Balsamic Glazed Green Beans: Simple, Healthy Side Dish Recipe

This crowd-pleasing side dish recipe is a flavorful way to elevate green beans with the rich, tangy taste of homemade balsamic glaze. This easy, healthy side dish fits well with any meal, whether it's a holiday gathering or simple weeknight dinner. So try my green beans with balsamic glaze recipe today or as a vegan green bean dish for Thanksgiving.

Perhaps you don't want a traditional green bean casserole but would enjoy something similar but with a healthy twist. Well, I have you covered with my bright and tangy, balsamic green beans.

This was inspired by my other quick side dish recipes, like my broccoli rabe with garlic or wild rice salad with mushrooms. If you love glazed recipes, also try my teriyaki glazed salmon recipe. Below you will find the full recipe details for my simple balsamic glazed green bean recipe.

Jump to:

• 💖 Why You'll Love This Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze Recipe?
• 🥣 Ingredients For Balsamic Glazed Green Beans
• 👩‍🍳 Directions For Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze Recipe
• 🩺 Nutritional Health Benefits For This Healthy Side Dish - Perfect Vegan Green Beans Thanksgiving Recipe
• 🧡 Learn to Make Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze
• 📖 Recipe
• ⭐️ Pro Nutrition Tip
• 💚 Tips for Perfect Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze
• 💙 Substitutions
• 🥚 Healthy Food Swaps Guide
• 🍴 Variations
• ❄️ Storage
• 🥘 Meal Prep Tips
• ⁉️ FAQ - Common Questions
• Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
• Can I Use Frozen Green Beans?
• Is This Recipe Gluten-Free and Vegan?
• 😀 Enjoy This Festive and Flavorful Side Dish Recipe!
• ❤️ You Might Also Love These
• 🤲 Pairing
• 🍁 Fall Into Healthy Nutrition Challenge
• 📚 References
• 💬 Comments

🥣 Ingredients For Balsamic Glazed Green Beans

This green beans with balsamic glaze recipe is designed with great nutrition in mind, featuring ingredients that promote digestion and provide essential nutrients for the body to work efficiently.

1. Green Beans - For this recipe, use fresh green beans but frozen green beans also work too. Green beans are a nutrient-dense vegetable rich in fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, and antioxidants, which support gut health, boost immunity, and promote overall wellness.
2. Balsamic Vinegar - Balsamic vinegar helps the body balance blood sugar levels. This is important to avoid a high spike of blood sugar, typically with most traditional side dish recipes.
3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil -  I highly suggest using a high quality olive oil, like extra virgin olive oil. The olive oil flavor should shine through, so don't use the light flavored kind.
4. Garlic -  As I always suggest, fresh garlic is the way to go. I used a lot of garlic in this recipe but you can swap with 3 cloves of garlic if you prefer to have a milder garlic flavor.
5. Maple Syrup - While maple syrup provides natural sweetness, it's also rich in antioxidants and has a lower glycemic index than refined sugars. You can also swap with honey.
6. Parsley -  Greens like parsley help the body detoxify excess hormones held within the body.
7. Almonds - You can buy sliced or slivered almonds and toast them yourself like the recipe explains or you can buy ready made toasted almonds and cut into slices for the recipe.
8. Pomegranate Arils - Otherwise known as pomegranate seeds these festive bright seeds are vibrant in flavor and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
9. Sea Salt - A pinch of sea salt will help balance all the sweet balsamic flavors of this glazed green bean recipe.
10. Black Pepper - A must flavor additive that gives it just that bit of kick the dish needs. It's just the right amount to balance out the other sweet and tangy flavors.

See the recipe card for quantities.

👩‍🍳 Directions For Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze Recipe

This recipe makes a tasty side dish for any weeknight dinner or special occasion like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Step 1: Preparation

Rinse and trim green beans, ensuring they are of uniform length for even cooking.

Step 2: Sauteing

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden (be careful not to let it burn).

Step 3: Adding Green Beans

Add green beans to the skillet and toss to coat them in the garlic oil. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are bright green and tender-crisp.

