Green Bean Salad

5 from 95 votes

Simple to make with basic ingredients, this green bean salad comes together quickly and easily and can be made ahead of time with little prep

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This fresh green bean salad is the perfect side dish to enjoy this summer. Tossed in a tangy and sweet lemon, honey and mustard dressing and served with pecans and parmesan for an easy summer side. It’s the perfect accompaniment to all of your favorite mains.

Bowl of green bean salad with honey dijon dressing and parmesan cheese

Ingredients & substitutions

  • Green beans: Trim the ends off of the green beans before blanching in hot water and placing them in an ice bath to keep them nice and green and crisp.
  • Pecans: Pecans add a great texture to this bean salad. You can also use other nuts like almonds or walnuts.
  • Parmesan cheese: Shaved parmesan adds a nice saltiness, and parmesan on anything is never a bad idea! You could also make this with other cheeses like feta, blue cheese or goa cheese.
  • Dressing: The fresh and zingy dressing of this green bean salad is made with minced shallots, lemon juice and zest, dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
Ingredients to make the recipe

How to make green bean salad

blanch the green beans

2 image collage showing the green beans after cooking and in ice bath

make the dressing

  • Add the ingredients for the dressing to a bowl.
  • Whisk until combined and emulsified.
2 image collage to show the dressing before and after mixing

Toss the beans with the dressing and top with the pecans and parmesan to serve.

Tips for making the recipe

  1. Don’t over the cook the green beans. They should be fork tender but still have a bite to them. Once cooked, place them in to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and keep them bright green in color.
  2. Cook the beans in heavily salted water. Cooking vegetables in salted water minimizes the nutrient loss during cooking as well as improving the flavor.
  3. Toast the pecans. Toasting the pecans or other nuts you may like to use releases their natural oils and makes the salad more flavorful. You can toast them quickly on a skillet or in the oven or buy them roasted.
  4. Use a blender for a smoother dressing. If you chop the shallots finely, the dressing won’t be chunky, but for an ultra smooth consistency, you can make the honey mustard dressing in a blender.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make it ahead of time?

Yes, this green bean salad can be tossed in the dressing and made ahead of time. Keep it covered in the fridge to keep it fresh for 2 to 3 days.

Can you use frozen green beans?

You can use either frozen or fresh green beans for this dish. If you use frozen, don’t defrost them, just add the straight to the boiling water. They will take a couple of minutes longer to cook through.

What do you serve it with?

This green bean salad is a great summer side dish and works well paired with meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Try it with:
Grilled Lemon Chicken
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Honey Lemon Salmon
Lemon Parsley Baked Cod

Large bowl of green bean salad with parmesan cheese and pecans

This green bean salad is a great last minute summer side dish and it’s perfect for picnics and cookouts. Quick to make with simple ingredients, but loaded with texture and bright flavors.

More great salads to try:

If you try this healthy-ish feel good Green Bean Salad recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

Green Bean Salad

Simple to make with basic ingredients, this green bean salad comes together quickly and easily and can be made ahead of time with little prep
5 from 95 votes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 345
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

For the Green Beans

  • 1 pound fresh green beans trimmed
  • ½ cup pecans chopped
  • ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese

For the Dressing

Instructions

  • Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.
  • Blanch the green beans. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the green beans and cook until slightly softened and bright green, 3-4 minutes. Use a strainer to transfer the beans to the ice bath. Let them chill for 5 minutes. Strain and pat the beans dry with a paper towel.
  • Make the dressing. In a medium bowl, mix shallot, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon, and honey. Slowly stream in oil while whisking until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • In a large bowl, toss beans with dressing. Top with the pecans and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Notes

Storage: This salad will keep well covered in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 230mg, Potassium: 352mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 894IU, Vitamin C: 29mg, Calcium: 208mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Salad, Side Dish

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Comments

  1. I made this the other day i can say I really enjoyed it . The dressing was good but a little to tart so I think I will make it with less lemon juice next time Very refreshing salad for the summer .

  2. Sounds wonderful. Do you have any suggestions for replacing the mustard? I absolutely detest the slightest taste of mustard! Love your recipes!

    1. Thank you! I haven’t tried it with a mustard alternative, but you could try omitting it or even replacing it with mayonnaise?