Name: Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds fresh green beans (trimmed); 1 cup chopped pecans; ¼ cup brown sugar; 2 Tablespoon butter; salt and pepper (to taste)

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If you are looking for the best green bean recipe, these Green Beans with Candied Pecans is the one!

We love serving these for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parties, and even Sunday dinner.

Green beans never tasted so good!

If you need some more ideas of what to make with green beans, try these recipes:

Ingredients needed for Green Beans with Candied Pecans:

fresh green beans
chopped pecans
brown sugar
butter
salt and pepper

How to perfectly sauté green beans:

To perfectly sauté green beans, start by placing them in a pot of water over medium-high heat and bring them to a boil.

Reduce heat to low-medium and let them continue to boil for 5-8 minutes, or until they are just tender and can be pierced with a fork.

While the green beans are boiling, submerge a colander into a bowl of ice water and set aside.

When the beans are done boiling, use tongs or a slotted spoon to place them in the colander to stop the cooking process.

This will help them to not become soggy.

Next, melt 1-2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet and toss green beans in it until they are heated through.

Season with salt and pepper or other desired seasonings and serve.

How to trim fresh green beans:

If you are wanting to quickly trim a large portion of green beans, start by rinsing them with water, patting dry with a paper towel and then lining them up on a cutting board.

Using a chef’s knife, cut off all the tips at once.

If you are nervous about cutting so many beans at once, do it in smaller groups until you are comfortable.

Flip the beans around, line up the tips again and trim off the other side.

If you don’t want to worry about fussing with a knife, you can always use kitchen shears to trim off the ends of each bean but it is a little more time consuming.

How to make Green Beans with Candied Pecans:

fresh green beans on a cutting board with their ends trimmed off

I started by washing and trimming my green beans like mentioned above.

Place green beans in a large pan of boiling water. While the beans are boiling, place a colander in a large bowl of ice water and set aside.

Let the beans boil for 5 minutes, or until they reach the desired level of doneness. I like to be able to easily pierce mine with a fork, but still slightly firm.

After they are done boiling, transfer the beans to the colander in ice water to stop the cooking process then drain well.

pecans covered in butter and brown sugar

While the beans are set aside, make the candied pecans. Start by placing some waxed or parchment paper on the countertop to spread your hot pecans on to cool.

Then, place the pecans and the brown sugar in a frying pan over-medium high heat.

Stir continually and after a few minutes the brown sugar will begin to caramelize.

Continue stirring and once all of the sugar is completely melted and the pecans are evenly coated, remove from heat and spread in an even layer on waxed paper.

Let the pecans cool completely and then break apart into smaller pieces if necessary.

adding pepper and butter to cooked green beans

Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat (I usually use the same pan I boiled the beans in), add the beans and saute until they are heated through.

Season with salt and pepper then place in a serving dish and top with candied pecans.

cooked green beans topped with candied pecans in a white dish

Serve immediately and enjoy!

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CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING DISHES:

Other delicious green bean recipes:

the best fresh green beans with candied pecans

Green Beans with Candied Pecans Recipe

The perfect side dish for any special dinner!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

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Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

Place green beans in a large pan of boiling water.
Place a colander in a large bowl of ice water; set aside.
Cook beans for 5 minutes and transfer to colander in ice water to stop cooking then drain well.
Place pecans and brown sugar in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
Stir continually until the sugar is completely melted and pecans are evenly coated in melted sugar.
Spread in an even layer on waxed paper until cool. Break apart into smaller pieces if necessary.
Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat, add beans and saute until heated through.
Season with salt and pepper.
Place beans in a serving dish and top with candied pecans.
Serve immediately.

Notes

How to trim green beans: Using a chef’s knife, cut off all the tips at once. If you are nervous about cutting so many beans at once, do it in smaller groups until you are comfortable. Flip the beans around, line up the tips again and trim off the other side.
If you don’t want to worry about fussing with a knife, you can always use kitchen shears to trim off the ends of each bean but it is a little more time consuming.
If you don’t want to make your own candied pecans, you can buy them at the store and just heat them up a little bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 181 kcal · Carbohydrates: 17 g · Protein: 3 g · Fat: 13 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 8 mg · Sodium: 34 mg · Potassium: 304 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 878 IU · Vitamin C: 14 mg · Calcium: 57 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish