Chinese Garlic Green Beans (gluten-free)

These Chinese garlic green beans are perfectly tender-crisp and full of flavor. They are the perfect gluten-free Chinese food side dish!

It doesn't matter if you normally love green beans or not. These Asian garlic green beans are so delicious that they will turn anyone into a green bean lover. No one will even know they are completely gluten-free.

My family enjoys green beans; gluten-free green bean casserole is a favorite on our Thanksgiving table. And we like them simply sauteed thin this Asian style recipe as well.

If you’re craving more Asian-inspired flavors, be sure to try this Easy Gluten-free Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe—it’s a perfect complement to these green beans!

Jump to:

• Ingredients.
• Ingredient notes and substitutions.
• Steps.
• Tips and tricks.
• Add more texture.
• Storing and making ahead.
• Serving suggestions.
• More gluten-free side dishes.
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients.

• Green Beans
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Gluten-free Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Sesame Oil
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt

Ingredient notes and substitutions.

• Green beans. - You can use fresh or frozen green beans in any style that you prefer. I don't suggest using canned beans to make these Asian garlic green beans because you won't get the tender-crisp texture using them. If you prefer softer beans, you can use canned ones.
• Garlic and ginger. - I prefer the taste of fresh garlic and ginger in the sauce, but you can use dried spices.
• Rice Vinegar. - I love the tang and slight sweetness that rice vinegar adds. If you don't have it or prefer it, you can substitute it with something like apple cider vinegar.
• Gluten-free soy sauce. - Not all soy sauces are gluten-free; make sure you are using a soy sauce that is labeled gluten-free. You can also use coconut aminos or tamari instead.
• Sesame oil. - Under the Faster Act of 2021, sesame was added as a top ten allergen. If you want to make these Chinese style garlic green beans but can not handle sesames, you can use any light cooking oil that you prefer. I will often use avocado oil when I am out of sesame oil.
• Red pepper flakes. - These add just a little bit of heat, but you can leave them out.

Steps.

1. Saute the garlic and the ginger.
2. Make the sauce.
3. Add the green beans.
4. Saute till tender-crisp and enjoy.

Tips and tricks.

• Fresh green beans. - I find I get the best results on these gluten-free Asian beans with fresh green beans. Because these are essentially stir-fried green beans, the fresh beans won't overcook as easily.
• Do NOT overcook the beans. - You might notice that a lot of recipes call for you to boil the beans before adding them to the skillet. I find this is not necessary and can lead to the beans becoming really soft and falling apart.
• Let them char a little. - This is a personal preference, but I love to increase the heat just a little bit once the beans start to soften and then let them sit and get a little color on them.
• Adjust spices as needed at the end. - I always reserve the salt and red pepper flakes for the end.

Add more texture.

If you want even more delicious gluten-free Chinese flavor in these green beans, you can add in some of these.

• Sesame seeds.
• Chopped nuts. - My husband loves when I add chopped peanuts to these Asian green beans.

Storing and making ahead.

• Leftover green beans will last in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
• You can easily reheat leftover green beans in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through or toss them into a skillet over medium heat until warm.
• These green beans are such a simple gluten-free side dish that comes together fast; it's not needed to make them ahead of time. However, if you do, I suggest not cooking them all the way and then letting them finish cooking when you warm them up, so you don't end up with limp green beans.

Serving suggestions.

I much as I love making and eating gluten-free Chinese food, don't let the name fool you. These Chinese garlic green beans are so delicious, alongside so many different dinners. Of course, I am not going to say not to pair them alongside something like my gluten-free sweet and sour chicken, some gluten-free fried rice, or even some gluten-free char siu (Chinese BBQ pork).

I am also totally guilty of enjoying them with my gluten-free fried chicken too!

Trust me, don't matter what you serve them with; you'll love them.

More gluten-free side dishes.

📖 Recipe