We have shared How to Cook Frozen Green Beans in all different ways. Now is the time to talk about frozen green bean recipes you can make as side dishes or in casseroles for the holidays, or year round.
You can make about any recipe with frozen green beans, we will show you how. Whether you bake inside your dish to get tender, blanch first and then fry or air fry to crispy they make a cheap vegetable dish that is family friendly. (affiliate links present)
What Can You Make with Frozen Green Beans
Most dishes use these right out of the bag. If you need them quickly defrosted beforehand you can blanch vegetables before using them in dishes. This might be best for those that require a shorter cooking time or a crisp texture.
This step involves briefly boiling quickly and then immediately placing them in ice water to stop the cooking process. This helps retain their color and keeps them crisper. I recommend this for dishes like our Fried Green Beans which you want to stay on the firmer side.
Are frozen green beans better than canned?
That depends on your personal preferences, nutritional considerations, and intended use. Frozen vegetables often have a fresher taste and better texture compared to canned stored in water. They tend to retain more of their natural crispness and flavor.
You can of course cook Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans to the texture you want and then fold them into your dish when that is done. If you really want to make sure they stay firmer with a bit of a crisp. Cooked inside of a dish will soften quite a bit so keep that in mind.
Easy Recipes with Frozen Green Beans
- Cheesy Green Bean Casserole is a classic side dish made with frozen veggies, cream of mushroom soup, cheese in this case and crispy fried onions. This is a staple at many holiday gatherings. You can jump to recipe right now if you want this one.
- if you are making this in a Crockpot I always suggest starting with frozen to make our Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole so they don’t become mush.
- Stir-Fry you can certainly add frozen green beans to stir-fry dishes with other vegetables, protein (such as chicken, beef, or tofu), and your choice of stir-fry sauce.
- Green Beans with Ham and Potatoes … sometimes I add onions too is a cheap and simple side dish that goes with just about any main dish.
- How Long to Cook Fresh Green Beans on Stove with olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasonings, in a large skillet is here. Same steps go for frozen too but just a little longer.
- You can also choose to roast them in the oven like our Sheet Pan Green Beans until they are slightly crispy.
- Use your pressure cook mode to make Ninja Foodi Green Beans with slivered almonds and butter for a classic and elegant easy side dish. A great option when you don’t have a lot of time.
- Green bean salad is where you just defrost and blanch them, then use them as a base for a cold green bean salad with cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and a vinaigrette dressing.
- Crockpot Potato Soup with Frozen Hashbrowns with 1 cup of these thrown in for the last hour until tener makes for an easy dinner especially if made in the slow cooker.
- Green Bean Frittata along with eggs, cheese, and other veggies is great for breakfast.
- Use them inside a vegetable curry alongside other vegetables and your choice of protein for an busy weeknight dish.
- Green Bean and Bacon Bundles is where you secure a few together with toothpicks, wrap with pork and bake until crispy.
If you wanted to make Air Fryer Green Bean Fries I would quickly blanch them for these too so they maintain a bit of crisp like fries. I have one of our favorite dishes served with a weeknight dinner below. You can print recipe to keep on hand or come back!! Frozen string beans are best if you ask me for the ideal texture.
How to defrost frozen green beans
Defrosting frozen green beans is a simple process, and there are a few methods you can choose from depending on your time frame and how you plan to use them. Here are three common methods for defrosting frozen green beans:
Thawing frozen green beans in the refrigerator
- Place the sealed bag or container in the refrigerator.
- Allow to thaw in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. The exact time will depend on the quantity and the temperature of your refrigerator.
- Once thawed, these can be used to cook quickly in your desired recipes.
How to thaw frozen vegetables in a Cold Water Bath
- Place the sealed bag in a large bowl or basin.
- Fill the bowl with cold water, making sure the bag is fully submerged.
- Change the water every 30 minutes to maintain a consistent temperature.
- The beans should thaw within 1 hour, depending on the quantity and thickness of the beans.
- Once thawed, drain before using them.
- Or open, put into a colander and run cold water over until slightly thawed to make Crack Green Beans.
How to defrost frozen green beans in the Microwave
- Transfer as many as you’d like to a microwave-safe dish.
- Use the microwave’s defrost setting or set it to a low power level (around 30% power).
- Microwave in short, 30-second bursts, checking the beans between each burst.
- Continue until they are no longer frozen but still slightly crisp. Be cautious not to overcook them.
- Use them immediately in your recipe.
Keep in mind that the microwave method is the quickest but may result in slightly softer outcomes compared to the other methods. The refrigerator method is the slowest but preserves the texture well. The cold water bath method is a good compromise between speed and texture preservation. After thawing, you can use in various recipes that cook quickly, or as a simple side dish.
Frozen Green Bean Recipes
Equipment
- 1 9×9 pan
- 1 Bowl
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 2 c frozen green beans
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 c mushrooms, sliced
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 c French's fried onions
- 1/3 tsp salt and pepper
- 1 c cheese, shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360 F. Fry the mushrooms in butter for 5-7 minutes on the stove to soften a bit. Add the frozen green beans to a bowl, as well as the sautéed mushrooms and 1/4 cup of crispy onions.
- Add 2/3 cup cheese and mushroom soup. Mix thoroughly and transfer the mixture to a sprayed square baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle on top the remaining cheese and remaining crispy onions on top and bake for another 10 minutes.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
