Fresh, green, succulent and delicious. Out of season, fresh frozen green beans are the VERY BEST option next to picked from the vine green beans that you’ll find. I’ll show you how with How to Cook Frozen Green Beans.
There are many ways to prepare these green beans and we will cover how to cook frozen green beans on the stovetop, in the oven, in a crockpot, in the microwave and in an instant pot or a pressure cooker.
Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- CHEAP!
- Ready in 10 minutes!
- You get MANY ways to do this: Stove top, oven, microwave, pressure cooker, instapot and MORE!
- Most frozen green beans are fresh frozen and therefore, all the goodness is locked in.
- Easy to do and few ingredients.
- I cover the PRO TIPS and the TIPS and TRICKS so that your beans will be perfect!
- Great in Green Bean Casserole! or even a double green bean casserole like this one: Best Double Green Bean Casserole Recipe (Classic)
WHAT ARE FROZEN GREEN BEANS?
- Frozen green beans are beans that have been picked fresh and then flash frozen and packaged for easy home use.
- The benefit of using frozen green beans vs. canned green beans is that you can only cook the amount you want and keep the rest frozen for next time. No waste.
- Frozen green beans are a great choice for those on a budget for this reason.
WHY ARE FROZEN GREEN BEANS BETTER?
- Frozen green beans are generally a little better for you because they retain a great deal of the vitamins and minerals of fresh green beans.
- You’ll notice that the texture and taste is more similar to fresh green beans
ARE FROZEN GREEN BEANS GOOD FOR ME?
Yes, frozen green beans are good for you! Didn’t your mom always say, “eat your beans?”. lol.
Don’t just take it from me, Martha Stewart says so too!
HOW CAN I MAKE FROZEN GREEN BEANS TASTE BETTER?
Green Beans always taste better when accompanied with some of the following:
- Sugar
- Bacon
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cayenne
- Hot Sauce
- Ketchup
- Roasted Tomatoes
- Soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- liquid smoke
HOW TO THAW FROZEN GREEN BEANS?
Two Methods for thawing green beans…
METHOD ONE
- Place the amount of frozen green beans you would like to cook in a colander and run cool water over the beans from the kitchen faucet. Stir frequently. Beans will thaw in 5 -10 minutes
METHOD TWO
- Put the amount of frozen green beans that you would like to cook into the refrigerator at least 24 hours before you want to prepare them. Put them on a plate and place a cloth towel or paper towel beneath to catch any liquid that may leak from the bag.
Do NOT Thaw green beans by leaving them out on the counter. This could lead to illness.
WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH FROZEN GREEN BEANS?
Easy Tasty Meatloaf is an idea
Or even some Marinated Pork Chops would be good!
This post for how to cook canned chick peas is a great recipe for green beans.
How about How to Cook Canned Creamed Corn? Everyone loves beans and corn together!
HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS IN THE OVEN
Roasting your frozen green beans is a great option.
- First, you’ll want to thaw your green beans as much as possible per the instructions below or above.
- Then, you’ll want to put as many green beans as you want to fix onto a sheet pan.
- Pour 2-3 Tbs of vegetable oil onto the green beans and using your hands mix them all together so that the green beans become coated with oil.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and a pinch of cayenne. Toss again.
- Roast in the oven at 425 for 30 minutes. Check your beans and give them a flip after 15 minutes.
PRO TIP: Use bacon grease instead of vegetable oil or add some to the vegetable oil for great flavor. Sprinkle your finished green beans with bacon bits. Add almond slivers to your beans when you flip them after 15 minutes.
HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS IN A CROCKPOT
- Add all of the ingredients listed in the recipe below. You do not have to thaw the green beans first.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have chicken broth available, use 12 oz water and a bouillon cube or 1 tsp of bouillon concentrate.
HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS IN A MICROWAVE
- In a large microwave safe bowl, place all of the ingredients for the stovetop recipe. You may want to thaw the green beans first.
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir, then repeat in 30 sec. Intervals until heated through.
HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS IN AN INSTANT POT OR PRESSURE COOKER.
- Add all of the ingredients to the instant pot or pressure cooker as noted in the stovetop recipe. No need to thaw the green beans first.
- If you prefer soft southern style green beans, cook at high pressure for 25 minutes.
- If you prefer a more firm fresh style green bean, then cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Allow either cook time to slow release.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS
- If your prepared beans taste bitter or don’t have much flavor or don’t taste that good, you probably need to add a little more salt, pepper and butter.
- If green beans aren’t the thing for you, they always taste better dipped in some ketchup, no kidding.
- Want to make baby food with your green beans? Don’t add anything to your frozen beans, simply thaw, heat and then grind into a paste.
- The secret to good frozen green beans is to NOT boil them, the point of the water is to steam them. Use as little water as possible to make this happen.
- Feel free to season your beans the way you like, onion, garlic and bacon are always wonderful with beans (or almost anything).
- It isn’t always necessary to thaw the green beans before cooking.
PRO TIP FOR HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS.
- Your beans will turn out the best if you thaw them a little first. You can accomplish this by running them under cool water from the kitchen faucet.
