Roasted Green Beans With Almonds

Here’s an easy recipe for classic roasted green beans with the addition of almonds. They are simple enough for a busy weeknight and also the perfect side dish to serve for Thanksgiving or the holidays. 

I originally shared this recipe on August 14th, 2015. I have updated the recipe, text, photos and added a video today. 

Ingredients For Roasted Green Bean Recipe

Fresh Green Beans

Start off by purchasing fresh green beans. In the summertime, that’s easy enough, but as we creep into the colder months of the year, green beans can be hit or miss.

If they are not looking particularly great, it’s totally okay to stand there in the produce department and pick them bean by bean. Or if you’re in a hurry, buy a little extra in case you end up tossing some when you trim them. 

If they’re available, feel free to use some yellow wax beans in place of some or all of the green beans. They will cook just the same. 

Garlic

I buy fresh heads of garlic and always recommend that you dear reader do the same. The taste compared to jarred chopped garlic is not even comparable, and jarred garlic often contains preservatives. 

Almonds

Because green beans roast pretty quickly, you’ll want to buy sliced almonds. You can also substitute slivered almonds or another type of tree nut, chopped up. Examples of other nuts that would work well are walnuts, hazelnuts or pecans. If you don’t like nuts, or avoid them, you can 100% leave them out and this recipe will still work well. 

Oil

I use extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe because I like the slightly fruity taste it adds, if subtle, and also the health profile. It is high in monounsaturated fats which are heart-healthy. 

Thyme

The flavor of the fresh thyme is what takes this recipe from great to really great and it really only takes a small amount to get amazing flavor! I have also made this with fresh half chopped thyme and half rosemary (I grow both in my garden) which is super yummy.

If you love a particular herb other than thyme, feel free to sub it in. Remember to stick to woodier herbs such as oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage and thyme. Tender herbs such as dill, cilantro and basil should be added at the end of cooking. 

Salt, or to taste

At first I thought this was too much salt, but I found that some of the salt stuck to the bowl and the pan. It ended up that the green beans were nicely seasoned but too much so. If you are salt sensitive, you can start with none or less and then add it in at the end, just to taste. Also, this recipe uses regular table salt and not kosher salt, so make sure you don’t substitute another salt.

Step By Step Instructions To Make Green Bean And Almonds In Oven

Before You Begin

Preheat your oven first, since that takes a little while. You can work on sorting and trimming the green beans while you wait. Oh, and before you turn it on, make sure that your rack is in the center of the oven. 

It is important to preheat the oven because you want a hot oven otherwise the green beans don’t get as browned and will lack that delicious roasty toasty thing that happens that I was talking about in this recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts. 

You’ll also want to find a half-sheet pan. I use a standard half sheet for pretty much every roasting recipe I ever do. They’re nice and heavy so they cook evenly. They have a lip to hold everything in, and they are not too dark which can cause burning. This is the kind I recommend. ( That’s an affiliate link.)

Sort and Trim Green Beans

• Line the green beans up on the cutting board, stem end together. Chop off just the stem ends. The stem ends are pithy and not palatable. No need to cut off the other end. 
• Discard any withered or mushy green beans. 
• Trim off any broken ends.

Toss Ingredients in a Bowl

Toss the fresh beans with the garlic, thyme, almonds, salt and oil in a big bowl. This is an easy way to ensure that the seasonings evenly coat the green beans. 

Then spread the mixture out in a single layer on the baking sheet. I like to use a rubber or silicone spatula to scrape out any almonds and seasoning that gets stuck to the bowl. 

Roasting Tips

The sheet pan will be pretty full, so it is important to let the green beans roast in an even layer undisturbed for several minutes before you stir them. This will give them a chance to brown where they are touching the sheet pan.

Then give the beans a good stir. I like to use tongs to do this for the best control. You should only have to stir the beans twice during their roasting time. Any more than that, and you may let out too much heat from the oven, or prevent them from browning where they are touching the sheet pan.

How To Know When They are Done

It takes about 15 or so minutes for the green beans to become that perfect balance of crisp-tender and browned. So take a peek at them. They should be blistered in spots, you’ll see some wrinkles too! This is normal. Also, some of the almonds will also brown a bit. 

The best way to tell if they are done is to eat one. But be careful because they will be very hot. If they are soft but still have a nice crispy toothsome bite, they’re just perfect. Transfer all that deliciousness to a serving platter and this will become a vegetable side dish your family loves.

Make Ahead Tips

This recipe is best while the green beans are still hot out of the oven, but you can do some of the work ahead for meal prep, or if you are using this recipe for entertaining or Thanksgiving. 

1. Sort and trim the beans and seal them into a large resealable bag or glass containers. 
2. Chop the garlic and thyme, and combine them with the almonds in a small resealable container. 
3. When you are ready to cook them, toss the beans with the thyme and almond mixture along with the oil and salt to coat them. Then proceed with the recipe. 

If you do have leftovers, you can reheat them on high in the microwave. 

More Green Bean Recipes To Try

• In the summertime I love to make these Green Beans with Basil Vinaigrette. They’re great served chilled and will complement any main dish you are serving. 
• This recipe for Green Beans with Walnuts and Balsamic are a fan favorite and super elegant side dish. 
• My Cheddar Green Bean Casserole is one of those family traditions that just never gets old and makes the best thanksgiving side dish. 
• For a little something wild try these Dirty Green Beans or for a chill summer salad make these Green Beans with Corn full of fresh veggies.
• For a make-ahead option, these Orange Ginger Green Beans are great! 
• Check out my round up of Green Bean Recipes too. There are so many good full recipes here! 

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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