Easy Sichuan Green Beans

These easy Sichuan Green Beans are blistered under the broiler until lightly charred, then tossed with a flavorful mixture of garlic, fresh ginger, scallions and sriracha. They’re fast, a little spicy and an easy way to turn fresh green beans into a seriously flavorful side dish.

If you’re looking for something more exciting than plain steamed green beans, this recipe delivers. The beans cook quickly under a hot broiler, giving them tender-crisp centers with blistered, lightly charred edges. A warm mixture of garlic, ginger, scallions and freshly ground peppercorns gets tossed with the beans just before serving. The whole dish takes about 15 minutes and pairs well with everything from rice and grilled chicken to pork or steak.

Why You’ll Love These Sichuan Green Beans

This is an easy side dish with big flavor and very little prep. Instead of frying the green beans, the broiler does the work of blistering them quickly.

• Ready in about 15 minutes. The beans need just a few minutes under the broiler.
• No deep frying. A small amount of oil and high heat give the beans those delicious blistered edges.
• Full of flavor. Fresh garlic, ginger, scallions and sriracha make a simple but flavorful sauce.
• Easy to adjust. Add more or less sriracha depending on how spicy you like your green beans.
• Versatile. Serve them as a side dish or add rice and your favorite protein for an easy meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients for these easy Sichuan-style green beans, but fresh garlic, ginger and scallions make a big difference in the finished dish.

• Fresh green beans: Trim the ends before cooking. Thin French green beans, or haricots verts, are also delicious here; just watch them closely under the broiler because they may cook more quickly.
• Olive or avocado oil: Used for both the aromatic mixture and coating the green beans before broiling.
• Freshly ground peppercorns: Freshly grinding the peppercorns gives them much more flavor than pre-ground pepper.
• Garlic: Four cloves add plenty of savory garlic flavor.
• Fresh ginger: Fresh rather than dried ginger is important here and gives the sauce its bright, slightly spicy flavor.
• Scallions: Use both the white parts and plenty of the green.
• Sriracha: Adds heat along with a little tang and sweetness.
• Kosher salt: Season the beans before broiling and add more to taste before serving.

How to Make Sichuan Green Beans

The recipe comes together in two quick parts: make the aromatic peppercorn mixture on the stovetop, then blister the green beans under the broiler.

• Make the aromatic mixture. Warm the oil and peppercorns until fragrant, then add the garlic, sriracha, ginger and scallions and cook briefly.
• Broil the green beans. Toss the beans with oil, salt and pepper, spread them in a single layer and broil until blistered and lightly charred.
• Toss and serve. Toss the hot beans with some of the peppercorn mixture, transfer to a serving dish and spoon the rest over the top.

Do I Need Sichuan Peppercorns?

Despite the name, you don’t have to track down Sichuan peppercorns to make this recipe. Freshly ground black peppercorns are delicious and give the beans plenty of peppery flavor using an ingredient that’s easy to find.

Sichuan peppercorns are different from black peppercorns. They have a distinctive citrusy, floral flavor and create the slightly tingly or numbing sensation associated with many Sichuan dishes. If you’d like to use them for a more traditional Sichuan flavor, they can be found in Asian markets and many well-stocked grocery stores.

Are Sichuan Green Beans Spicy?

These green beans have a little heat from the sriracha, but they’re not overwhelmingly spicy. As written, the spice complements the garlic and ginger rather than dominating the dish. For milder green beans, reduce the sriracha slightly; if you like more heat, add a little extra to taste.

What to Serve with Sichuan Green Beans

These flavorful green beans work especially well with simple main dishes because the garlic, ginger and peppercorn mixture brings plenty of flavor to the plate.

• Serve alongside grilled or roasted chicken, pork or steak.
• Pair with white or brown rice for an easy side.
• Add a cooked protein and rice to turn the beans into a simple rice bowl.
• Serve with other Asian-inspired dishes as part of a larger meal.
• Try the same garlic-ginger mixture with broccoli, snap peas or other quick-cooking vegetables.

Storing and Reheating

Sichuan Green Beans are best right after they’re tossed with the warm peppercorn mixture, when the beans still have their lightly crisp, blistered texture. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat briefly in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.

More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes

Looking for more ways to add vegetables to the dinner table? These easy Good Dinner Mom side dishes are flavorful, versatile and pair well with all kinds of main dishes.

• Easy Roasted Carrots – Tender, caramelized carrots with beautifully browned edges make an easy side for almost any dinner.
• Mashed Cauliflower and Potatoes – Creamy and comforting, with cauliflower lightening up classic mashed potatoes without sacrificing that satisfying texture.
• Cauliflower Gratin – Tender cauliflower baked in a rich, cheesy sauce until golden and bubbling.
• Cucumber Sesame Salad – Crisp, refreshing cucumbers tossed with sesame flavors make this an especially nice pairing with Asian-inspired meals.

These easy Sichuan Green Beans are proof that a simple vegetable side dish doesn’t have to be boring. A few minutes under the broiler gives the beans lightly charred, blistered edges, while garlic, ginger, scallions and sriracha add plenty of flavor. Keep this one handy when you need a quick vegetable to round out dinner.

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5 from 8 votes

Easy Sichuan Green Beans

These easy Sichuan Green Beans are blistered under the broiler, then tossed with a flavorful mixture of garlic, fresh ginger, scallions, peppercorns and sriracha. Ready in about 15 minutes, they're a quick, delicious side dish with just the right amount of heat.

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 13 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 136

Author Sally Humeniuk

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 3 Tbsps olive oil or avocado oil, divided
• 1 tsp freshly ground peppercorns divided
• 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
• ½ Tbsp sriracha
• 1 inch fresh ginger minced
• 3 scallions sliced
• 1 pound fresh green beans trimmed
• Kosher salt

Instructions

• Make the peppercorn mixture: Heat 2 tablespoons oil and half of the freshly ground peppercorns in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3 Tbsps olive oil, 1 tsp freshly ground peppercorns
• Add the aromatics: Add the garlic, sriracha, ginger and scallions. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  4 cloves garlic, ½ Tbsp sriracha, 1 inch fresh ginger, 3 scallions
• Prepare the broiler: Position an oven rack as close to the broiler as possible and preheat the broiler to high.
• Season the green beans: Place the green beans in a large bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with kosher salt and the remaining freshly ground peppercorns.
  1 pound fresh green beans, Kosher salt
• Broil the beans: Arrange the green beans in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for 3–5 minutes, watching closely, until the beans are blistered, tender-crisp and lightly charred in spots.
• Toss with the sauce: Return the hot green beans to the bowl. Add half of the garlic-peppercorn mixture and toss well to coat.
• Finish and serve: Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and spoon the remaining garlic-peppercorn mixture over the top. Taste and add additional salt, if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

• Thin French green beans (haricots verts) work well in this recipe but may cook a little faster, so watch them closely under the broiler.
• Adjust the amount of sriracha to make the beans milder or spicier.
• Freshly ground black peppercorns work beautifully in this recipe. Sichuan peppercorns have a different, citrusy flavor and characteristic tingly sensation. 
• Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated briefly in a skillet.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Sichuan Green Beans

Amount Per Serving

Calories 136 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 51mg2%

Potassium 276mg8%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 870IU17%

Vitamin C 17.7mg21%

Calcium 54mg5%

Iron 1.4mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.