Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic and Thyme

When it comes to dinner, you can never go wrong with a vegetable side dish. Or maybe even two if you love vegetables the way I do. Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes Garlic and Thyme will become a new family favorite! Plus this dish practically cooks itself, always a plus in a busy kitchen...

Green beans almost scream summer, but this dish is perfect anytime!

As summer comes to a close and the longer days begin disappearing, make sure to enjoy as many meals with the family as is possible. And trust me, it is not the food that makes these gatherings so memorable (although good food is never the wrong dish!). It is those around the table, that make the meal special. That was true at the beginning of time and is still true today. It is the best way to plan all your meals!

Enjoyable year round, with fresh or frozen green beans.

We were given a large picking of green beans from the daughter and son-in-law's garden, those beans will be on our table tonight. Braised with tomatoes, garlic, and thyme. The only thing that would make them taste better, would be if we were sharing with family. But tonight it is just the two of us. But I have made this dish many times, and often from frozen green beans, making it the perfect year round vegetable side dish. It could be considered more a process than a recipe, but we love Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic and Thyme. And we had our own home-canned tomatoes to use...

Let's eat more vegetables!

Green beans are a favorite around here, especially home grown. But if you do not have the room to grown your own green beans, those from the grocery store or farmer's market will work just fine! My husband is the gardener in the family. He can grow just about anything, anywhere. Me, not so much...but I will say this, if desire to grown a garden actually grew vegetables and berries, I would be a Master Gardener. But alas I have a brown thumb, but I will keep trying because I love to putter in the garden beds! In the meanwhile I am thankful for Farmer's Markets and CSA shares!

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• green beans
• canned tomatoes
• garlic
• thyme
• bay leaf
• wine, water, or bone stock
• brown sugar, if desired, you can make your own!
• Salt & Pepper

You will also need the following:

• large flat pan with lid
• measuring spoons
• liquid measuring cup
• silicon spatula or large spoon
• colander
• serving dish

Now we are ready to begin!

Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes Garlic and Thyme

Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes Garlic and Thyme
by the seat of my pants

UPDATED: 06.07.2025

2 pounds green beans, washed with the stem ends removed
2 pints canned tomatoes or 2 15-oz cans of diced tomatoes
1 head garlic, peeled, with the cloves, left intact
1/2 t salt
fresh ground pepper
1 bay leaf
1 t thyme leaves, crumbled in the palm of your hand
1-2 t brown sugar (don't leave this out, the beans will not be sweet)
1/2 c white wine, water, or bone stock 

2 T butter

Wash and snap the ends off the green beans. When snapping, remove any strings that might be present. Drain well. 

Place beans in a flat pan suitable for braising. Scatter the garlic over the beans.

Season with salt, pepper, thyme, and brown sugar. Cover with the canned tomatoes, and pour the wine around the edge of the pan.

Stir gently to combine ingredients.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and let braise for 1 1/2 hours.

To serve, remove beans to a serving platter. 

Add the butter to the pan liquid, bring to a boil and reduce to a sauce, check the flavor, and adjust the seasoning if needed, pour over beans before serving.

Storage options for Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic and Thyme. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days. You may freeze for longer storage time, but do expect some changes in texture. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic and Thyme has been included below. 

You may also enjoy:

Zucchini with Tomatoes and Black Olives. 

#eatmorevegetables!

#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily

#wholefoodingredients

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Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes Garlic and Thyme
by the seat of my pants

UPDATED: 06.07.2025

2 pounds green beans, washed with the stem ends removed
2 pints canned tomatoes or 2 15-oz cans of diced tomatoes
1 head garlic, peeled, with the cloves, left intact
1/2 t salt
fresh ground pepper
1 bay leaf
1 t thyme leaves, crumbled in the palm of your hand
1-2 t brown sugar (don't leave this out, the beans will not be sweet)
1/2 c white wine, water, or bone stock 

2 T butter

Wash and snap the ends off the green beans. When snapping, remove any strings that might be present. Drain well. 

Place beans in a flat pan suitable for braising. Scatter the garlic over the beans.

Season with salt, pepper, thyme, and brown sugar. Cover with the canned tomatoes, and pour the wine around the edge of the pan.

Stir gently to combine ingredients.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and let braise for 1 1/2 hours.

To serve, remove beans to a serving platter. 

Add the butter to the pan liquid, bring to a boil and reduce to a sauce, check the flavor, and adjust the seasoning if needed, pour over beans before serving.

Storage options for Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic and Thyme. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days. You may freeze for longer storage time, but do expect some changes in texture. 

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