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    Home » Sides » Pecan Green Beans with Orange

    Pecan Green Beans with Orange

    Nov 15, 2017 · by Valentina · 19 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Pecan Green Beans with Orange are subtly sweet and roasted to a golden crisp. As far as Thanksgiving green bean sides go, this dish is far from ordinary. Not even close!green beans with pecan pieces in white serving dish with red maple leaves in background

    This Roasted Orange Pecan Green Bean recipe is a quick and easy and all of your guests will love it!

    Most people expect green beans or brussels sprouts as a part of a Thanksgiving feast.

    Not that I’m into always doing what’s expected, but I do think it’s nice to have a few classic dishes as a part of a holiday spread.

    pile of fresh green beans with white background

    Pecan Green Beans

    This is an exciting green bean dish! It's far from ordinary, but it still does its job. And that is to brighten the plates and the table.

    Most of the dishes traditionally served on Thanksgiving are more or less in the same color palate. Orange, beige, brown mostly. Think about it — turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes.

    Don’t get me wrong, I truly adore these foods, and wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving without them, but it’s always lovely to add a touch of green that’s fresh and vibrant. It brings a plate of food to life.
    raw green beans in an even layer on sheet pan

    The Key to Roasting Green Beans

    The key to delicious roasted green beans is caramelization.

    Roasting the beans at a very high temperature, after they’ve been boiled, adds tremendous additional flavor from the caramelization process, from browning in the oven.

    What's in this recipe?

    • green beans
    • olive oil
    • pecans
    • orange zest
    • orange juice
    • butter
    • salt, pepper, cayenne

    Pecans add a subtle maple flavor and lovely crunch, and the splash of sweet orange juice, finishes it off perfectly in a silky smooth butter sauce.

    Oh, and a pinch of cayenne adds just a touch of heat that's fantastic with the other ingredients.

    two slices of butter on orange sauce in small pan

    This recipe only takes about 25 minutes -- start to finish!

    It’s an expected dish that will wow your guests with unexpected flavors.

    green beans with pecans on white plate with blue flowers

    I make this dish often, not just for the holidays. It turns out, it’s just as delicious every other day. 😉 

    Enjoy and I hope this turns out to be one of your favorite Thanksgiving green bean sides, too.

    Here's another exciting green beans dish for Thanksgiving.

    green beans with pecans in a white dish

    Pecan Green Beans Recipe with Orange

    Valentina K. Wein
    Cooked to a golden crisp, these green beans, are far from ordinary. Not even close!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 128 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1¼ pound green beans, trimmed and cut in half
    • 1½ tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • zest of 1 Navel orange
    • juice of ½ Navel orange
    • pinch of cayenne
    • 3 tablespoons toasted pecans, finely chopped
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Set the oven. Preheat the oven to 500°F, and adjust a rack to the top third.
    • Boil, shock, dry and oil the green beans. Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set it aside. Bring a large sauce pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans, and boil just until they’re a brighter green and tender, about 4 minutes. Drain, and immediately plunge them into the ice water. (This is called shocking.)
      Once they’re cool, drain again, dry them with a kitchen towel, and spread them out on a sheet pan. Drizzle them with the olive oil and then toss with your hands to ensure they’re all well coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread them out evenly, in a single layer.
    • Roast. Place the sheet pan in the 500°F oven and roast until they begin to blister and become a little bit golden, 8 to 10 minutes. (Move them around and flip them about half way through the roasting time.) Use a spatula to help you add the roasted beans to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
    • Make the sauce. While the beans are roasting, add the butter, orange zest and orange juice to a small sauce pan. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top and place it over low heat.
    • Combine sauce with green beans. Once the butter is melted, remove the pan from the heat and drizzle the sauce over the roasted beans.
    • Season and serve. Season to taste with salt and pepper and then pour into a serving dish. Serve hot. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)

    Notes

    Calorie count is only an estimate.
    Keywords best vegetables to roast, gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes, vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lauren

      November 16, 2017 at 8:47 am

      These look so good and easy! Definitely going to try!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 10:25 am

        Great. Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Dana

      November 16, 2017 at 8:49 am

      I love green beans, and they're really so much more versatile than people give them credit for. Lovely recipe!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 10:25 am

        Totally agree. Thanks!

        Reply
    3. Stephanie@ApplesforCJ

      November 16, 2017 at 9:06 am

      You're definitely right that most people expect brussels sprouts or green beans on Thanksgiving. Personally I love both. Loving this orange pecan flavor you added to these.

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 10:28 am

        Thanks Stephanie! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Julie

      November 16, 2017 at 9:06 am

      Love love green beans and make them often. Always looking for a new recipe for them. Will try this as the flavors sound delish.

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 10:28 am

        Awesome. Thanks, Julie!

        Reply
    5. jenn peas and crayons

      November 16, 2017 at 9:16 am

      The flavors here are out of this world! I think this one is going to top my must-try list for sure!!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 10:29 am

        Yay! Thanks, Jenn.

        Reply
    6. Deb|EastofEdenCooking

      November 16, 2017 at 2:25 pm

      All the carbs of Thanksgiving need to step aside! These scrumptious green beans will need room on our plates. Thanks for sharing a veggie recipe for the holiday!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 16, 2017 at 3:18 pm

        You are so welcome! Thank you. 🙂

        Reply
    7. David

      November 17, 2017 at 1:57 am

      I have never roasted green beans before... definitely want to try this, although I won’t be cooking this holiday. So sad... but it doesn’t mean I can’t make them for a non-holiday meal, right?

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 18, 2017 at 7:01 pm

        Delicious any time! Even though you're not cooking, I wish you and Mark a very happy Thanksgiving. (Hopefully, someone is cooking for YOU!)

        Reply
    8. Rocky Mountain Woman

      November 18, 2017 at 6:23 am

      Adding to the Thanksgiving Menu, love the flavor combo. Nice way to turn tradition into something exciting

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 18, 2017 at 7:02 pm

        Thanks! Hope you love it!

        Reply
    9. Rocky Mountain Woman

      November 18, 2017 at 6:26 am

      Adding to the Thanksgiving Menu. Nice way to turn something traditional more exciting.

      Reply
    10. sippitysup

      November 20, 2017 at 7:58 am

      I agree, don’t forget to put something green on the plate. Green beans are traditional holiday fare and I'm one of those guys who thinks it’s just not Thanksgiving without green beans. But sadly, this vegetable is usually an oozy-gooey over-baked casserole topped with something crunchy that I can never actually identify. Everything here is deliciously identifiable! GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 20, 2017 at 8:51 pm

        Thank you, Greg. Yes, I like to see my green beans clearly. ;-). I wish you and your family a Happy (and tasty) Thanksgiving! XO

        Reply

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