Quick, easy, and ready in just 15 minutes, these Green Beans with Vinegar are going to become a new weeknight go-to! With only a few simple ingredients, onions, oil, and red wine vinegar, you can have this healthy side dish ready to serve with just about any entrée.

Green beans with vinegar are served in a white bowl.
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Green Beans with Vinegar Recipe

Serving green beans with vinegar is not something that most would think to do. But when this deliciously tangy side dish enters your life, you won’t be able to forget it!

The simple combination of sautéed onions and garlic mixed with tangy red wine vinegar gives the dish a flavor unlike any other.

Plus, there’s no boiling green beans in a separate pot of water. It all comes together in one skillet in just 15 minutes!

And if you buy a bag of pre-trimmed beans, this easy side full of tangy flavor is ready even faster.

Want even more easy green bean recipes? Check out these sautéed green beansboiled green beans, and Chinese green beans next!

Green beans, water, vinegar, onion, and spices are the main ingredients for this dish.

Ingredients

  • Green beans. You’ll need about one pound of fresh green beans. Save time by buying a bag of pre-trimmed veggies, or prepare them yourself at home. Pay attention to bagged green beans, as “string beans” are often quite thin.
  • Onion. A diced onion adds so much flavor to this dish. A white onion is best, but you can go with a yellow or sweet onion, as well.
  • Vinegar. This recipe was tested with red wine vinegar. Be sure to grab a good quality variety. You can also use balsamic vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Avoid distilled white vinegar and malt vinegar.
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How to Make Green Beans with Vinegar

Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.

1. Cook the Green Beans

While you’re not boiling the green beans in the traditional sense, you are cooking them quickly in the large skillet you’ll be using for the onion and garlic.

Add enough water so that it covers a large saucepan or skillet by ¼-inch. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. When it’s boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low.

Add the green beans to the pot. Cover, and cook the veggies for 6 to 8 minutes. They should be a bright green color and tender.

Drain the green beans in a colander in the sink.

Green beans are quickly boiled in a skillet.

2. Sauté the Onion and Garlic

Dry the skillet off, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with the diced onions. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Garlic and onion are sauteed in a skillet.

3. Add the Green Beans and Vinegar

Turn off the heat. Then, stir the crisp-tender green beans, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper to the pan. 

Toss the ingredients to combine. Serve these sautéed green beans immediately with extra salt and pepper, if needed.

A spatula is used to pick up green beans from a skillet.

FAQs

What can I add to green beans for flavor? 

You can season green beans with just about anything for a tasty side dish. However, some of the best options are garlic, salt, pepper, and vinegar.

Do you season green beans before or after cooking? 

To avoid soggy or mushy green beans, be sure to season them after cooking.

Recipe Tips

  • Save time. Buy a bag of pre-trimmed green beans at the store.
  • Look up. The better vinegar options are usually located on higher shelves at the grocery store.
  • Pay attention. Don’t boil the green beans too long to ensure they have the best texture.
  • Go fresh. Stick with minced garlic cloves and avoid garlic powder for the most flavor.
  • Add a kick. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for a little spice or fresh lemon juice just before serving this easy recipe.
A fork digs into a white bowl full of green beans cooked in a skillet.

What to Serve with Green Beans with Vinegar

A simple side dish like this is the perfect recipe to have in your back pocket to accompany any kind of main.

Go lean with chicken options like Fiesta Lime ChickenChicken Cordon Bleu, or Glazed Balsamic Chicken.

This perfect side dish is a great addition to steak, like Filet Mignon or Air Fryer Steak.

You can also go with Instant Pot Pork Chops.

Other Easy Sautéed Side Dishes

You can’t beat quick and easy sautéed sides. Try any of these healthy recipes for a delicious dish with fresh vegetables.

More Green Bean Recipes

Green beans are so delicious, when prepared correctly. And these recipes won’t dissapoint.

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 4 votes

Green Beans with Vinegar Recipe

Quick, easy, and ready in just 15 minutes, these Green Beans with Vinegar are going to become a new weeknight go-to! With only a few simple ingredients, onions, oil, and red wine vinegar, you can have this healthy side dish ready to serve with just about any entrée.
Green beans with vinegar are served in a white bowl.
Yield 4 servings
Prep 2 minutes
Cook 13 minutes
Total 15 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 1 lb. green beans trimmed
  • 1-2 cups water
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil divided
  • ½ cup white onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2-3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar, to taste
  • 1-1¼ tsp. salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Cook the Green Beans: Pour enough water into the bottom of a large saucepan or skillet so that it covers the bottom by ¼”. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the green beans. Cover with a lid and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until bright green and tender. Remove the green beans from the skillet and drain in a colander.
    1 lb. green beans, 1-2 cups water
  • Sauté the Onion and Garlic: Add 1 tablespoon of oil and onions to the dry skillet over medium heat. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and continue sautéing for an additional 30 seconds.
    3 Tbsp. olive oil, ½ cup white onion, 2 cloves garlic
  • Add the Green Beans: Turn off the heat and add the green beans, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Toss to combine and serve immediately with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
    2-3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar, 1-1¼ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 4 votes

Notes

Prep-Ahead Instructions:
Trim the green beans and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.
Storage Directions:
Keep leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. To freeze, place green beans in a freezer bag or container. For the best results, flash freeze green beans in a single layer first to keep them from bunching together. To reheat, cook in a skillet over medium heat with additional butter or oil as needed.
Recipe Tips
  • Save time. Buy a bag of pre-trimmed green beans at the store.
  • Look up. The better vinegar options are usually located on higher shelves at the grocery store.
  • Pay attention. Don’t boil the green beans too long to ensure they have the best texture.
  • Go fresh. Stick with minced garlic cloves and avoid garlic powder for the most flavor.
  • Add a kick. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for spice or fresh lemon juice just before serving this easy recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Sodium: 609mg, Potassium: 282mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 785IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Wondering what's for dinner?
These 7 Simple Skillet Dinners make cooking on busy weeknights a delicious breeze! 😋
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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  1. Easy pesky. All ingredients available. Snap to follow. Served with chicken, fresh Fromm the garden tomatoes, and fresh green beans. Summer treat!