This recipe for frozen green beans transforms them into a vibrant side dish. Sautéed with buttery garlic, then topped with goat cheese, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries, this easy recipe is perfect for holidays or weeknights alike.
Looking for a side dish that’s equal parts elegant and effortless? These Frozen Green Beans with Goat Cheese, Almonds, and Cranberries are here to steal the show. Whole frozen green beans are sautéed until perfectly tender and infused with buttery garlic goodness. A generous sprinkle of salt and pepper keeps the seasoning simple but effective, letting the beans shine. The real magic happens when creamy goat cheese melts into the mix, toasted almonds bring a delightful crunch, and dried cranberries add a sweet, tangy burst of flavor.
This recipe strikes the perfect balance between cozy and sophisticated, making it an ideal addition to your Thanksgiving spread—or any meal that needs a little something extra. With its vibrant colors and varied textures, it looks as good as it tastes. Plus, it’s so easy to prepare you’ll have more time to focus on the main event. Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast or sprucing up a weeknight dinner, this dish delivers on all fronts.
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Jump to:
- This is the Best Green Bean Recipe!
- Simple Ingredients and Substitutes
- Simple Tools and Equipment
- Time Saving Prep and Cooking Steps
- Talking Tip!
- Substitutions
- Variations on Frozen Green Beans with Goat Cheese
- Recipe FAQs
- Want More Recipes like this?
- Frozen Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Cranberries Recipe
- Comments
This is the Best Green Bean Recipe!
You will love this recipe that’s both elegant and easy!
- It’s Quick and Simple: Minimal prep and straightforward steps make it easy to whip up, even during hectic holiday schedules.
- Works for Any Occasion: Elegant enough for Thanksgiving, but versatile enough to elevate a weeknight dinner without extra effort.
- Full of Flavor and Texture: The combination of creamy goat cheese, crunchy almonds, and tangy cranberries creates a dish that feels special but is stress-free.
- Fixes Frozen Greens: Transform frozen green beans into a vibrant, delicious side, saving time without compromising quality.
- Kid-Friendly Elements: The mix of flavors and textures appeals to a range of tastes, making it a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Simple Ingredients and Substitutes
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- Frozen whole green beans – always available, in season. Of course you can substitute fresh green bean, just be sure to wash them and trim the ends. They will take a few minutes more to cook and soften.
- Olive Oil or Cooking Spray – This is to prevent the green beans from sticking to the pan. The butter is added later for flavor.
- Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper – Season, to taste. You just need a touch here, since you will get flavors from the butter, garlic, goat cheese, and cranberries.
- Garlic Powder – You can use fresh garlic too, but I don’t like risking having any pieces of garlic over shadowing the beans and the garlic powder fades nicely into the background.
- Goat Cheese – Star of the show as it melts into the beans and gives you this wonderful bright tang to contrast with the sweet cranberry.
- Dried Cranberries – A little sweetness is perfect to bring green beans to life!
- Almonds – Toasted are best and then either sliced, slivered, or chopped for texture.
- Butter – Butter tames any bitter notes in the beans and gives them beautiful glossiness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Simple Tools and Equipment
For this recipe, a large skillet/frying pan is used. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning.
Time Saving Prep and Cooking Steps
We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are steps you can prepare ahead to save time on busy nights! (See the full recipe below)
Run the frozen green beans under cold water and then pat dry with a paper towel. They can still be somewhat frozen when cooked, you just want to remove any excess ice and water.
Chop the almonds (if needed) and dried cranberries (if needed).
Talking Tip!
Run the frozen green beans under cold water in a strainer for just a minute to wash away any frostbite or excess ice before adding them to the pan.
Preheat a large pan, frying pan, or skillet over high heat. Add cooking spray or olive oil and the frozen green beans.
You want to cook off the excess water, so you can cover them for a couple minutes, but then you want to cook them uncovered so the water can evaporate.
Once the water is gone, you can turn the heat down to medium, add the butter, garlic powder, salt to taste, and pepper to taste.
Remove to a serving platter and crumble the goat cheese over top. Sprinkle with chopped almonds and cranberries.
Serve and enjoy!
Substitutions
Here are some ingredient substitutions for a frozen green beans with goat cheese recipe. These options maintain the dish’s flavor, texture, and appeal while accommodating dietary preferences or ingredient availability:
- Blanch Fresh Beans – If you like a crisp-tender texture for your green beans, blanching them before cooking will give you that result
- Oil – Substitute with garlic-infused olive oil or butter for extra richness.
- Asparagus – If you don’t have green beans on hand, this veggie has a similar texture and slightly nutty flavor; trim woody ends and cook lightly.
- Cream Cheese – Creates a smoother, richer consistency; ideal for blending.
- Ricotta Cheese – For a milder, creamier texture; mix with a pinch of salt for more flavor.
Variations on Frozen Green Beans with Goat Cheese
Here are some ingredient substitutions for a frozen green beans with goat cheese recipe. These options maintain the dish’s flavor, texture, and appeal while accommodating dietary preferences or ingredient availability:
- Broccoli Florets – Adds a heartier texture; steam or roast for best results.
- Cheese alternative – If omitting goat cheese, add lemon zest, toasted nuts (like almonds or hazelnuts), or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for depth of flavor.
- Bacon – Cook diced bacon until crispy, and use the rendered fat to sauté the green beans.
- Mediterranean-Style Green Beans with Goat Cheese – Mix cooked green beans with sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and oregano.
See this Green Bean Fries recipe on my website if these vitamin packed vegetables are your go-to side dish for your family!
Recipe FAQs
When you add your beans to the hot skillet, be sure to cover them for a few minutes to thaw them but then remove the lid and let them cook hot so the water evaporates and doesn’t cook them to mushy.
Another tip is don’t allow the frozen beans to sit out and begin to thaw. Once you rinse them, add them to the hot pan to quickly cook, it doesn’t take long.
Definitely! Add extra beans to the pan to enjoy through the week. Store your green beans in an airtight container for 3-5 days. They reheat well on the stove, in the oven or the air fryer works great too.
The easy answer is yes. If you have fresh green beans, then add your beans to a hot pan for a few minutes, then add the butter and seasonings. With canned beans, you can add your butter and seasonings immediately because they are already softened and just need to reheat.
Want More Recipes like this?
If you like serving a simple vegetable with your meal that’s not included in the dish, then you will love these recipes too as they compliment any proteins!
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Frozen Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Cranberries Recipe
Ingredients
- 10-12 ounces Frozen whole green beans
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil or Cooking Spray
- ½ teaspoon Salt (to taste)
- Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 4 ounces Goat Cheese (about ½ crumbles)
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberries, chopped
- ¼ cup Roasted Almonds, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
Prep-Ahead Steps
- Run the frozen green beans under cold water and then pat dry with a paper towel. They can still be somewhat frozen when cooked, you just want to remove any excess ice and water.
- Chop the almonds (if needed) and dried cranberries (if needed).
Cooking Steps
- Preheat a large pan, frying pan, or skillet over high heat. Add cooking spray or olive oil and the frozen green beans. You want to cook off the excess water, so you can cover them for a couple minutes, but then you want to cook them uncovered so the water can evaporate. Once the water is gone, you can turn the heat down to medium, add the butter, garlic powder, salt to taste, and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until glistening and starting to get brown.
- Remove to a serving platter and crumble the goat cheese over top. Sprinkle with chopped almonds and cranberries. Serve and Enjoy.
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