These Green Beans with Lemon and Almonds are a vibrant and crunchy side dish that perfectly balances zesty citrus notes with the rich, toasted flavor of garlic and nuts. The texture is the real star here, as the green beans are steamed until they are just tender enough to retain a satisfying snap, while the almonds provide a delightful contrast in every bite. It is a light yet flavorful way to round out any low-carb meal, offering a refreshing alternative to heavier, cream-based vegetable sides while still providing plenty of healthy fats and essential nutrients to keep you on track with your keto lifestyle.

One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can adapt it to what you have in your pantry or your specific flavor preferences. While olive oil provides a clean, Mediterranean flair, you can easily swap it for grass-fed butter or even ghee to add a touch of creamy richness to the toasted almonds. If you find yourself out of almonds, walnuts or pecans make excellent substitutes and offer a similar earthy crunch. For those who enjoy a bit of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes added alongside the garlic can provide a lovely spicy kick that cuts through the acidity of the fresh lemon juice beautifully.

If you happen to have leftovers, these beans store beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. While you can freeze them for longer storage, keep in mind that the green beans may lose some of their signature snap once thawed, so they are best enjoyed relatively fresh. To bring them back to life, we recommend a quick toss in a hot frying pan over medium heat for a few minutes rather than using the microwave. This helps re-toast the almonds and ensures the beans stay crisp-tender rather than becoming soft, maintaining that perfect restaurant-quality texture for your next meal.

Yields 4 servings of Green Beans with Lemon and Almonds

The Preparation

16 ounces green beans, trimmed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup almonds, sliced
4 teaspoons fresh garlic, thinly sliced

The Execution

1. Steam the green beans until they are tender, but retain a slight snap.

Green beans, lemon wedges, sliced almonds, and minced garlic on a wooden board

2. Transfer the beans to a bowl and add the lemon juice and salt. Mix together well.

Steamed green beans tossed with lemon juice in a yellow bowl

3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, then add the almonds. Cook until they start to have some color.

Sliced almonds toasting in olive oil in a light-colored skillet

4. Mix in the garlic then cook for another 30 seconds until it changes color. Add this to the green beans.

Toasted sliced almonds and garlic browning in a skillet with a wooden spoon

5. Toss well, then serve.

Steamed green beans tossed with toasted almonds and a lemon wedge in a serving bowl

This makes a total of 4 servings of Green Beans with Lemon and Almonds. Each serving comes out to be 171 calories, 12.8g fats, 7.6g net carbs, and 4.8g protein.

NUTRITION	CALORIES	FAT	CARBS	FIBER	NET CARBS	PROTEIN
16 ounce green beans	159	1.3	35.7	14.5	21.2	8.6
2 tablespoon lemon juice	5	0	1.7	0.2	1.5	0.2
1/2 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoon olive oil	239	27	0	0	0	0
1/3 cup almonds	264	22.7	9.8	5.7	4.1	9.6
4 teaspoon fresh garlic	17	0.1	3.8	0.2	3.5	0.7
Totals	683	51.1	51	20.7	30.4	19.1
Per Serving (/4)	171	12.8	12.8	5.2	7.6	4.8