Sauteed String Beans get a glow-up! Crispy prosciutto and shallots turn this 20-minute side dish into an easy, flavor-packed favorite.
This dish was born out of one of those “what’s in the fridge” moments — and now it’s a staple at our table. A little garlic, some shallots, a few slices of prosciutto, and suddenly string beans aren’t an afterthought anymore.
Like our Balsamic Glazed Carrots, fresh, locally grown veggies make a big difference here. We love mixing green and yellow wax beans for a little extra color and flavor — and they pair beautifully with mains like our Chicken Piccata or Grilled Ribeye Steak for a well-rounded, no-fuss dinner.
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Ingredients
- FRESH GREEN BEANS: (we like to use a mixture of green, purple, and yellow beans if they are available)
- PROSCIUTTO: thinly sliced prosciutto
- SHALLOTS: shallots add depth of flavor
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves
- BUTTER: we like salted butter for this recipe
- OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford
- BLACK PEPPER: freshly ground black pepper
- SALT: sea salt or kosher salt
*see recipe card for quantities.
🔪Top tip
Blanch beans in boiling water before sautéing them in the shallot butter mixture. This creates the perfect bite — not too crisp, not too soft.
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Instructions
- Bring 2 quarts water to boil.
- Blanch beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes
- Drain. Run cold water over beans for 1 minute.
- In a large sauté pan, add oil and butter and heat over medium high until butter is melted.
- Add garlic clove (whole) to pan
- Take thin slices of prosciutto and julienne into thin pieces.
- Peel and slice shallot as thin as possible.
- When butter has melted, sprinkle shallots and prosciutto into pan and cook until crispy, mixing constantly (about 1 minute). Remove and place on paper towel to soak up grease.
- Add beans to sauté pan and cook for approx. 3 -5 minutes (to desired tenderness).
- Remove beans and place on serving plate. Sprinkle with crispy prosciutto.
Storage
- STORE in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- REHEAT in the microwave or in a small sauté pan for a few minutes.
FAQ
To sauté string beans, heat oil in a pan, add garlic or shallots for flavor, then cook the beans until they are tender-crisp. Stir occasionally to avoid burning, and season as desired.
Sauteed string beans typically take 5 minutes to cook, depending on the heat level and how tender you want the beans to be. This makes them a quick, flavorful side dish for any meal.
A good substitute for prosciutto is bacon or pancetta. Just cook until crispy and sprinkle over the top of the beans.
Yes. To make vegetarian sauteed string beans, omit the prosciutto. Toasted slivered almonds are a good protein substitute.
Absolutely! You can add other vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or carrots to the sauté for added texture and flavor. Just make sure to adjust cooking times accordingly.
While sautéed string beans are best fresh, you can prep the beans and seasonings ahead of time. Just sauté them just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
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Sauteed String Beans recipe
Sautéed string beans get a glow-up! Crispy prosciutto and shallots turn this 20-minute side dish into an easy, flavor-packed favorite.
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh string beans
- 2 oz sliced prosciutto
- 1 small shallot
- 1 clove fresh garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- cracked black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Bring 2 quarts water to boil and blanch beans for 3-4 minutes
- Drain and run cold water over beans for 1 minute.
- In a large sauté pan, add oil and butter and heat over medium high until butter is melted.
- Add garlic clove (whole) to pan
- Take thin slices of prosciutto and julienne into thin pieces.
- Peel and slice shallot as thin as possible.
- When butter has melted, sprinkle shallots and prosciutto into pan and cook until crispy, mixing constantly (about 1 minute). Remove and place on paper towel to soak up grease.
- Add green beans to saute pan and cook for approx. 3 -5 minutes depending on desired tenderness.
- Remove beans and place on serving plate and sprinkle with crispy toppings.
Notes
- Blanch beans in boiling water before sautéing them in the shallot butter mixture. This creates the perfect bite — not too crisp, not too soft.
- For optimum flavor, use the freshest beans you can find. Locally grown, farmer's market fresh beans are always best. Mixing bright green beans with yellow wax beans also makes for a striking presentation.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2.1 g
- Sodium: 766.3 mg
- Fat: 13.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 21.7 mg
Matt says
This is great, I was looking for a way to change up my green beans for my roast this weekend. They look really tasty.
Jackie says
thanks Matt! I hope you got a chance to try these... I think they're pretty awesome...
Jamie says
Thank you, I grow Shallots and I’m always looking for new recipes.