Frozen roasted green beans makes for the easiest vegetable side dish for one. These frozen green beans can go straight from the freezer to the mixing bowl to the oven in 30 minutes. They can bake along with your main dish too.
Table of contents
Move aside fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables are a fantastic, low cost, long lasting simple side dish. They're fresher (because they're frozen at peak freshness vs picked early for transport), and can be used in many ways.
I often dump frozen vegetables into a sauce or dish I'm making, but you can't just add vegetables to any dish. They really are best when added to a sauce or liquid. The water in frozen vegetables wouldn't help the texture of crispy food.
That's why frozen roasted green beans (and other roasted frozen veggies) are so helpful. They have enough dry heat to melt and evaporate the ice, then crisp up. This is a great, quick cooking method for busy weeknight dinners!
You can make these frozen roasted green beans on the stovetop or Air Fryer. I find green beans and similar vegetables (like ones without florets) cook up really well in an Air Fryer because the small parts don't get dried and burnt.
I've worked on a few frozen cooked vegetable recipes lately (scroll down for them), and keep the seasonings simple. When you're cooking for one, batch cooking foods is a helpful time saving technique.
What that looks like is making extra servings of frozen roasted green beans and then add more seasonings as you're adding them to different dishes. That way the flavors go well together and are delicious.
This frozen roasted green beans recipe is my favorite tasty side dish because it takes minimal prep time, you can batch roast them while you're already cooking, so you don't have to spend a weekend afternoon meal prepping!
Ingredients
Scroll down to the frozen roasted green beans recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Frozen green beans: You can use fresh green beans or another frozen vegetable for this easy side dish of frozen roasted green beans. Cooking times may vary though, so keep an eye on them.
- Olive oil
- Kosher Salt: I use kosher salt, because that's what I keep on hand, and like the larger flakes, but you can use sea salt or other salt that you have. Adjust the amount you add if using a different type since they are all different sizes.
- Garlic powder: It's my favorite way to get a touch of garlic flavor without mincing or burning garlic. If using fresh garlic cloves, you may want to add them in the last 10 or so minutes of cooking, so they don't burn.
- Black Pepper
Instructions
Scroll down to the frozen roasted green beans recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. When oven is done preheating, toss frozen green beans, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
You don't want your green beans to thaw or sit out before they go in the oven.
3. Add seasoned green beans to lined baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer.
4. Slide baking sheet into preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing half way through.
5. Serve frozen roasted green beans immediately, top with additional seasonings, if desired. See great options for seasonings in seasoning section below.
Air Fryer Instructions
You can also cook your frozen roasted green beans in the Air Fryer.
Preheat to 375 degrees F. While preheating, toss frozen green beans with seasonings in recipe. Arrange in one even layer in your Air Fryer basket. Cook for 5-10 minutes, tossing once. Cook until desired crispiness.
More Seasoning Suggestions
This frozen roasted green beans recipe has a simple seasoning so you can make them and add more seasoning if you want. Here are a couple ways to season them:
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbs de Provence + parmesan cheese + lemon zest
- Salad dressing
- Fresh lemon juice
- Seasoned salt
- Fresh herbs + feta cheese (or other cheese)
Storage/Reheating Tips
This frozen roasted green beans recipe is a great one to make extra servings of, and enjoy through the week. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.
Reheat frozen roasted green beans in the microwave, broiler, or Air Fryer for crispiness. Add additional seasonings (in seasoning suggestions section above) if desired.
You can freeze these roasted green beans, but the texture won't be as good. If freezing again, I recommend adding them to a soup or sauce instead of as a side dish. See UMN Extension recommendations for re-freezing vegetables.
Substitutions/Tips
- You can use whole green beans or cut green beans in this frozen roasted green beans recipe. I wouldn't recommend french cut or thin green beans, as they would burn easily in the oven.
- You can substitute fresh green beans for frozen beans in this frozen roasted green beans recipe. They will just take less time to roast. Check after 10-15 minutes.
- Substitute the frozen green beans for another frozen vegetable, cook times may vary depending on which vegetable you use. Any frozen vegetable would make a delicious side dish.
- You can add seasonings and toss on your baking sheet, but taking the extra step of tossing in a bowl is the best way to evenly coat the green beans with seasonings.
- If using frozen vegetables, don't take them out of the freezer until the oven is preheated, and you can season them then bake right away. You don't want them to thaw before baking, or the baking time will be off.
- Other great add-ins: onion powder, whole garlic clove (smash it after baking), parmesan cheese, chopped nuts, lemon juice, garlic olive oil, flaky salt, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs are all great on frozen roasted green beans.
FAQ
Yes, if you buy a bag of frozen green beans, they've been quickly blanched to preserve better. Cook them as you prefer, you can even roast or pan fry them from frozen.
There are a couple reasons, one is that they are overcooked, or steamed in too much water. To avoid mushy green beans, I recommend pan frying or roasting them. They will crisp up and not get mushy like when steaming.
Yes! They're good too. This frozen roasted green beans recipe uses frozen green beans. It's easy to roast green beans and other vegetables from frozen.
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Green Beans: Serve with Panko Pork Chop, Instant Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice, or One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta.
Did you make this frozen roasted green beans? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Frozen Roasted Green Beans for One
Equipment
- medium mixing bowl
- Measuring cups, spoons
- tongs
- ¼ baking sheet the small one
- baking mat, parchment, or foil optional
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups frozen green beans about a large handful
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Once oven is preheated, toss about 1 ½ cups frozen green beans, 2 teaspoons olive oil, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of black pepper.
- Pour out in baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer.
- Roast for 20-25 minutes, tossing half way through.
- Serve immediately. Add additional toppings/seasonings if desired.
Video
Notes
- You can use whole frozen green beans or chopped ones. French green beans (the really thin ones wouldn't roast well).
- If substituting fresh for frozen green beans, just check after about 10 minutes of roasting, they likely won't need as long to brown and crisp up in the oven.
- You can substitute the green beans for another frozen vegetable. Cooking times may vary though.
- Other Topping Ideas: parmesan cheese, lemon juice/zest, red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar, etc.
Brandi says
I love these as a simple side dishes for lunch! So easy to whip up.
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
so easy!
Renee says
Why have I never considered roasting frozen veggies before! Excellent idea - and so simple, too!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
it's so easy!
Nathan says
I'm often cooking just for myself, so this is an ideal veggie side dish. Very excited to start working this into my typical menu, thanks so much for sharing!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
great to hear! it's easy when cooking for one
Justine says
This is great! It's often just me for dinner and I have a terrible habit of making way too much - this was perfect!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
yay! cooking for one is definitely different than cooking for more 🙂