Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries and Walnuts

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Roasted green beans with tart cranberries and crunchy walnuts make the perfect simple yet elegant holiday side dish.

Spoon on a plate with roasted green beans with cranberries and walnuts.

If you’ve never tried roasted green beans, you’re in for a real treat. Unlike boiled green beans that can be bland and squeaky, roasting brings out their natural sweetness and gives them a tender, caramelized flavor. In this version, dried cranberries add a pop of color and tart-sweetness, while walnuts bring a savory crunch. It’s a simple yet elegant side dish, perfect for the holidays.

What You’ll Need To Make Roasted Green beans with Cranberries & Walnuts

Ingredients including lemon, olive oil, and garlic.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by toasting the walnuts.

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While the walnuts toast, rehydrate the cranberries: Place the cranberries in a small heat-proof bowl.

how to rehydrate cranberries

Cover with boiling water and let sit until the green beans are cooked.

how to rehydrate cranberries

To roast the green beans, line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Toss the green beans with the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and sugar directly on the prepared baking sheet.

Green beans on a lined baking sheet.

Roast the beans for 15 minutes, then stir with a spatula to promote even cooking. Continue roasting until beans are tender, slightly browned and just starting to shrivel, about 10 minutes more.

Roasted green beans on a lined baking dish.

Add lemon zest, lemon juice, drained cranberries, and walnuts.

Cranberries and walnuts on a tray of roasted green beans.

Toss well.

Lined baking sheet of roasted green beans with cranberries and walnuts.

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.

Spoon on a plate with roasted green beans with cranberries and walnuts.

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Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries & Walnuts

Spoon on a plate with roasted green beans with cranberries and walnuts.

Roasted green beans with tart cranberries and crunchy walnuts make the perfect simple yet elegant holiday side dish.

Servings: 6 to 8
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh green beans, stem ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced into quarters
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest, from one lemon
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, from one lemon
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup walnuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the walnuts on the prepared baking sheet and bake until until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on the nuts so they don't burn. When cool enough to handle, transfer the nuts to a cutting board and coarsely chop. Place the foil back on the baking sheet (you'll use it for the green beans) and increase the oven temperature to 450°F.
  2. Place the cranberries in a small heatproof bowl. Cover the cranberries with boiling water and set aside.
  3. Directly on the foil-lined baking sheet, use a rubber spatula to toss the green beans with the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. Roast the green beans for 15 minutes, then stir with a spatula to promote even cooking. Continue roasting until the beans are tender, slightly browned and just starting to shrivel, about 10 minutes more.
  4. Drain the cranberries.
  5. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, drained cranberries, and toasted walnuts to the green beans. Toss well, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Calories: 104
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Sodium: 301 mg
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

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Comments

  • These green beans are fantastic! Everyone in my family loves green beans so I’m always trying new ways to make them. These were a big hit.

  • My favorite green bean dish EVER! This is definately sure to impress at any holiday feast. The flavors go so wonderfully together!

  • This sounds tasty – why wait until Thanksgiving to try them?

  • This looks great!! Going to add to my menu for the weekend.

  • This was delicious! It’s the only way I’ll eat green beans!

  • This was delicious! It’s the only way I’ll eat green beans now!

    • The bean squeek! Ha! I have never had a name for it, but that’s perfect. 🤣 Anyway, this is a great replacement for the “traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole,” which I find mushy and unappetizing. I used almonds because that’s what I had, but it was otherwise great!

  • I’ve now made this half a dozen times, including for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. It’s outstanding! I have cut back a bit on the amount of olive oil called for but otherwise followed the recipe as is. Even as an empty nester just cooking for myself, this is now one of my go-to recipes. Love the combination of crunchy walnuts and slightly sweet dried cranberries with the beans. More, please!

  • Made this dish for thanksgiving, and it was a huge hit!

  • My roommate and I have been trying to cook more often and eat healthy. These green beans were delicious. Thanks for all the great recipes!

  • These were tasty and looked just like your photo! Thanks!

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