BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (2024)

If you’re a fan of spicy food, you are going to love these Spicy Green Beans! An easy, but flavorful Asian side dish recipe that taste just like PF Chang’s!

BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (1)

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About This Recipe

I was making Pineapple Fried Rice and Yakitori Chicken the other night and realized I wanted more green on the table. I loved the salty spicy flavor of PF Chang’s Spicy Green Beans, so I decided to give them a whirl.

It took me several years to get on the PF Changs bandwagon. Living in a city with so many locally owned restaurants with AH-amazing food, chain joints aren’t nearly as accessible and I like to support local.

In fact, we have one locally owned Chinese restaurant with real, authentic cuisine. The menu is even printed in Cantonese. Thankfully, one of our best friends is able to communicate (and order) for us when we go.

FACT: Green beans actually grow on bushes!

BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (2)

But one day hubby and I found ourselves out in the county at a good, old fashioned mall in the middle of a torrential downpour. We had the choice of PF Changs or Cheesecake Factory. We picked PF Changs.

To both of our surprise, it was really good! Not exactly authentic Chinese food, but really solid American Chinese food. I had the Kung Pao Chicken and him the Orange Chicken.

FACT: Green beans are often thought of as a vegetable, but they are actually a fruit.

But more about this green bean recipe. The original is made with a “fiery red chili sauce, fresh garlic and Sichuan preserves”. What in the world are sichuan preserves? Basically just a garlic chili paste. Think spicy and red.

Many of the copycat recipes use a garlic chile sauce, but I used crushed red pepper flakes to mimic the peppercorn, spicy flavor. You can certainly use a chile garlic sauce or even Sriracha, if you choose.

Ingredients

  • Fresh green beans– Make sure the ends of the beans are trimmed. And check out my tips below for picking the best green beans!
  • Salt – I prefer to use fine sea salt for this spicy green beans recipe. A good quality salt makes a difference!
  • Soy sauce
  • Fresh ginger– We aren’t using ground ginger, we want freshly grated ginger for maximum flavor.
  • Garlic cloves– Again, fresh garlic is my spice preference for this recipe.
  • Rice vinegar – This should be found in the aisle where other vinegars are. If not, it might be down aisle.
  • Sugar – We need just a touch of sugar to balance out the spicy and savory flavors of these green beans.
  • Ground pepper– Freshly ground black pepper works great for this recipe.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes– These are optional, but if you like a spicy sauce, I highly recommend adding them in.
  • Sesame seeds– These are also optional and used for a garnish, but they just add a nice touch to the dish.
BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (3)

How to Make Spicy Green Beans

  1. Cook green beans. Fill a large skillet halfway with water and bring to a low simmer. Add green beans and cook until tender. Cooking times will differ depending on the size of your beans. Remove to a colander and rinse with ice water to stop to the cooking process.
  2. Make the soy sauce mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients.
  3. Toss with green beans. Over medium heat, heat sauce, stirring. Toss with greens beans.
  4. Garnish and serve. Remove to serving platter and garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.
BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (4)

Tips for Picking the Best Green Beans

ONE. Make sure they are a vibrant green After all, these are green beans. Avoid any beans that have a yellowish or brownish tint.

TWO. The surface of the green beans should be smooth and taunt, not wrinkly or slack.

THREE. Have you ever seen someone snap a green bean? A nice SNAP is a sign of a ripe green bean, the only issue you that you can’t guarantee that the whole batch was harvested at the same time or even came from the same farm when at the grocery store.

This technique works best at a farmer’s market when you can be more sure they are all from the same harvest.

FOUR. Avoid the gigantic beans. Bigger is not better in the case of these spicy green beans. Larger beans can be harder to cook and have a stringy texture.

FIVE. Store your green beans in the refrigerator and use them as soon as possible, but not longer than 3 days after purchase. Changes are they were already harvested over a week before you bought them.

SIX. To prep green beans, trim any twigs or stems on the ends of your beans.

PRO TIP: Fruits and vegetables begin to lose nutritional potency the moment they are picked. For the best nutritional value, shop local to ensure your produce hasn’t already endured a super long trip.

