  • Sesame Green Beans
  • Bacon Parmesan Green Beans
  • Brown Sugar and Bacon Green Beans

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (8)

Serves: 8

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe

The perfect side dish for any special dinner!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh green beans trimmed
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place green beans in a large pan of boiling water.

  • Place a colander in a large bowl of ice water; set aside.

  • Cook beans for 5 minutes and transfer to colander in ice water to stop cooking then drain well.

  • Place pecans and brown sugar in a frying pan over medium-high heat.

  • Stir continually until the sugar is completely melted and pecans are evenly coated in melted sugar.

  • Spread in an even layer on waxed paper until cool. Break apart into smaller pieces if necessary.

  • Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat, add beans and saute until heated through.

  • Season with salt and pepper.

  • Place beans in a serving dish and top with candied pecans.

  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • How to trim green beans: Using a chef’s knife, cut off all the tips at once. If you are nervous about cutting so many beans at once, do it in smaller groups until you are comfortable. Flip the beans around, line up the tips again and trim off the other side.
  • If you don’t want to worry about fussing with a knife, you can always use kitchen shears to trim off the ends of each bean but it is a little more time consuming.
  • If you don’t want to make your own candied pecans, you can buy them at the store and just heat them up a little bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 181 kcal · Carbohydrates: 17 g · Protein: 3 g · Fat: 13 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 8 mg · Sodium: 34 mg · Potassium: 304 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 878 IU · Vitamin C: 14 mg · Calcium: 57 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Equipment

  • colander

  • Frying pan

  • 9×13" serving dish

Recipe Details

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (9)

Join The Discussion

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  1. Jane Wittman says:

    How much brown sugar?

  2. Cyd says:

    1/4 cup brown sugar. You didn't scroll down far enough for the full recipe. It's all there.

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (10)

About The Author:

Momma Cyd

Cyd is the mom of the six sisters and joined the team early on to help out. She shares the best of the best recipes from her kitchen.

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Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

What to add to a can of green beans to make them taste better? ›

directions
  1. Heat entire contents of the canned green beans. Drain.
  2. Place butter in the bottom of a serving bowl and add DRAINED green beans, stirring gently until butter is melted.
  3. Sprinkle with parmesan (and thyme if using)and serve.
  4. NOTE: This would work equally well on fresh or frozen green beans.

How to fancy up green beans? ›

15 Tips To Add Flavor To Green Beans
  1. Roast green beans. ...
  2. Blanch green beans and add butter. ...
  3. Grill green beans and serve with yogurt. ...
  4. Simmer green beans in chicken broth. ...
  5. Air fry green beans and add garlic powder. ...
  6. Roast in bacon fat and combine with bacon. ...
  7. Jazz them up with cream. ...
  8. Mix green beans into mac and cheese.
Feb 12, 2023

Why add baking soda to water when cooking green beans? ›

Some people (especially food service establishments relying upon your satisfaction) add an alkaline ingredient, such as baking soda, to the cooking water to help retain the color of green vegetables.

Should you rinse canned green beans before cooking? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

How to make candied pecans less sticky? ›

Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

If your candied pecans are soft, it is likely because the sugar syrup coating has not completely hardened. The syrup may still be wet, or it may have started to crystalize. If the syrup is still wet, you can try putting the nuts in the oven for a few minutes to help the syrup harden.

Should I soak pecans before baking? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

What seasoning is best for green beans? ›

Spices and Herbs that Pair Perfectly with String Beans (These are Organic Too):
  • Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
  • Onion (minced, powder or granules)
  • Parsley as a finisher with some lemons squeezed on top.
  • Toasted sesame seeds.
  • Classic black malabar pepper and salt.
  • Basil.
  • Oregano.
  • Thyme.
Feb 24, 2021

How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

Dried beans cooked with sea salt and water are delicious, but adding an onion, garlic, or other aromatics to the pot will make them even more flavorful!

How do you make canned green beans not rubbery? ›

  1. Put a pot of water on to boil.
  2. Add salt.
  3. When it boils, add the trimmed green beans.
  4. Cook to the doneness you prefer. ...
  5. When they're cooked to your liking, empty the beans into a colander in the sink.
  6. Add a chunk of butter (~2 tablespoons) into the pan you just emptied.
  7. Let it melt in the hot pan.
Apr 9, 2022

How to get bitterness out of green beans? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

Is it better to steam or boil fresh green beans? ›

Steaming is a simple way to cook vegetables, and it leaves the flavor and much of the nutrients intact. It's slightly healthier than boiling since fewer nutrients end up in the water. Plus, steaming requires little time and attention. A steamer basket is a great kitchen tool to have on hand.

Should green beans be steamed or boiled? ›

Steaming green beans gives them the same crisp-tender texture as blanching or boiling. Yet I think it preserves their lovely green color and allows the home cook more control over their texture than with those other two methods. Steaming is easy, too—and ease is what this recipe is all about.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

What is the best way to cook green vegetables so they stay firm and bright? ›

They are knocked out by heat so putting vegetables into a big pot of boiling water deactivates the enzymes before they can break down the chlorophyll. Briefly steaming greens is the best way to retain their flavour and nutrients.

How long to soak green beans before cooking? ›

To soak beans the traditional way, cover them with water by 2 inches, add 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon fine salt) per pound of beans, and let them soak for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Drain them and rinse before using.

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