Sometimes, you just need the taste of home to be as quick as possible and that means knowing HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE. It’s easy to flavor your canned green beans so that they taste wonderful!
What I am going to tell you isn’t difficult in the least. You simply add a few seasonings and you’ll be on your way to a mouthful of Southern flavors in no time!
WHAT’S A GOOD SEASONING FOR CANNED GREEN BEANS?
Green beans are wonderful with all kinds of flavors. The most popular flavors are:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Bacon
- Bouillon
- Sugar
SUGAR? Yes, that’s right, sugar. An elderly lady told me that years ago and that’s how I’ve flavored green beans for years. In fact, most vegetables taste best with a little tad of table sugar added in.
ARE CANNED GREEN BEANS ALREADY COOKED
There is a short answer and a long answer to this question, but the answer you are looking for is, “they are safe to eat straight out of the can”. The canning process cooks them enough for safety.
WHAT KIND OF GREEN BEANS SHOULD I BE COOKING?
You’ll notice at the grocery that there are a selection of green beans available and I’ve described some of them below
FRENCH STYLE GREEN BEANS
These are typical green beans that have been split in half long ways thus making them “french style”. They taste the same as regular green beans for all intent and purpose.
ITALIAN GREEN BEANS
The Italian Green beans are a large flat bean with more green bean shell. They have a typical green bean flavor and are just a little more of a mouthful.
BEANS AND SHELLS
You’ll note that some of the green bean cans have more brown pea sized beans as well. These are just the seed of the bean and makes for a yummy nuttiness to your green beans.
IF YOU ENJOYED HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….
Clays Famous Three Bean Casserole
Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon
How to Cook Yellow Squash on the Stove
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE
- Drain the water out of the green bean can UNLESS you have purchased the green beans that have flavorings already in them EX: Margaret Holmes Seasoned Italian Green Beans.
- Many people will tell you that the water in the canned green beans contains lots of flavors, but personally, depending on what kind of beans you have purchased, you might not like the flavor of the water! (The water won’t hurt you, so if it is too late to drain it off, don’t worry about it).
- If you don’t have some of the ingredients in the recipe, just don’t worry about it. The only things that are absolutely essential are the salt and pepper.
- I know you are saying to yourself, “Sugar?”, the answer is, “Yes, sugar, sugar” (say with a southern accent). You won’t be sorry.
YA'LL, HELP ME OUT, OK?
Please leave me a 5 star comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, tool on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!
I can't wait!
Ya'll know I love comments!! ❤
How to Cook Canned Green Beans on the Stove
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz can of green beans
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 slice of bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
- ½ cup fresh water
- 1 teaspoon of bouillon concentrate OR 1 bouillon cube
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- On the stovetop over medium heat place a small saucepan and the butter and bacon. Cook the bacon till crispy.
- Drain the water from the green beans (unless it is a pre seasoned green bean).
- Add the beans, ½ cup fresh water, bouillon, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes (optional) to the bacon/butter mix and then taste once all of that is mixed in. Follow with salt and pepper according to your tastes.
- Heat over medium heat until the beans are heated through. If you prefer soft southern style green beans, continue to cook until beans are soft.
Notes
- Drain the water out of the green bean can UNLESS you have purchased the green beans that have flavorings already in them EX: Margaret Holmes Seasoned Italian Green Beans.
- Many people will tell you that the water in the canned green beans contains lots of flavors, but personally, depending on what kind of beans you have purchased, you might not like the flavor of the water! (The water won’t hurt you, so if it is too late to drain it off, don’t worry about it).
- If you don’t have some of the ingredients in the recipe, just don’t worry about it. The only things that are absolutely essential are the salt and pepper.
- I know you are saying to yourself, “Sugar?”, the answer is, “Yes, sugar, sugar” (say with a southern accent). You won’t be sorry.
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
Doesn’t Matthew have some wonderful news about Jesus? I think so too! Have you ever thought about what it means to become like a child in Christ?
What qualities do children have that are not at all like how adults are? You can think of a few, right? YOU fill in that blank.
Here’s the verse…
Matthew 18: 1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Norman Moore says
Your astute efforts to help everyone; including this military veteran are more than so appreciated. These tips for enhancing canned vegetables enabled me to enjoy all i have. so thankful you took the time and effort to help everyone; especially those of us that do not have much requisite, even rudimentary, culinary skill. Cap is tipped with respect. Thank you
Cindy says
I would love to make these with bacon 😀 but due to health reasons we eat very little meat. The garlic and onion powder should make these green beans very tasty. My mother would often put sugar in her green beans, maybe it's a southern thing.
Wendi Spraker says
I think that will work well if you can't do meat. Sugar makes almost all veggies taste better (In my opinion).
Anon says
Perfect without the salt, sugar and bacon. I also use only 3/4 tbsp non-dairy butter. These updates make it vegan, healthier and just as tasty 🤎
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks for sharing. We all make decisions about cooking based on our own dietary needs and ideas of health.
Connie Elam says
I made these green beans for Christmas dinner. Very tasty. My grown grandson is a very picky eater. He told me twice how good they were
Wendi Spraker says
That's wonderful news! It's great to see kids enjoying a vegetable, I think!
Theresa Taylor says
We eat lots of green beans- oh my word!!! These were phenomenal!!! I didn’t know how to season canned beans and man know I do!! My go to recipe from now on!!! How would you do make fresh green beans? Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Theresa, I make fresh green beans totally differently because I love the freshness of them. I coat them in a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and a bit of garlic powder and then I roast them in the oven on a sheet pan at 400 for a few minutes or I saute them in a frying pan for a few minutes and leave them mostly crispy. I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe. For the most part, canned foods aren't seasoned and that is where folks just don't know what to do. Glad you enjoyed these!
LittleMouse says
Awesome recipes and I’m not a cook, now out of the can taste closer to Mom’s. Thanks
Wendi Spraker says
You are so welcome!
JT says
Thank you for the suggestions of sugar and the oil oh, truly made a difference in the can green beans
Wendi Spraker says
You are welcome JT! Hope you find lots of other stuff you need here. 🙂
Linda says
Next time I cook green beans I'll add sugar.
Love your web page. Recipes are delicious.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Linda! Thanks for leaving a comment! I hope you love having just a little kiss of sugar in your beans! We do!