We call this delicious side dish “Naughty Green Beans” and it one that’s requested very often. When my second daughter was born, a friend brought us a meal that included this dish. As soon as we finished dinner I asked her for the recipe. She laughed and said, “Oh, the naughty green beans!”
Turns out they were made with half a cup of butter and half a cup of brown sugar! No wonder I wanted to eat them for dessert! Well, I’ve been making these “almost” naughty green beans ever since and we still love them. With the butter and brown sugar reduced to a more everyday amount you can make them all the time too!
Naughty Green Beans Recipe
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar; or honey
- 1 clove garlic; crushed, sliced, or minced
- 1 pound green beans; fresh or frozen
- salt and pepper to taste
Make the sauce
In a medium saucepan with a lid, melt the butter over medium heat with the soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, and garlic. There are so many brands and types of soy sauce, this is the one I like to use.
I usually crush the garlic clove with the flat side of my knife, remove the peel, and toss it in the pot. Feel free to slice the garlic or mince it if you prefer. I’ve used garlic powder or my All-Purpose Seasoning in place of the garlic too. When you are pressed for time or just don’t want to mess with fresh garlic, this works fine.
Now for the star ingredient!
Toss in the green beans and stir to coat them in the buttery-soy sauce-brown sugar mixture. I use the frozen beans from Aldi here. They are a staple for us and I always keep several bags in the freezer. If you like fresh beans or grow your own, by all means use those! Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
Now cover with the lid and turn the heat to medium-low. After 10 minutes, uncover and give them a stir to coat with the sauce. Cover and cook for 10 more minutes.
Finish the green beans
Uncover and toss the beans in the cooking liquid. By now the sauce should be reduced to a thick glaze. Taste to see if the beans are tender and check for seasoning.
If the liquid is still too thin, cook over medium-high heat uncovered for 5 minutes to reduce it to a glaze. Finally, stir the beans again and check one more time for seasoning. Add salt and pepper if needed.
Serve hot with pasta, grilled or roasted chicken, or any other simple dinner that could use a special but easy side dish. Be prepared to make this dish often!
Naughty Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1 clove garlic crushed, sliced, or minced
- 1 pound green beans fresh or frozen
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Over medium heat, melt the butter with the soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic in a medium saucepan with a lid.
- Add the green beans and toss to coat. Sprinkle lightly with salt and black pepper. Cover with the lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 10 minutes
- Uncover and stir the green beans to coat in the sauce. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Stir green beans again and check to see if they are cooked through. The liquid should be reduced to a sauce.
- If there is still a lot of liquid, turn heat to medium-high and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Stir often to coat the green beans and check the consistency of the sauce.
- When the sauce is thick and coating the green beans, remove from the heat and taste for seasoning. Add salt and black pepper as needed. Serve hot.
