Green Beans Almondine With Sage Brown Butter

Simple, buttery, and a little bit fancy — this green beans almondine with sage brown butter is my go-to side dish when I want vegetables to steal the show.

Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 📹 Watch The Video | 👩‍🍳 Recipe Tips | 🥗 Serving Suggestions | 📝 Full Recipe Card | 🍽 More Spectacular Side Dishes

I make these green beans almondine a lot, especially around the holidays, and it’s one of those side dishes that gets a “wow” at the table — even from the people who claim they don’t like green beans.

It’s got French green beans that stay crisp and vibrant, tossed through a golden, garlicky sage-infused brown butter (my personal twist on the traditional recipe), and toasted almond flakes for that irresistible crunch and nuttiness. The lemon gives it a tiny zip to cut through the richness, and the whole thing feels like you spent way more effort than you actually did. It’s light but rich, fancy but foolproof, and works just as well for a casual dinner as it does on the holiday table.

And yes—it’s totally healthy-ish too. Each serving is around 150 calories, low-carb, gluten-free, and packed with veggie goodness.

👩‍🍳 You might also like: French-style green beans, creamy green beans, and sautéed green beans and mushrooms.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this sage butter green beans almondine recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

• Green beans – regular green beans or slightly thinner French green beans (aka haricots verts) – tender and slim, they cook super fast and stay bright green. Salt – for seasoning the blanching water.
• Salted butter – rich and nutty once browned. Unsalted butter is also okay, just add a little extra salt. Use ghee for a lactose-free version.
• Fresh sage leaves – earthy and fragrant, they crisp up beautifully. If you don’t have sage, try thyme or rosemary for a slightly different vibe.
• Garlic cloves – thinly sliced, toasty, and aromatic.
• Almond flakes – bring the crunch and slight sweetness. Swap for slivered almonds or even chopped pecans.
• Salt and pepper – just a little to balance the butter and nuts.
• Lemon juice – lifts and brightens everything.

How To Make Green Beans Almondine With Sage Butter

Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for how to make green beans almondine.

• Trim the ends off green beans.
• Blanch beans in salted boiling water for 4–5 minutes.
• Drain and cool the beans in cold water to stop cooking and keep them bright.
• In a skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.

• Add sage leaves and cook for 20 seconds.
• Add almonds, cook for 20 more seconds.
• Add sliced garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Stir often until everything turns golden and fragrant (about 3 minutes).
• Add lemon juice and take off the heat quickly to avoid burning.
• Toss green beans through the warm sage almond butter and serve.

Watch The Video

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overcook the green beans – 4 to 5 minutes is plenty, you could do 2-3 minutes for extra crunchy beans, or if using really thin French green beans. They should still have a bit of snap.
• Take the skillet off early – garlic and almonds go from golden to burnt fast and will cook in the residual heat.
• Make-ahead tip: Blanch the beans and prep your butter mix ahead. Just heat and combine when ready to serve.
• Leftovers? Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a pan to revive the butter and almonds.

Serving Suggestions

This dish goes with just about anything roasted — turkey, chicken (such as my roasted chicken thighs with oregano garlic marinade), salmon, and lamb. It’s one of my favorite Christmas and Thanksgiving sides, but it also totally works for Sunday dinner or even meal prep bowls. Serve it in a rustic skillet or a pretty platter for that “oh, you made an effort!” moment.

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