These Balsamic Glazed Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds have a wonderful combination of flavors, crisp green beans, crunchy almonds and tart cranberries. The best part is this will be ready in 15 minutes!
These delicious Balsamic Glazed Green Beans make the perfect side dish for any meal, whether it's a holiday or a busy weeknight dinner. Since they take no time to make, I always make them when I entertain.
I love the sliced almonds and dried cranberries in here too. The sliced almonds give some added texture and crunch and the cranberries add a little tart and sweetness to the dish.
I've had that green bean casserole with the canned mushroom soup and I think people really like it? I don't love creamy stuff like that.
But I love these green beans!
Hav you tried my Green Bean Quinoa Casserole yet? It's made with fresh green beans, no canned cream soups and best of all, QUINOA!
This dish is simple and healthy and can be ready in 15 minutes. It's a perfect, quick dish for the craziness and chaos of the holidays.
This side dish is a perfect combination with Sweet Potato Casserole, Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Risotto or Balsamic Roasted Vegetables!
All of these would be even more yummy with some Eggnog Latte, Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate, Apple Chai Latte and definitely some Spiked Apple Cider.
Also, my cookbooks are both on sale now and would make a great gift! The Everything Wheat Free Diet Cookbook and The Greek Yogurt Cookbook are both the lowest prices I have seen!
Why You Should Make These Balsamic Glazed Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds
These green beans contain the perfect balance of slightly sweet and crunchy. I promise everyone loves them.
This isn't one of those holiday side dishes that you can prepare the day before but you don't need to since it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.
Now that I follow a sugar free, low carb diet, I am extra careful about the dried cranberries I buy at the store. it's not easy to find ones that don't contain dded sugars.
I usually buy these dried cranberries which have no added sugars, but they can be quite pricey. I love this recipe from All Day I Dream About Food where Carolyn shows us how to make our own dried cranberries at home with no added sugars!
Read your ingredient labels because the sugar sweetened dried cranberries can have up to 25 grams of sugar for a serving. Save that for the cookies, cakes and pies, am I right?
If you want to cut back on the sugar in this dish you can add a little sugar free sweetener, like liquid stevia or monk fruit for a substitute for the honey (or maple syrup). You only need a small amount for this dish.
Or you can leave it out entirely, it's up to you and your taste preference.
Recipe FAQ's and Expert Tips
You can place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just be careful when you reheat, they will stay crispy if you reheat in the oven and not the microwave. Place them in a casserole baking dish at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
To be honest, these go with just about everything! These green beans are delicious with turkey, Balsamic Chicken, Ginger Teriyaki Filet, ham... you name it. The flavors in this side dish are extremely versatile.
I haven't tried frozen green beans in here and I would guess that they taste much better with fresh green beans. In this dish they are crispy and crunchy but I am afraid that they would be mushy if you use frozen.
Related Recipes
Easy Cornbread Stuffing from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gratin from All Day I Dream About Food
Gluten Free Low Carb Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Healthy Mashed Cauliflower from Eating Bird Food
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Balsamic Glazed Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey I used raw honey, but you can use 100% maple syrup if you'd like it to be vegan
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces green beans ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together balsamic vinegar and honey. Set aside.
- Place garlic and oil in large skillet and cook under medium heat for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add green beans and stir. Cook for about 10 minutes until green beans are still bright green and crispy.
- Add balsamic mixture, almonds and cranberries and mix again. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Tara Geisel
A relative brought this dish to Christmas dinner and I could not get enough! I'm so happy I just found it on Pinterest! Sent it to my sister-in-law too!
lauren.kelly
YAY! I love hearing that Tara, thanks so much! Happy New Year!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife
These great beans are definitely happening in my kitchen soon! Yum! π
lauren.kelly
I hope you like them Jocelyn! π
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Good thing I have all the ingredients on hand to make these delicious balsamic beans for dinner tonight. They look incredibly delicious.. and healthy too!
Drea
Hoping this recipe will work with frozen green beans, since none of the fresh seemed, well, um, fresh....
lauren.kelly
Yes it would work Drea! And I know what you mean, they are so hot or miss these days. I hope you like it!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
i hope you had a great birthday! My son is the same way. I make him a special breakfast, so he thinks I need to make one for myself as well. Kids are funny.
Love these green beans for the holidays or for any night of the week!
grace+kubrin
Hello ... hope you had a good birthday. I totally agree with you ... I'm so done with stringbean casserole ... I skip that one. I am definitely going to make these for Christmas!
Love to all...
lauren.kelly
Thank you Aunt Grace! XO
Serena+|+Serena+Bakes+Simply+From+Scratch
We make green beans really similar but I've never added the cranberries! I can't wait to try these!
lauren.kelly
I hope you like them Serena!
Sarah+@+SnixyKitchen
Happy Birthday! How cute is it that they thought that all family birthdays meant something delicious - that's a high compliment:)
Emily Bites
Happy Birthday!! I love green beans with almonds, it's one of my favorites. Adding the cranberries makes it look so festive - totally birthday worthy!
Sarah+@+SnixyKitchen
PS. These green beans look like my kind of birthday dish:)
Faith (An Edible Mosaic)
Happy, happy birthday! I love how festive and pretty this green bean dish is!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
I like the looks of YOUR green beans so much better than the usual!
lauren.kelly
Lol! Thank you Dorothy!
Krista+@+Joyful+Healthy+Eats
Happy birthday to you girl! And what a way to celebrate with this dish, sweet salty and downright delicious. These green beans seriously sound incredible. Totally gonna be on my thanksgiving menu this year!
lauren.kelly
Thank you Krista!! XO
Melissa
I love green beans. This is a new way for me to prepare them. Thank you!
CarriesExpKtchn
The green beans look delicious and a very Happy Birthday to you! On our birthday's they get a birthday dinner choice (either home cooked meal or eat out). They generally want to stay in and thankfully I get the same treatment on my birthday. Though half of the time I just pick something I know they can make for me, not necessarily what I would have liked. I enjoy that more. Have a great day!
lauren.kelly
Thanks Carrie! XO
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
Happy birthday beautiful friend!
Obviously, I eat IHOP on my birthday, which is coming up next week! WOO,.
I also many have to eat these GORGEOUS green beans! LOVE the cranberries and almonds! Pinned!
lauren.kelly
I am shocked you go to IHOP for your birthday Taylor! π Happy early birthday to you! XO