Pan Fried Potatoes and Green Beans are perfectly seasoned spuds fried in a little butter with crisp tender green beans sprinkled with salt and pepper. This is a classic side dish that goes with just about anything and everything. We love to serve them with Colby Jack Meatloaf with Chipotle Ketchup and Oven Baked Barbecue Beef Brisket.
One thing I have learned over the years is sometimes it is the simple recipes that taste the best. The ones that we have made so many times that we don’t even have to think about them. We can make them while we are doing twelve other things. So many of these recipes are stuck in our heads and if we close our eyes we can even taste them. So yummy. This is one of those traditional recipes that is forever ingrained in my heart and my taste buds. Pan Fried Potatoes and Green Bean goes with almost everything. I mean honestly you could even serve it with hotdogs.
How do you make Pan Fried Potatoes and Green Beans?
Start by placing the green beans in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Drain well and quickly plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. This cooking technique is commonly referred to as blanching.
Next combine your cubed potatoes, olive oil, basil, oregano and garlic powder in a ziploc bag and shake to coat. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat and add potatoes. Cook until the potatoes start to brown stirring occasionally. Turn the heat to medium so as not to over brown the potatoes before they are tender and stir every now and then. Cook the potatoes until they are golden brown and tender.
Add the well drained green beans and butter to the pan cooking for several minutes. Finally add salt and pepper to taste. For best results serve promptly.
Tips for making pan fried potatoes and green beans!
- For best results trim the ends off the green beans
- Chop your potatoes into small cubes as this helps cook them all the way through by the time they are golden brown.
- Always plunge your green beans into ice cold water after the boiling as this stops the cooking process.
- After the potatoes have browned you can speed up the tenderizing of the potatoes by covering the skillet with a loose piece of aluminum foil.
- You can use fresh minced garlic but do not add it to the skillet until the last 30-60 seconds of cooking because if cooked too long it burns and tastes bitter.
- If you like a little more flavor for your potatoes and green simply add a couple pinches of Cajun seasoning. I find Cajun seasoning to be full of flavor and not too hot if used in moderation.
The whole family just loves fried taters. I mean really who the heck doesn’t? What’s not to love about perfectly seasoned spuds fried in a little butter. Crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Gosh I am making myself hungry! Heck we haven’t even talked about the green beans yet. What are you waiting for put my Pan Fried Potatoes and Green Beans on your dinner list real soon. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does.
Other potato recipes you will love!
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Parmesan Herb Potatoes
- Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
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This post was originally published July 28, 2016 and was republished July 22, 2019 with new content.
PrintPan Fried Potatoes and Green Beans
An easy traditional side that is loved by all and goes with everything from grilled chicken to fried fish.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: vegetable side
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 1 lb. green beans trimmed
- 2 medium sized gold potatoes cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt & pepper
Instructions
- Bring large pot of water to boil and add beans. Cook until bright green in color and tender crisp; approximately 2-3 minutes. Plunge cooked beans into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. When completely cool drain beans in colander.
- Place cubed potatoes, olive oil, basil, oregano and garlic powder in a large Ziploc bag. Shake to coat. Heat skillet over medium high heat and add potatoes. Cook until starting to brown; stirring occasionally. Lower heat to medium low so as not to overbrown the potatoes before they are tender. Stir occasionally. Cook until golden brown and tender. Add well drained green beans, butter and salt & pepper to taste. Cook for additional 3-5 minutes.
Notes
- If you like your beans more tender than add them to the skillet with the potatoes earlier in the cooking process.
- For best results trim the ends off the green beans
- Chop your potatoes into small cubes as this helps cook them all the way through by the time they are golden brown.
- Always plunge your green beans into ice cold water after the boiling as this stops the cooking process.
- After the potatoes have browned you can speed up the tenderizing of the potatoes by covering the skillet with a loose piece of aluminum foil.
- You can use fresh minced garlic but do not add it to the skillet until the last 30-60 seconds of cooking because if cooked too long it burns and tastes bitter.
- If you like a little more flavor for your potatoes and green simply add a couple pinches of Cajun seasoning. I find Cajun seasoning to be full of flavor and not too hot if used in moderation.
Keywords: pan fried potatoes, fried potatoes, pan fried green beans, green beans, vegetable side, side dish
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Awesome! Everybody love the Fried potatoes and green beans. It is a great recipe, tender, full of flavor and so easy to make. Thank you!
Thanks so much! So glad that you liked it. It is one of my go to favorite sides!
Did I miss it or did you forget to say how long the potatoes take to cook?
Saute until the potatoes are brown and crisp on the outside and soft in the inside, from 10 to 20 minutes. Smaller pieces of potatoes cook faster than large ones, so the exact cooking time will vary depending on how you cut the potatoes and how big the cubes are. You can taste test for tenderness or pierce with a fork.
How many does this serve?
It serves four.
Thank you! Truly a tasteful dish i can dream about with the taste brings. Goes well also with sauteed button mushrooms 🙂
You are so very welcome and I am glad that you enjoyed it!!
Can you use red potatoes for this recipe?
Yes you can.
I’ve been cooking this dish for years. All family loves it and it goes with just about anything. I will substitute this for potato salad or mashed potatoes. Like your idea of reasoning potatoes before cooking. Will try this next time I make it. Thanks.
Thanks so much Phyllis. Yes we love pan fried potatoes anyway we can get them! LOL!
This is our favorite fresh green bean recipe by far! A great healthy sidedish, and sometimes my main course because I don’t eat meat.
Thank you for this! Love it!
★★★★★
You are most welcome! I am so glad that you love it.
This is the ultimate side for summer!
★★★★★
I love potatoes as a side dish, but like seeing how you have also incorporated some veggies in there. Love the simple preparation and color of this dish.
★★★★★
I agree with you, these simple recipes that we make all the time are the best! You got the most amazing browning on your potatoes!
★★★★★
There is nothing like crispy potatoes and fresh green beans beside everything! Chicken, pork, meatloaf….oh my!
★★★★★
My Mom made a similar dish back in the sixties! She boiled the potatoes rather than frying them, and about 6 or 7 minutes before they were done would throw in the green beans. Drain, stir in the pot to dry, then add lots of butter, salt, pepper and fresh minced garlic. YUM!!!
I bet that was delicious. I can almost taste it!
This is so versatile I also use a few slices of bacon to render down to use as flavor instead of olive oil
This was sooooooo good i don’t eat meat so this is perfect for me
Cool! Thanks Anni! So glad that you liked it!
Real easy. Everything on hand. I’ll memorize this one.
★★★★★
Thanks Joy! It is a classic!!
Can I use Idaho potatoes?
Yes you can!