Grilled Green Beans

Learn how to grill green beans and you will never want to eat them any other way. It's a game changer and once you start grilling your vegetables, you will never look back. Try these Grilled Mushrooms and Garlic Grilled Broccoli as well.

A few years back I started roasting all my veggies and it changed everything. They come out caramelized, crispy, and delicious. A real game changer when it came to vegetables.

When it got hot outside I would find myself craving those roasted veggies but was not keen to heat up the house by turning on the oven. Enter grilled vegetables. Just like roasting, grilling vegetables brings out so much flavor. The vegetables get browned and charred in all the right places.

Many of us overlook the green bean when we think about grilled veggies. I am here to tell you that it's time to grill some green beans. They get this delicious, crispy outside while staying bright green and tender-crisp.

They are so so good. My whole family was devouring them as soon as they came off the grill. Plus they take under 10 minutes to cook.

This grilled green beans recipe pairs well with pretty much any meal. They work as a side dish with chicken, steak, pork, fish, and seafood. Leftover green beans make awesome additions to salads, wraps, and scrambles. And they taste great with any spices, herbs, or seasoning you want to add.

We also love making this Garlic Grilled Broccoli and Grilled Cauliflower during the summer grilling season.

Why We Love Grilled Green Beans

Here are a few reasons why we love grilled green beans.

• Flavorful: Just like roasting, grilling veggies brings out the natural sweetness in the green beans and give them those delicious charred, caramelized bits.
• Simple: It’s super easy to grill up some green beans even if it's your first time. Use a grill basket, foil, or skewers.
• Healthy: Green beans are chock full of fiber and other nutrients, making them an easy and nutritious side dish for lunch or dinner.
• Versatile: You can’t go wrong no matter how you season them or how you eat them. 

Key Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here are the ingredients you need to make this grilled green beans recipe and a few alternatives.

• Green beans: Use a pound of fresh green beans or substitute for wax beans, asparagus, snap peas, or snow peas. Frozen or canned green beans don't turn out well on the grill.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is great, but any oil will work. Try avocado or coconut oil or swap in melted butter.
• Seasonings: A combination of garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper adds great flavor. Explore different ways to season green beans below!

How to Grill Green Beans

Grilling vegetables is a great way to add variety to your summer meals. Green beans are perfect for the outdoor grill! They are sturdy enough to withstand the heat, and the delicious charred flavor is a nice contrast to their sweetness.

Here's how to cook green beans on the grill:

1. Prep the green beans: Green beans require a tiny bit of prep to get ready for the grill. Start by washing and drying the beans. Then, trim the stem ends, which can be fibrous and hard to chew.
2. Add fat: The beans need fat so they don't stick to the grill. It also brings out a lot of delicious flavors. Reach for olive, avocado, coconut, safflower, or any other oil you like. Toss green beans with the oil you choose.
3. Add seasoning: Go simple and add salt and fresh pepper, OR grab any other spices you like. The sweetness of green beans pairs great with spices like cumin or paprika. I also love adding garlic powder, onion powder, or steak seasoning for an all-in-one option.
   Tip: To ensure the green beans are well coated, combine the oil with the spices in the bottom of a large bowl. Then add the green beans to that and toss. This step helps the spices distribute evenly throughout the beans.
4. Grab a grill basket or pan: Green beans are best cooked with a grill basket or pan so they don't fall through the grill's grates. For best results, preheat the basket or pan on the hot grill rack. Then add the green beans and cook for 6-7 minutes, shaking the pan 1-2 times. The green beans are ready when they are bright green, tender-crisp, and have some grill marks.
   Tip: In a pinch, you can use a piece of heavy-duty foil or a cast iron skillet to serve as your grill pan. Place it on the grill grates and cook the beans on the foil.

Grilling Green Beans in Foil Packets

If you prefer a more steamed green bean, then foil packs are the perfect answer. Green beans cooked in foil get some of the charred grill taste and steam inside the foil packet, making them softer than a traditionally grilled bean. 

Adding other vegetables or quick-cooking proteins like fish, shrimp, or precooked sausages is also a great technique.

Flavor Ideas for Grilled Green Beans

Green beans are sweet, crunchy, and a blank canvas for all kinds of spices and herbs. They are delicious with something simple like salt and pepper, or you can spice things up with one of these ideas:

• Parmesan, Garlic, and Lemon: Add some freshly minced garlic or garlic powder to your green beans before cooking. Then top with fresh parmesan cheese and lemon juice right when they come off the grill. like these Parmesan Green Beans. 
• Cajun: For a bit of heat, add Cajun seasoning to the green beans before tossing them on the grill.
• Old Bay Seasoning: This classic seafood seasoning is also amazing on vegetables and works great with green beans., Trust me - you'll love it.
• Balsamic Vinegar: For a little extra tang, toss the green beans with balsamic vinegar before grilling them and drizzle some extra on top before serving them.
• With onions: For extra flavor, add sliced or chopped onions to the grill basket with the onions. 
• With tomatoes: Believe it or not, cherry tomatoes are great on the grill. Throw them in the grill basket with your green beans. Then add Parmesan cheese - magic.
• With bacon: If you want to cook the green beans on the grill, consider making seasoned green beans wrapped in bacon. Grab a small handful of green beans and wrap them in one to two pieces of bacon. Secure the bundle with a toothpick and grill for 8-10 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the green beans are tender.

How to Serve Grilled Green Beans

Although no one will be disappointed when these delicious charred green beans appear as a side dish, you can also get creative and use them in various recipes.

• Make a Grilled Green Bean Salad: Add cherry tomatoes, shallots, and feta cheese. Toss with lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh black pepper,
• Use them in a grilled vegetable pasta salad: Add all your other grilled veggie favorites. Add a store-bought vinaigrette or make your own.
• Serve them as a snack: Pair the beans with a healthy ranch dip or hummus for a fun twist of the usual raw veggies.
• To make a hearty vegetarian dish, Toss the green beans with canned chickpeas, tomatoes, arugula, and goat cheese. Add olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and fresh basil.

Can I use other beans?

This recipe works with all different types of beans. Try it with sugar snap peas, snow peas, haricot verts, Romano beans, or wax beans.

Depending on the size of the beans, they might need a little less or a little more cooking time. You can also use a combination of different types of green beans

How To Store Leftover Green Beans

If you have leftovers, here’s what you should do with them.

• Fridge: Place leftover grilled beans in an airtight container. They will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, though they may lose their crunchy texture.
• Freezer: Transfer grilled beans to a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
• Reheat: To crisp the green beans, reheat them in the oven, in a hot cast iron skillet, or under the broiler.