Skip to Content

HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE

Sometimes, you just need the taste of home to be as quick as possible and that means knowing HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE. It’s easy to flavor your canned green beans so that they taste wonderful!

What I am going to tell you isn’t difficult in the least. You simply add a few seasonings and you’ll be on your way to a mouthful of Southern flavors in no time!

WHAT’S A GOOD SEASONING FOR CANNED GREEN BEANS?

Green beans are wonderful with all kinds of flavors. The most popular flavors are:

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Bacon
  • Bouillon
  • Sugar

SUGAR? Yes, that’s right, sugar. An elderly lady told me that years ago and that’s how I’ve flavored green beans for years. In fact, most vegetables taste best with a little tad of table sugar added in.

A photo of how to cook green beans on the stove HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE

Canned Green Beans

ARE CANNED GREEN BEANS ALREADY COOKED

There is a short answer and a long answer to this question, but the answer you are looking for is, “they are safe to eat straight out of the can”. The canning process cooks them enough for safety.

WHAT KIND OF GREEN BEANS SHOULD I BE COOKING?

You’ll notice at the grocery that there are a selection of green beans available and I’ve described some of them below

FRENCH STYLE GREEN BEANS

These are typical green beans that have been split in half long ways thus making them “french style”. They taste the same as regular green beans for all intent and purpose.

ITALIAN GREEN BEANS

The Italian Green beans are a large flat bean with more green bean shell. They have a typical green bean flavor and are just a little more of a mouthful.

BEANS AND SHELLS

You’ll note that some of the green bean cans have more brown pea sized beans as well. These are just the seed of the bean and makes for a yummy nuttiness to your green beans.

IF YOU ENJOYED HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

Clays Famous Three Bean Casserole

Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon

Tasty Easy Meatloaf

How to Cook Yellow Squash on the Stove

How To Cook Canned Spinach

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED GREEN BEANS ON THE STOVE

  • Drain the water out of the green bean can UNLESS you have purchased the green beans that have flavorings already in them EX: Margaret Holmes Seasoned Italian Green Beans.
  • Many people will tell you that the water in the canned green beans contains lots of flavors, but personally, depending on what kind of beans you have purchased, you might not like the flavor of the water! (The water won’t hurt you, so if it is too late to drain it off, don’t worry about it).
  • If you don’t have some of the ingredients in the recipe, just don’t worry about it. The only things that are absolutely essential are the salt and pepper.
  • I know you are saying to yourself, “Sugar?”, the answer is, “Yes, sugar, sugar” (say with a southern accent). You won’t be sorry.

YA’LL, HELP ME OUT, OK?

Please leave me a 5 star comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, tool on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!

I can’t wait!

Ya’ll know I love comments!! ❤

A photo of Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon with a spoon holding a bite

How to Cook Canned Green Beans on the Stove

This recipe gives the complete instructions for how to cook green beans on the stove top so they taste totally home made.
4.91 from 11 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: canned green beans, how to cook canned green beans
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 235kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz can of green beans
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 slice of bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup fresh water
  • 1 tsp of bouillon concentrate OR 1 bouillon cube
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • On the stovetop over medium heat place a small saucepan and the butter and bacon. Cook the bacon till crispy.
  • Drain the water from the green beans (unless it is a pre seasoned green bean).
  • Add the beans, 1/2 cup fresh water, bouillon, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes (optional) to the bacon/butter mix and then taste once all of that is mixed in. Follow with salt and pepper according to your tastes.
  • Heat over medium heat until the beans are heated through. If you prefer soft southern style green beans, continue to cook until beans are soft.

Notes

  • Drain the water out of the green bean can UNLESS you have purchased the green beans that have flavorings already in them EX: Margaret Holmes Seasoned Italian Green Beans.  
  • Many people will tell you that the water in the canned green beans contains lots of flavors, but personally, depending on what kind of beans you have purchased, you might not like the flavor of the water!  (The water won’t hurt you, so if it is too late to drain it off, don’t worry about it).
  • If you don’t have some of the ingredients in the recipe, just don’t worry about it.  The only things that are absolutely essential are the salt and pepper.
  • I know you are saying to yourself, “Sugar?”, the answer is, “Yes, sugar, sugar” (say with a southern accent).  You won’t be sorry.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Cook Canned Green Beans on the Stove
Amount Per Serving
Calories 235 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 37mg12%
Sodium 102mg4%
Potassium 530mg15%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 6g24%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 2020IU40%
Vitamin C 29.4mg36%
Calcium 89mg9%
Iron 2.5mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

Doesn’t Matthew have some wonderful news about Jesus? I think so too! Have you ever thought about what it means to become like a child in Christ?

What qualities do children have that are not at all like how adults are? You can think of a few, right? YOU fill in that blank.

Here’s the verse…

Matthew 18: 1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Connie Elam

Friday 29th of December 2023

I made these green beans for Christmas dinner. Very tasty. My grown grandson is a very picky eater. He told me twice how good they were

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

That's wonderful news! It's great to see kids enjoying a vegetable, I think!

Theresa Taylor

Saturday 14th of January 2023

We eat lots of green beans- oh my word!!! These were phenomenal!!! I didn’t know how to season canned beans and man know I do!! My go to recipe from now on!!! How would you do make fresh green beans? Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!!

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

Hi Theresa, I make fresh green beans totally differently because I love the freshness of them. I coat them in a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and a bit of garlic powder and then I roast them in the oven on a sheet pan at 400 for a few minutes or I saute them in a frying pan for a few minutes and leave them mostly crispy. I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe. For the most part, canned foods aren't seasoned and that is where folks just don't know what to do. Glad you enjoyed these!

LittleMouse

Sunday 8th of May 2022

Awesome recipes and I’m not a cook, now out of the can taste closer to Mom’s. Thanks

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 11th of May 2022

You are so welcome!

JT

Tuesday 17th of August 2021

Thank you for the suggestions of sugar and the oil oh, truly made a difference in the can green beans

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 17th of August 2021

You are welcome JT! Hope you find lots of other stuff you need here. :)

Linda

Thursday 30th of July 2020

Next time I cook green beans I'll add sugar. Love your web page. Recipes are delicious.

Wendi Spraker

Saturday 1st of August 2020

Hi Linda! Thanks for leaving a comment! I hope you love having just a little kiss of sugar in your beans! We do!

15585

Want My 9 Secrets to Immediate Kitchen Confidence?