Name: Sweet and Spicy Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 # fresh green beans (washed & trimmed); 1 tbsp. olive oil; 1/2 tsp. salt; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1/4 cup honey; 1/4-1/2 serrano or jalapeno pepper (sliced, depending on spice preference)

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With the perfect balance of heat and sweetness, these Sweet and Spicy Green Beans make a quick & easy side dish for a variety of protein options!

Sweet and Spicy Green Beans in a white bowl with chopsticks and whole green serrano peppers

For the past couple summers, my family has taken on the task of managing a 30 foot by 40 foot garden on my in-laws farm. We plant a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers that is truly a labor of love. From putting a tiny seed in the ground and watering it you get to watch it progress into a beautiful plant that bears delicious food. I would not consider myself a very "crunchy" person, but I value the importance of understanding where your food comes from and love teaching my girls about it. No matter where you get your fruits, veggies or even grains from it's important to remember there is someone behind the process that has been a caretaker of the land to produce nourishment for us all.

As I'm writing this post, we have green beans coming out of our ears. We try to get out to the garden every couple days and by far the most time consuming task is picking the green beans. There is really no other method besides taking your time and slowly skimming through the plant and finding any beans that are hiding. I often make a couple rounds through the plants as there are always some that I miss. It's a great lesson in patience, and I can get a lot of thinking done while I'm doing it. In fact, this is how this recipe for Sweet and Spicy Green Beans was born!

Green beans are one of my favorite veggies. They are great steamed or roasted with a sprinkle of sea salt for a quick side dish. I would not be an authentic Minnesota without mentioning the infamous Green Bean Casserole often served at Thanksgiving. My girls even eat them raw, and they are a great finger food for little ones! The heat level in these Sweet and Spicy Green Beans is adjustable to your spice preference, and trust me, I'm from Minnesota where ketchup can be a tad too spicy!

How to Make Sweet & Spicy Green Beans

Placed trimmed green beans on a sheet pan and drizzle with oil, salt & garlic. Toss to coat well. Roast at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes. You want the beans to just start getting tender, but with a little crunch.

Green beans on a sheet pan with olive oil, salt & garlic

While the beans are cooking, make the sweet & spicy sauce to toss the green beans in. Combine honey and peppers in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Simmer for a couple minutes then drain out the pepper pieces.
Toss the green beans in the spicy honey sauce right on the sheet pan. Place back in the oven for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately!

Jalapeno Vs. Serrano

The right pepper for these Sweet and Spicy Green Beans all comes down to your spice preference. As far as their flavor, jalapenos and serrano peppers are quite similar. The difference comes down to their spice level. The Scoville Scale which measures the Scoville Heat Units, or SHU, of a variety of peppers from tame bell peppers to flaming ghost peppers. On this scale jalapenos come in at anywhere from 2,500-8,000 SHU depending on the pepper while serrano peppers come in at a range of 8,000-22,000 SHU.

You can also adjust the amount of sliced peppers you infuse the honey with to further adjust the spice. For a good amount of spice, I find about half of a serrano sliced is perfect. This turns about to equal a rough tablespoon. My husband loves spicy food so this is the perfect ratio for his liking! If you are less of a spice fan, use anywhere from a quarter to a half of a jalapeno and remove some of the seeds and inner membranes as this is where the heat lives.

Wooden chopsticks picking up green beans

What To Serve with Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

Sweet and Spicy Green Beans are a great way to switch up the vegetable side for a variety of meals. Anything from a nice grilled steak, chicken, pork or shrimp would pair wonderfully with these green beans. These green beans also lend themselves well to Asian dishes like stir fries or a side to a big bowl of ramen!

Close up of Sweet and Spicy Green Beans in a white dish with chopsticks and serrano peppers

Other popular side dish recipes:

Potatoes On The Grill

Old Fashioned Coleslaw with Vinegar

Grilled Caesar Salad

Calico Baked Beans

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Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

With the perfect balance of heat and sweetness, these Sweet and Spicy Green Beans make a quick & easy side dish for a variety of protein options!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: spicy green beans, sweet and spicy green beans, sweet green beans

Servings: servings

Author: Ashley Leonard

Ingredients

1 # fresh green beans washed & trimmed
1 tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic minced
¼ cup honey
¼-1/2 serrano or jalapeno pepper sliced, depending on spice preference

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spread green beans on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & garlic. Toss until well coated. Roast green beans for 12-15 minutes.
While beans are cooking, combine honey & sliced peppers in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Drain the mixture to remove pepper pieces.
Remove green beans from the oven and toss in the spicy honey mixture. Place back in the oven for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Helpful Equipment & Ingredient Links

Sheet Pan

Saucepan

Notes

Jalapenos are less spicy than serrano peppers so use either to fit your spice preference. You can also reduce the amount of peppers and/or remove the seeds & membranes if you want to a less spicy option!