Make microwave green beans your handy secret weapon for an easy veggie side dish. They cook straight from frozen to tender, vibrant green in just minutes.
Why you’ll love microwave frozen green beans
- Super Fast – ready in 2 minutes!
- Hands-off cooking – free yourself from the stovetop with this set and forget method.
- Perfect Texture – Microwaving gently steams beans, preserving their texture.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with step-by-step instructions, or read on for all the details.
What beans to use?
You can use either frozen green beans or frozen baby beans for this recipe. Both can be cooked straight from the freezer, with no need to thaw before using.
Note: You can also cook fresh green beans in the microwave, but they will need a splash of water added to generate enough steam during cooking.
How to cook frozen green beans in the microwave
1
Use microwave-safe container.
To cook frozen beans in the microwave, you need a microwave-safe dish with a lid. This can be any bowl or container specifically marked as safe for microwave use.
If you don’t have a lid you can use plastic wrap with some holes poked in.
2
Microwave beans.
Place the frozen beans in the microwave, then microwave on high for 2 minutes (for a 1000W microwave), stirring them once halfway through the cooking time.
When they are done, they should be bright green, hot throughout, and tender.
How long to microwave frozen beans
The cooking time for frozen beans in the microwave depends on the power of your microwave, and the quantity of beans you are cooking.
1 cup/ 170g of frozen beans takes around 2 minutes to cook at 1000W. So if you are cooking more or less than that, or if your microwave has a different power level, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
Here’s a quick reference of estimated cooking times for different quantities and powers:
| Wattage | ½ cup | 1 cup | 2 cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500-700W | 2½ minutes | 4 minutes | 6 minutes |
| 700-900W | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 4½ minutes |
| 1000-1200W | 1½ minutes | 2 minutes | 3 minutes |
Variations and serving ideas
- Top with melted butter, or garlic butter for added flavor
- Toss with crispy bacon bits or pancetta
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or parmesan powder
- Toss cooked beans with chunks of feta and toasted sliced almonds or pinenuts
Microwave Frozen Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 170 g frozen green beans (Note 1)
Directions
- Place frozen green beans in a microwave-safe bowl with a well-fitting lid (or you can use microwave-safe plastic wrap with a few holes pierced.)
- Cook frozen beans in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring once during cooking. Time is for a 1000W microwave, see notes to convert for other microwave power.
- Carefully remove the lid from the bowl, it is full of hot steam, which will all escape when the lid is removed.
- Serve green beans hot, topped with butter. Enjoy!
Notes
| Wattage | ½ cup | 1 cup | 2 cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500-700W | 2½ mins | 4 mins | 6 mins |
| 700-900W | 2 mins | 3 mins | 4½ mins |
| 1000-1200W | 1½ mins | 2 mins | 3 mins |
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
