green beans with garlic chips and crush pepitas on a white platter

When my kids were growing up, I created a tantalizing way for them to feast on green beans. There was something about my green bean recipe that was reminiscent of French fries. The green beans were both garlicky and salty, and my kids devoured them. This recipe for French Green Beans with Garlic and Pepitas is a version of that longtime favorite. Nothing made me happier than seeing them enjoy delicious food, knowing that it was truly a gift for them to learn to enjoy vegetables.

green beans next to garlic and small bowls with pepitas olive oil salt and black pepper on a wood board
sautéing green beans in a pan with a wood spoon while a hand adds black pepper from a small bowl

These garlic green beans will become essential to your holiday menu traditions

My French Green Beans with Garlic and Pepitas recipe is also a riff on a favorite from my No Crumbs Left Cookbook, the Green Beans Almondine. Here we change it up a bit with the addition of pepitas, which are actually pumpkin seeds. It’s a perfect side dish for any holiday, and it transports beautifully for a potluck. My extended family enjoyed this dish every Thanksgiving.

glistening green beans on white platter on a green and blue plaid napkin next to bowls with crushed pepiats and golden garlic chips

The most wonderful dish to make year-round

In the summer, I use fresh French green beans from the farmers market, but in the winter you can absolutely use frozen. If you love leftovers, these green beans are surprisingly delicious cold the next day. Bet you can’t say that about most vegetables! For everyday dinners, I served these green beans as a side dish along with chicken or fish.

pepitas dry toasting in a nonstick pan
toast the pepitas
pepitas in a food processor
add the pepitas to food processor
pepitas slightly chopped in a food processor
roughly blitz the seeds

Prep the green beans and garlic the day before you make these for low-stress cooking

If you plan to make these for a holiday and feel stressed about not having enough time to cook everything, simply blanch the green beans and chop the garlic the day before. Refrigerate the green beans and garlic until it’s time to cook, because the actual sautéing will take mere minutes. The extra step of blanching will elevate this dish from delicious to extraordinary. Watch the garlic very carefully when cooking, because it goes from perfect to burned very quickly. 

garlic chips in olive oil in a pan
add olive oil and garlic slivers to pan and sauté
golden garlic chips in a small white bowl on a dark wood counter
cook until they are golden in color

The most wonderful accompaniment to a low-carb meal

If you prefer low-carb meals, serve a wonderful burger, fish, or chicken entree on a bed of these fantastic green beans. I know your favorite eaters are going to love this dish as much as mine do.

glistening green beans topped with garlic chips and pepitas on a white platter with a large metal spoon on a blue and green plaid napkin on a dark wood counter

If you make this dish, please rate and review it below to let me know what you think! And if you’re looking for more fun, sign up for our newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok!

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French Green Beans with Garlic and Pepitas

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Description

I love French Green Beans! These would also be delicious with my Garlic Tahini Avocado Dressing!

Ingredients

3 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste, divided

3 cups French green beans 

¼ cup pepitas 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (or you can use Garlic Confit)

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

Instructions

In a large pot over high heat, bring water and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl. Set aside.

 

Add the green beans to the boiling water and parboil for 3 minutes. Immediately remove, drain, and add to the ice water bath. Let cool in the ice water for 5 minutes. Drain and dry. Set aside.

 

In a small sauté pan, over medium heat, add the pepitas. Stirring constantly, cook until fragrant and slightly changing color, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove immediately and set aside in a bowl.

Note: Watch carefully because the cook time depends on your nuts. When they are done, remove the nuts and pulse in the food processor for 1 second to a nutty crumble. 

 

In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until slightly crispy for about 1 minute. Keep a close watch on the garlic chips because they could burn easily and remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon as soon as they turn golden. In the same pan, add the green beans, 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper, and sauté until golden, about 2 – 3 minutes. 

 

When done, remove from the pan and place on a serving plate. Top with the garlic and pepitas and serve!