Here’s a recipe that uses regular string beans cooked in a quick and simple Italian tomato sauce. The result is flavorful beans covered with Italian flavors we love. In under 30 minutes you can have this wonderful side dish ready to serve!
This post may contain affiliate links which I may earn a small commission.
Recipe Summary
This recipe will create about 4-6 servings depending on portion size. The beans I am using are frozen string beans that I happened to see in the freezer section at the store. I chose them because I’m generally not a fan of short frozen beans and I’m glad I did.
This recipe is easy to make. You basically boil the beans a bit (to get them unfrozen), then create a quick tomato sauce that the beans cook in.
Ingredients
For this recipe you just need a few simple ingredients.
- String beans (frozen or fresh)
- Diced tomatoes. You can use fresh or frozen.
- A chopped onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
Step by Step Instructions
For exact measurements check out the recipe card below. These steps will explain what’s involved in making this delicious Italian-style green bean recipe!
Step 1. First start by heating a pan of water. This will be used to cook the frozen beans. You can probably skip this step if your beans are fresh, but this will help give them a good head start on the cooking process later on.
Step 2. Take your onion and cut it into small pieces.
Step 3. When the water is boiling, add your green beans and boil for about 2-3 minutes. You don’t want the beans to be fully cooked because we’ll continue cooking them over the stove.
Step 4. Drain your beans and set aside.
Now we’re going to create the sauce for the beans.
Step 5. In a medium pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Step 6. Once the oil is heated, add the diced garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
Step 7. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Make sure the onion cooks long enough so it’s soft and translucent.
Step 8. Add the tomatoes with the juices and mix it together.
Step 9. Add the salt and pepper then cook on medium-high for about 15 minutes. We want to cook it down quickly but be careful it doesn’t boil away. Adjust as you see fit. This should start to resemble a nice little tomato sauce.
Step 10. After the 15 minutes or so, add in the green beans, stir and cook for another 5 or 10 minutes to help warm up the beans.
If you like your beans really soft, you’ll need to cook them longer. I like mine with a slight crunch.
PRO TIP: If using frozen beans they won’t have that freshy-crunch to them and that’s okay. It still tastes great.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips & Modifications
If using fresh string beans make sure to cut off any tough ends and remove the center stringy-thingy.
For modification ideas try any of the following:
- Add some bacon to the dish.
- Try adding more herbs like basil.
- Swap the yellow onion for some red onion.
- Top with some cheese.
What it Goes With
Here are some ideas for what to serve this with.
Additional Side Dish Recipes
You can find a full list of Italian side dishes here. Otherwise, check out these below!
Have you ever tried Italian Roma beans? Here’s a recipe you can try!
Check out this zucchini topped with tomato slices recipe!
Try these Stuffed tomatoes with Tuna topped with crispy breadcrumbs!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe! If you’ve tried and made any changes to make it your own (or kept it all the same), let me know in the comments below!
Liz
Ciao Friend! I’d like to send you my FREE mini-digital cookbook featuring 5 Creative & Easy Italian Pasta Recipes. Plus, you’ll receive easy and delicious Italian recipes every week.
If you want in, just sign up using this form! I’d love to start sharing my recipes with you!
Recipe Card
Italian String Beans and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 8 oz String beans frozen or fresh
- 1 15oz Canned diced tomatoes You can also use fresh tomatoes
- 1/4 Onion chopped
- 1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Garlic clove chopped or minced
- 1 dash Salt and pepper
Instructions
- First start by heating a pan of water. This will be used to cook the frozen beans. You can probably skip this step if your beans are fresh, but this will help give them a good head start on the cooking process later on.
- Take your onion and cut it into small pieces.1/4 Onion
- When the water is boiling, add your green beans and boil for about 2-3 minutes. You don't want the beans to be fully cooked because we'll continue cooking them over the stove.8 oz String beans
- Drain your beans and set aside.
Now we're going to create the sauce for the beans.
- In a medium pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- Once the oil is heated, add the diced garlic and saute for 2 minutes.1 Garlic clove
- Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Make sure the onion cooks long enough so it's soft and translucent.
- Add the tomatoes with the juices and mix it together.1 15oz Canned diced tomatoes
- Add the salt and pepper then cook on medium-high for about 15 minutes. We want to cook it down quickly but be careful it doesn't boil away. Adjust as you see fit. This should start to resemble a nice little tomato sauce.1 dash Salt and pepper
- After the 15 minutes or so, add in the green beans, stir and cook for another 5 or 10 minutes to help warm up the beans.If you like your beans really soft, you'll need to cook them longer. I like mine with a slight crunch.
Video
Notes
- Adjust quantities as you need to.
- If using frozen beans they won’t have that freshy-crunch to them and that’s okay. It still tastes great.
- Modification Ideas:
- Add some bacon to the dish.
- Try adding more herbs like basil.
- Top with some cheese.
- Swap the yellow onion for some red onion.