Step 4: Preparing the Homemade Balsamic Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.

Step 5: Reduce the Glaze

Pour in balsamic vinegar and cook until the glaze thickens and coats the green beans, about 5-7 minutes. The liquid will be reduced to a glossy glaze that coats the green beans.

Step 5: Adding Garnishes

Remove the skillet from the heat and garnish with sliced almonds and chopped parsley.

Step 6: Serve

Transfer the green beans to a serving dish. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds over the top for a burst of color and flavor. Serve warm and enjoy.

🩺 Nutritional Health Benefits For This Healthy Side Dish - Perfect Vegan Green Beans Thanksgiving Recipe

The nutritional value of green beans makes them a standout ingredient for creating a delicious and wholesome side dish. It also has many health benefits that balsamic vinegar adds especially for our heart health. Let's break down the key nutritional benefits.

Green Beans

Green beans are a nutritious, low-calorie vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They provide a good amount of vitamins A, C, and K, which support immune function, skin health, and bone strength.

Their high fiber content aids digestion, promotes a healthy gut, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Green beans also contain antioxidants, including flavonoids and carotenoids, which protect cells from oxidative damage and reduce inflammation in the body.

Additionally, they are a good plant-based source of folate, essential for cell division and especially beneficial for pregnant women. Including green beans in your diet can help support heart, gut, and overall health.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerhouse of health benefits, known for its potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Rich in compounds like allicin, garlic helps boost the immune system, making it effective in fighting off colds and infections.

It's also known to support heart health by lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, and improving blood flow. The antioxidants in garlic protect cells from damage, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including certain cancers.

Additionally, garlic has been shown to support gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria and helping with digestion. Adding garlic to your diet is an easy way to enhance flavor and promote overall health.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a flavorful, low-calorie condiment with impressive health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, especially polyphenols, it helps protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and support heart health by improving blood circulation and lowering cholesterol levels.

Its acetic acid content may aid in blood sugar regulation by enhancing insulin sensitivity, which can be beneficial for those managing blood sugar levels. Balsamic vinegar also supports gut health, as acetic acid promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, aiding in digestion.

Additionally, it has antibacterial properties and may improve skin health by promoting clearer, more balanced skin.

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup, a natural sweetener rich in antioxidants and minerals, offers some surprising health benefits when used in moderation. It contains compounds like polyphenols, which protect cells from oxidative damage and reduce inflammation in the body.

This natural sweetener provides trace minerals and a more stable rise in blood sugar compared to refined sugar. Unlike refined sugar, maple syrup provides essential nutrients, including manganese, which supports bone health and energy production, and zinc, which strengthens the immune system.

It has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, meaning it causes slower, more stable blood sugar rises, which can help with blood sugar management. Using pure maple syrup as a sweetener adds a touch of natural flavor along with beneficial nutrients.

Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a heart-healthy fat rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which can help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

High in antioxidants like vitamin E and polyphenols, EVOO also combats inflammation and protects cells from oxidative stress, which supports brain health and may lower the risk of chronic diseases.

Studies show that its anti-inflammatory properties can ease symptoms of conditions like arthritis and support overall joint health.

Additionally, EVOO promotes gut health by encouraging a healthy microbiome, aiding digestion, and supporting nutrient absorption.

Almonds

A good source of healthy fats, plant-based protein, and vitamin E. Almonds contribute to heart health, improve skin elasticity, and maintain brain function.

Almonds are a nutrient-dense snack packed with healthy fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They're an excellent source of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that supports skin health and protects cells from oxidative damage.

High in monounsaturated fats and magnesium, almonds contribute to heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and helping regulate blood pressure.

The fiber and protein in almonds make them filling, which can support weight management and help control blood sugar levels by slowing digestion.

Including almonds in your diet is a simple way to boost heart, skin, and metabolic health.

Pomegranante Seeds

These tasty tangy jewels are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Pomegranate seeds are loaded with powerful antioxidants like polyphenols, which can help combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protect cells from damage.

