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Smothered Green Beans Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 109 reviews

This Smothered Green Beans recipe is a creamy, flavorful side dish that combines fresh green beans sautéed with garlic and butter, then simmered in a rich cream cheese and chicken broth sauce. Perfectly tender and lightly seasoned, it’s an ideal accompaniment for any meal, ready in just 25 minutes and serves four.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 1 lb fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed

Dairy

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened

Other

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the green beans: Rinse the green beans thoroughly under cold water to clean them. Trim the ends off each bean and cut into manageable lengths to ensure even cooking.
  2. Sauté garlic in butter: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the unsalted butter and melt it completely. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  3. Cook the green beans: Add the prepared green beans to the skillet. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans start to soften but retain some crunch.
  4. Make the creamy sauce: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the low-sodium chicken broth. Mix until smooth and well incorporated. Then gradually pour this mixture into the skillet with the green beans, stirring gently to coat all the beans evenly.
  5. Simmer and season: Season the dish with salt and pepper according to your taste. Reduce the heat to low and let the green beans simmer in the sauce for about 10 minutes or until tender and fully cooked through.
  6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve the smothered green beans warm, drizzled with any remaining sauce from the skillet for extra creaminess and flavor.

Notes

  • Fresh green beans can be substituted with frozen green beans if fresh are unavailable; adjust cooking time accordingly.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
  • To make it dairy-free, replace butter and cream cheese with suitable plant-based alternatives.
  • Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened for easier mixing with the broth, preventing lumps.
  • Adjust seasoning to your preference, but low-sodium broth helps control overall salt content.

Keywords: green beans, smothered green beans, creamy green beans, side dish, easy vegetable recipe, garlic green beans, butter green beans

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/smothered-green-beans-recipe/