- Simply place the amount of beans you want to prepare in a colander and run under cool water for 5 -10 minutes, stirring frequently.
IF YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….
How to Cook Frozen Corn on the Cob
How to Cook Green Beans on the Stovetop
All the Secrets to Perfect Pinto Beans
LET’S SEE HOW THIS IS DONE
First, heat the stock in the sauce pan to a rolling boil. Then add the frozen green beans to the saucepan. There’s no need to thaw the green beans first.
How to cook frozen green beans. Thaw Green beans
The small amount of chicken stock will cook the beans. If the stock seems to be evaporating away, just add a little more (like 1/4 cup). Add the butter when the stock is mostly gone.
Adding a pat of butter to saucepan
Once the butter is melted add the salt, pepper and other seasonings. You’ll want to make sure you have salt, pepper and a touch of acid like vinegar.
Add the seasonings
YA’LL BE SWEET NOW!
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how to cook frozen green beans
THE RECIPE FOR HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVETOP
HOW TO COOK FROZEN GREEN BEANS
Ingredients
- 1 lb of frozen green beans
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 3 Tbs butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- ½ tsp cider vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop heat the chicken stock till boiling.
- Add the frozen green beans (thawed if possible for you).
- Bring the stock back to a boil and heat the frozen green beans stirring often for 5 minutes. (The idea is to steam the beans, not to boil them). Watch carefully that the chicken stock does not steam away. If it is starting to get low, add more.
- After a full 5 minutes, add the butter, garlic, onion, salt pepper, hot sauce, cider vinegar and sugar. Stir well and heat until butter is melted and beans are fully heated through.
Notes
- If you don’t have chicken stock, use an equal amount of water and a bouillon cube or water and a 1 tsp of chicken stock concentrate. Allow either to fully dissolve in the hot water before adding the beans.
- Vegetarian? Use vegetable stock or vegetable stock concentrate instead!
- In place of the butter, feel free to substitute vegetable oil, olive oil, oil of your choice or bacon grease.
- If you have fresh garlic or onions, feel free to use those, simply mince and add to the stock at the beginning of the recipe and allow to soften before adding beans.
- You will likely need to add salt and pepper at the end.
- Taste and if the beans are lacking flavor, add salt and pepper.
- If you don’t like hot sauce, it is fine to leave it off, but it does add flavor.
- Please add some type of acid, if not cider vinegar, then some other kind of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Beans are great with some bacon bits sprinkled on the top at the end if you have some.
- Almond slivers also make a nice touch, add them when you add the beans to the recipe.
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
Ya’ll are an absolute blessing to me and I thank you so much for visiting this website. I pray that you will have peace today.
NUMBERS 6: 24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Jerome
Saturday 29th of April 2023
Hi, my fiancée and I would like to make these for our rehearsal dinner for about 40 people. We are planning to make 10lbs- do you think this recipe will multiply well? Like can we just increase everything by 10? Thanks for sharing your recipes!!
Wendi Spraker
Sunday 30th of April 2023
Hi Jerome! This recipe should expand to meet your needs, but can I make a suggestion? You will probably be much happier with the crockpot greenbeans listed on this website. They expand for multiple people very well and are a taste that most people enjoy.
Huntington Smythe
Friday 11th of March 2022
Thanks! My husband has a thing for green beans and butter and this fulfilled his stovetop fantasy. Will check back again for your recipes.
Wendi Spraker
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
Glad to hear it!!
Tanya
Friday 3rd of January 2020
I made these for my 2019 Christmas dinner. My aunt who is an excellent cook promised to tell me honestly what she thought of them. After tasting them she said, "Tanya this is a do again! " The family loved them. The whole 6 quart crock pot full of green beans were eaten. I only got to have 1/2 cup, the last 1/2 cup of all the green beans. Thank you so much.
Wendi Spraker
Friday 3rd of January 2020
Hi Tanya! I'm so glad that you and your family enjoyed them and that they even got your aunt's approval! Wow! I am honored! I hope you'll check out some other recipes to share with your family! Thanks for coming back and leaving me a comment! I appreciate it so much! Happy New Year to you and your family!
Elle
Tuesday 26th of November 2019
For the slow cooker recipe, do I still just use 1/2 cup chicken stock I made from a cube or the 12 oz. that it mentions?
Wendi Spraker
Thursday 12th of December 2019
Hi Elle, Just use what the recipe says (1/2 cup). Thanks
Angie Becknell
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
Why do my fresh, frozen green beans have a really green taste after I cook them? What can I do to bring that out or what am I doing wrong. I tried this 2 years and we do NOT like the green taste. I don’t have a lot of space for canned goods so I tried freezing my beans but just too much of a green taste for us.
Wendi Spraker
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
Hi Angie, I believe that is just how fresh green beans do. They DO have a green taste and if frozen, usually a more fibrous texture. So, as you know, I live in the south and one way to deal with that is to just cook the fool out of them. Add the seasonings that I recommend and then cook and cook and cook them. But, that will favor a softer bean as well (mushy, kind of).