Easy Grilled Green Beans with Lemon Recipe - Ditch The Foil (2024)

Can you grill green beans? The answer is yes! ThisGrilled Green Beansrecipe is super easy to make, and the flavorful green beans are topped with grilled lemon adding a fresh twist to this classic side dish. It’s a great way to get nice flavor from the char and the perfect texture.

I grew up on green bean casserole during the holidays. You know, the one made with canned green beans and a can of condensed mushroom soup. That heavy dish is not really my thing anymore (though I admit it is still super nostalgic).

Instead, I prefer fresh green beans cooked simply. And it doesn’t get much easier than grilling green beans and brightening them up with some grilled lemon.

This is a great use for those summer garden green beans or an easy side dish for your holiday meals.

Ingredients

Everything should be easily available at your local grocery store.

• Fresh Green Beans – These can be classic green beans or French beans (haricots verts). You may also see them labeled as string beans or pole beans.
• Olive Oil – A good extra virgin olive oil helps with the sear and allows the seasoning to stick. Alternatively you can use other high heat oils like avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
• Seasoning – We like a very simple mix of kosher salt and coarse black pepper.
• Finishing Flavor – Grill Lemon and then squeeze juice over the top of the finished grilled green beans for some nice acidity. We also like to add a nice finishing salt – specifically Maldon finishing salt. If you want even more flavor shave some fresh Parmesan cheese over the top like our grilled green bean bundles.

Buying Green Beans

Buy the freshest green beans you can find.

• If buying bulk be sure there is still a snap if you snap in half versus a limp bean.
• If buying in prepackaged 1-pound bags be sure they have good color and no brown spots. Use a fingernail to see if they still feel firm.

Preparation

Green bean recipes have a variety of methods, from blanching to boiling, in terms of prep. We like to grill direct without blanching to make it easy.

• Be sure the green beans are rinsed and dry. Remove the stem at the top of the beans with your fingers or a sharp knife. You only need to remove the stem end, not the pointy end.
• On a charcoal grill prepare your grill for direct grilling using lump charcoal. The internal temperature of the grill should range from 400 – 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You want charred green beans with a nice texture. Any hotter and you run the risk of burning them.
• Place the dry green beans in a large bowl. Toss green beans with the olive oil and the seasoning as the grill warms up. Once seasoned they are ready to grill.
• Cut up lemon into halves or fresh lemon wedges prior to grilling. Or just use the fresh lemon wedges.

Foil Packet

This refers to an aluminum foil pouch that is wrapped around the beans will steam the beans and can give a chewy texture. Even if you make small boats, the bunched up beans will still steam. Not recommended for this recipe.

Our goal for this green bean recipe is to get a nice flavor from the char and a nice texture. So we do not wrap in foil packs or crowd the beans.

If you want to use foil we recommend instead adding a piece of heavy-duty foil in one sheet onto the grill grates and poking some holes in the sheets. Let them warm up and then add the green beans to the foil sheets. Alternatively we recommend you invest in a good grilled vegetable basket.

How to Grill Green Beans

Grilling green beans on an outdoor grill is very simple, whether a gas grill or a charcoal grill. You need a direct heat source (hot), and you need to stand by the grill to be sure they don’t burn. No need to blanch them first in water. The details:

1. Grill Direct– Place the seasoned green beans directly over the heat source. Because green beans are so narrow, place them perpendicular to the grates of the grill usinglong tongs. Alternatively you can use a specializedvegetable grilling basket (like this). These prevent the beans from falling through the grates but still get a nice char. Grill for five minutes and flip the charred green beans over. Continue to grill direct until the other side has nice grill marks.
2. Lemon– As the green beans are cooking, grill a lemon, halved or in wedges.
3. Serve– Add the finished green beans to your serving dish. Squeeze grilled lemon juice over the finished green beans. Top with a small bit of finishing salt or freshly shaved Parmesan cheese.

If you are looking for a different take on how to grill green beans then check out our recipe for Prosciutto wrapped green bean bundles.

Gas Grill Modification

Light two burners on your gas grill and target a medium heat. Follow the same directions. If your gas grill has wider grill grates then consider using a vegetable basket or layer aluminum foil with some holes poked in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Grilled Side Dishes

Here are a few of our favorite grilled side dishes to complement this green beans recipe.

• Roasted and Grilled Garlic – Grill the garlic until soft and spread over bread.
• Grilled Brussels Sprouts – Perfect for the dinner table or a holiday spread. Finished with a balsamic glaze.
• Grilled Romaine Lettuce – Whether a Grilled Caesar Salad or a bruschetta, grilled romaine makes for a perfect grilled salad.
• Grilled Smash Potatoes – This is best if you have a plancha or grill pan.

And if you are wanting to grill more fresh vegetables check out our guide on how to grill vegetables.

What To Serve With Grilled Green Beans

Whether for a holiday meal or a weeknight dinner, here are a few of our favorite main dishes.

• Smoked Turkey
• Grilled Turkey Breast
• Smoked Prime Rib
• Filet Mignon
• Grilled Rack of Pork

About Vindulge

Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.

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