They are especially high in punicalagins, which are potent antioxidants unique to pomegranates. Thanks to their antioxidant content, pomegranate seeds help protect skin cells from damage caused by UV rays and pollution.

The vitamin C and other phytonutrients can also promote collagen production, helping to keep skin firm and youthful

Parsley

This herb is a medicinal plant, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the body.

The myristicin and apiole contained in the plant have the properties to increase the production of estrogen, which makes their use relevant in menopause (1).

🧡 Learn to Make Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze

Learn how easy it is to make a delicious glazed green beans recipe that is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday occasion. It's also fantastic for any weeknight meal.

📖 Recipe

💚 Tips for Perfect Green Beans With Balsamic Glaze

1. Try to use fresh green beans because they are better in texture and flavor.
2. Don't overcook your beans. We don't like soggy green beans right?! Keep your green beans slightly crisp with a bit of crunch.
3. Experiment with various brands of balsamic vinegar varieties. These will add in depth of flavor. Think aged or fig-infused kinds. Delicious.

💙 Substitutions

Here are a few modifications if you have an aversion, food allergy, or simply don't have an ingredient on hand.

• Maple Syrup - Substitute with honey or agave syrup. If you want a lower-carb version, use a sugar-free alternative.
• Swap Oils - Use sesame oil for a slightly nutty flavor.
• Flavor Twists - Experiment with other various fresh herbs instead of fresh parsley, swap with thyme or rosemary for an earthy taste.

Check out my free Healthy Food Swaps Guide for how to swap out different foods if you suffer from food allergies, sensitivities, intolerances, or simply an aversion.

🍴 Variations

One of the best things about this simple side dish is that you can easily customize it based on your dietary needs or preferences.

Here are some ideas to make these balsamic green beans your own with some easy variations.

• Add Heat - Sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

Add Superfoods

• Flaxseeds - Top with a sprinkle of ground flaxseeds to provide additional fiber and healthy fats, perfect for supporting healthy digestion.

❄️ Storage

Refrigerator - To store this balsamic glazed green bean recipe it's actually quite easy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheating Tips - Reheat on the stove over low heat to prevent the glaze from burning. Avoid microwaving, as it can alter the texture.

🥘 Meal Prep Tips

• Pre-Wash & Trim - Wash the green beans thoroughly and trim the ends. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge, ready for a quick cook-up later.
• Blanch & Shock - Briefly blanch the green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes to preserve their vibrant color and crisp-tender texture, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
• Prepare Balsamic Glaze - Make the balsamic glaze ahead by reducing balsamic vinegar (and a touch of natural sweetener, if desired) until it thickens. Allow it to cool, then store it in a small jar.
• Portion for Convenience - Divide the blanched green beans into individual meal prep containers. Store the balsamic glaze separately to maintain the beans' texture.
• Quick Reheat & Serve - When ready to eat, gently reheat the green beans on the stovetop or in the microwave and drizzle the balsamic glaze over the top just before serving for maximum flavor.

⁉️ FAQ - Common Questions

😀 Enjoy This Festive and Flavorful Side Dish Recipe!

Balsamic green beans are a tasty and bright side dish that everyone will enjoy. This flavorful side dish is perfect for anyone looking to add a healthy, delicious recipe to your menu.

I hope you guys love this recipe! If you make it, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think! And if you post to Instagram, I repost your remakes of your creations on my IG stories!

I would also love to hear what you think, or take a photo and tag me @EatYourNutrition on Instagram. I love seeing your photos. #EatYourNutrition #LauraVillanueva

❤️ You Might Also Love These

Looking for other quick recipes like this? Try these:

🤲 Pairing

Not sure what to serve? Here are some meal ideas that pair perfectly with green beans! A holiday roast or even grilled chicken are some perfect ideas. These are my absolute favorite dishes to serve with balsamic glazed green beans:

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📚 References

1. Awe EO, Banjoko SO. Biochemical and haematological assessment of toxic effects of the leaf ethanol extract of Petroselinum crispum (Mill) Nyman ex A.W. Hill (Parsley) in rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Apr 4;13:75. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-75. PMID: 23557241; PMCID: PMC3637085.