It's no surprise that 90% of my holiday traditions involve food. Okay, I'm not gonna lie... It's probably closer to 99%. And this Easy Green Bean and Mushroom recipe is one of those beloved food traditions; a healthy side dish that my Auntie Carol makes for our Christmas dinner. And to me, it symbolizes Christmas. If you're looking for green bean recipes for Christmas dinner, you'll love this one!
This easy Green Beans and Mushrooms recipe, with buttery garlic and onion flavors, is a traditional holiday side dish for my family. This Christmas vegetable dish is healthy, and quick and adds a burst of color to your holiday table! They are also Weight Watchers friendly. Although this dish is very popular during the holiday season, it's a great side dish for any time of the year and even for busy weeknights! It pairs perfectly with my Ham with Orange Glaze and my Air Fryer Roast Chicken.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It adds a burst of color to your holiday table with fresh ingredients!
- It's easy side dish with a few pantry ingredients.
- It's healthy and light.
- Can be made in an electric skillet, leaving room on the stove.
When I first moved away, it was painful to miss family holiday celebrations, especially Christmas dinners. Then I went through a very long stretch where I couldn't go home for Christmas at all (10 years to be exact), so if I wanted to enjoy our family holiday food traditions, I had to learn to make all our favorites on my own. And now I'm sharing them all here so that my kids and future generations will have all these recipes. And they are just too good not to be shared with the world, including this green bean recipe for Christmas dinner!
Holiday Menu
Just like our family’s stuffing, Auntie Carol's Sweet & Sour Slow Cooker meatballs, our family's Ceasar salad (minus the chicken for holiday dinners) and my Mom's Scottish Cabbage Rolls, this green bean mushroom recipe is a staple on a holiday dinner table. It not only symbolizes Christmas, even more importantly, it means I’m home for Christmas! And there are few things better than being home for Christmas. I know that very well.
Oh and I can't forget the desserts and baking: Grandma's Butter Tarts, Whipped Shortbread and some of my very own that I've added to the holiday baking tradition: Holiday Biscotti and my Gingerbread Lime Bars.
If you want to see all the recipes on my family's Thanksgiving table, they are all here, in one place - this Thanksgiving Menu with Alternative and Lighter Options post (shown below) as well as my Christmas Brunch Menu and Christmas Baking Collection!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
You'll need the following ingredients for these Christmas dinner green beans:
- Fresh green beans. You can buy packages of fresh green beans (string beans) or buy them in bulk. Just make sure you cut off the ends before you cook them.
- Fresh Mushrooms. I used white button mushrooms, but you could cremini as well.
- Unsalted butter. I use unsalted butter because I like to control the salt in my cooking.
- Garlic powder. Garlic powder is a quick and easy way to get a burst of garlicky flavor in this green bean recipe.
- Onion powder. Onion powder adds a unique and tasty touch to these green beans and mushrooms!
- Salt and Black pepper. For taste.
*See recipe card for quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Garlic powder - you can substitute1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic
- Butter- substitute half the butter for olive oil, use light butter substitute or use salted butter (just skip the salt in the recipe)
- Salt - you could use kosher salt or sea salt instead of table salt
🔪How to make Green Beans and Mushrooms
- Step 1: Trim fresh beans on both ends. Add green beans to cold water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes until just tender (a fork can go through)
- Step 2: Slice mushrooms (if you didn't purchase pre-sliced). I would recommend slicing them as thick as shown in the photo.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat (or electric skillet) and saute the mushrooms in butter for 1-2 minutes. Add garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and cook stirring frequently for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain beans and add them to the skillet with the mushroom mixture and add if desired, additional garlic powder, onion powder, or salt to taste. Add a little bit of pepper. Continue to saute, stirring frequently (stir fry style) for about 5-8 more minutes (to combine flavors).
Top Tip
My aunt usually cooks these sauteed green beans and mushrooms in an electric skilet, (affiliate link) because it can be set on the serving table (plugged in) and kept warm. Then you don't have to worry about giving up precious holiday real estate on the stovetop! However, you can use a large skillet/non-stick frying pan, if you prefer.
🌡️Storage
Store this green bean mushroom saute in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
These ingredients do not stand up well to freezing.
👪 Serving size
This Green Bean with Mushroom recipe serves 8. One serving size is ⅛ of the whole dish. You can also cut this recipe in ½ by adjusting the serving size on my recipe card. Just click on the serving size select the number of servings you'd like and the amounts will adjust accordingly. But you'll probably end up wanting to double the recipe, especially if it's one of your Christmas dinner sides for a larger family gathering!
🔢WW Points
This recipe is 4 WW points. But you can lighten it up even more by using a lighter butter substitute.
My Auntie Carol, like most of us, doesn't like to measure stuff. Since she wasn't really sure about how much of everything she actually used in the recipe, it took a little trial and error on my part. But I think I finally got it! However, the amounts can be adjusted to your liking.
This green beans with mushrooms recipe is not complicated. It's a simple recipe, with a few simple ingredients and that's what I love about it. But it's not only that simplicity that I find so comforting, it's the predictability. And now I understand why. So, if you looking for the perfect side dish for weeknight dinners or to add to your holiday dinner repertoire, or green beans recipes that are a lighter alternative to the traditional green bean casserole, but still want green beans for Christmas dinner, then give this one a try.
Happy Holiday meal and memory-making!
🥗More Christmas Dinner Sides
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📋Easy Green Bean and Mushroom Recipe
Equipment
- electric skillet recommended, but can use frying pan
Ingredients
- 800 g fresh green beans * I bought 2 (400g) pkgs, about 5- 6 cups
- 454 g container of fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt, depending on your liking * or alternatively, you can just use salted butter
Instructions
- Trim beans on both ends.
- Slice mushrooms (if you didn't purchase pre-sliced). I would recommend slicing them as thick as shown in the photo.
- Add green beans to cold water in large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes until just tender (a fork can go through)
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat (or electric skillet) and sautee the mushrooms in butter for 1-2 minutes . Add garlic powder, onion powder and salt and cook stirring frequently for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Drain beans and add them to the skillet with the mushroom mixture and add if desired, additional garlic powder, onion powder or salt to taste. Add a little bit of pepper.
- Continue to sautee, stirring frequently (stir fry style) for about 5-8 more minutes (to combine flavors).
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Terri Gilson
This Green Beans and Mushrooms recipe is more than just a side dish - it's a cherished part of my family's Christmas tradition. I love how it brings a burst of color and buttery garlic flavors to the holiday table. After missing out on family Christmases for years, recreating Auntie Carol's recipe helps me feel connected to home, no matter where I am.