How to Make Canned Green Beans Taste Better

Wondering how to make canned green beans taste better? Try these 11 easy tricks to make your green beans taste deliciously homemade.

As much as you want to have a fresh vegetable dish on the dinner table at all times, sometimes it’s just not possible.

That’s why I always have some canned green beans stored in my pantry as a back-up. But I don’t just heat the green beans and call it a day – that’s a waste of time and money.

Just because we’re using canned beans doesn’t mean we have to suffer through the undesirable canned flavor.

There are lots of ways to make bland and boring canned beans taste fresh and fantastic.

Just follow any of these 11 methods to get that fresh green bean goodness!

With these simple techniques, you can easily transform your canned green beans into a healthy and delicious dish!

1. Marinate in Bouillon

This is perhaps the most time-consuming technique, but I guarantee that it’s worth it.

The idea is to let the beans simmer in the broth for a long period so that they absorb all the flavors.

It’s so delicious, your family won’t even notice you’ve used canned beans!

For this technique, you’ll need canned green beans, beef bouillon, and patience.

Combine the undrained beans and beef bouillon into a pot. Bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-high, and cook until almost 90 percent of the liquid evaporates.

Turn the heat off and let the beans marinate in the broth for several hours. Then, bring the beans to a low simmer for 10 minutes or until all the liquid evaporates. 

This gives you the same delicious taste of green beans that have been cooked in bacon and ham-hock. But without all the work!

2. Chicken Broth

If you don’t have beef bouillon on hand, chicken or vegetable broth works just as well. Just pour the broth into a pot with the beans and wait!

You can add bits of ham and your choice of seasonings to add more flavor.  Let it simmer for 30 minutes to several hours for maximum flavor and goodness.

3. Slow Cook In Butter

Butter and vegetables always taste great together!

You’ll also want to use the slow cooking method so that the canned beans have all the time they need to soak up all the gorgeous butter. 

Start by draining the canned green beans half way. Heat a skillet and cook the beans. Flavor them with butter, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Let the beans simmer uncovered and stir occasionally. Do not turn off the heat until almost all the liquid evaporates.

Otherwise, all the flavors from your seasonings will remain in the liquid and won’t stick to the beans. 

4. Cheese

Give your beans a creamy, cheesy, and nutty flavor by adding parmesan or Asiago cheese.

This will cover up the canned taste well and will fool anyone into thinking you used fresh beans.

To make, add butter in a skillet, then add the drained and cooked green beans and stir until the butter melts. Stir in the cheese and add your choice of seasonings. Yum!

5. Herbs and Spices

Garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper are all fantastic additions to make your green beans taste fresh and delicious.

6. Bacon

Everything tastes better with bacon, canned green beans included. The bacon adds a smoky and meaty flavor to the beans, hiding that mediocre canned taste.

You can either cook the beans in bacon grease or add bacon bits to the beans. Or better yet, do both!

7. Olive Oil

If you don’t have bacon grease or butter, olive oil works well, too!

A few tablespoons will add a mild nutty flavor to the beans that will help make them taste as if they were picked fresh from the garden.

8. Sugar

What now? Sugar? Yup, you read that right!

A little bit of sugar will enhance the flavor of canned green beans… and any vegetable, actually. To use, add a spoonful of sugar to your canned beans as you cook them.

I’m telling you, it does a marvelous job at covering up that metallic, processed taste.

Again, you’ll want to simmer the beans for several hours so that they marinate in the delicious broth.

9. Worcestershire Sauce

This fermented condiment has distinct sweet, savory, and tangy flavors that can transform the taste of your canned beans.

Together with a bouillon cube, soy sauce, and butter, Worcestershire sauce will do wonders for your beans. 

10. Caramelized Garlic

Garlic is so strong and pungent, and when you caramelize it in butter, oh boy! It packs a ton of flavor that will make your canned green beans to die for.

To caramelize the garlic, just cook it in melted butter and olive oil. Once it’s browned, add in the beans and flavor with salt and pepper.

Cook for 10 minutes and add a handful of parmesan cheese.

11. Corn

Whether it’s fresh or frozen corn, the sweet and juicy golden kernels will offset your beans’ canned flavor.

You can also throw in some carrots and peas for a colorful stir fry. It makes a delicious side dish to any entrée!