In this green bean recipe, the beans are blanched to ensure they are cooked, but still have a crunchy texture. I used thin, French green beans because they were on sale, but you can use traditional, thicker versions too, just steam them for a few minutes longer.

BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (5)

Variations

Making the same side dishes over and over can get a bit repetitive and boring. Here are a few ways to mix up this spicy green beans recipe if you want to try something different next time:

  • For an added crunch and even more flavor, throw in some extra veggies. Green onions or a red bell pepper would be perfect. You can even mix them with your favorite veggies to give a spicy flair to a veggie stir fry.
  • To change up the flavor a bit, substitute the sugar for brown sugar instead.
  • Instead of boiling your green beans, you can sauté them in a large pan with sesame oil or olive oil. Cook until they have a nice char on the outside.

What to Serve Them With

Really anything! Even though they are supposed to have an Asian flare because they are related to PF changs, they are quite verstile. If you want to stay with that theme, Sesame Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, easy Szechuan chicken and Kung Pao Chicken are among my favorites.

Storage & Freezing

This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated, but try to undercook the beans a tad so they don’t overcook during reheating. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Both leftovers and make ahead are best reheated on in a skillet on the stovetop. They can be microwaved, but best results are a skillet.

I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (6)

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BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (9)

PF Chang’s Spicy Green Beans

4.11 from 137 votes

PF Chang’s Spicy Green Beans are an easy and flavorful side dish recipe. Just 6 ingredients for the best green bean recipe!

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lb green beans ends trimmed
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ginger freshly grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper freshly ground
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes , optional
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large frying pan, fill half way with water and bring to a low simmer.

  • Add greens bean for 3-4 minutes, or until tender. Cooking times will differ depending on the size of your beans. Remove to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop to the cooking process. Drain well and set aside.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients.

  • Over medium-low heat, heat sauce, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Toss with greens beans.

  • Remove to serving platter and garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 52 kcal, Carbohydrates: 11 g, Protein: 2 g, Sodium: 840 mg, Potassium: 263 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 5 g, Vitamin A: 785 IU, Vitamin C: 14.3 mg, Calcium: 45 mg, Iron: 1.3 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 52

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: spicy green beans

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

BEST Spicy Green Beans Recipe - EASY PF Chang's Copycat Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

What makes green beans taste better? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

How do you get the most flavor out of beans? ›

A few items I reach for when making beans are: cumin, onions, garlic, bay leaves, chipotle peppers in adobo, bell peppers, poblano peppers, spicy chili peppers of any kind, cilantro, coriander, paprika, liquid smoke, celery, vegetable stock, black pepper, salt and lime juice.

What is Paula Deen seasoning? ›

The ingredients listed in order are: "sea salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, granulated onion, ground cumin, and other spices". I have used the recipe listed on this site and included equal amounts of garlic powder and onion powder.

How to spice up plain green beans? ›

Mix It Up! Try one of these tasty variations:
  1. Lemon. A little lemon zest adds brightness and freshness. ...
  2. Add Some Kick! A light sprinkle of red pepper flakes can add extra oomph and a bit of heat to your green beans. ...
  3. Add Almonds Some Crunch. ...
  4. Swap The Seasoning. ...
  5. Try Some Parm For Umami. ...
  6. Use Heirloom Green Beans.
Mar 6, 2023

What to add to a can of green beans to make them taste better? ›

directions
  1. Heat entire contents of the canned green beans. Drain.
  2. Place butter in the bottom of a serving bowl and add DRAINED green beans, stirring gently until butter is melted.
  3. Sprinkle with parmesan (and thyme if using)and serve.
  4. NOTE: This would work equally well on fresh or frozen green beans.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

What happens when you cook green beans with baking soda? ›

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

How do you make Nigel Slater green beans? ›

Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Trim 350g of green beans. When the water is boiling, add a little salt and the beans and let them cook for 3 or 4 minutes then drain. Toss the beans with the mushrooms and serve immediately.

What is the tastiest green bean? ›

French green beans, also called Haricots Verts, tend to be smaller, more tender, and quicker to cook. Their seeds are so small that they're almost unnoticeable. For these reasons, French green beans are generally considered the best green beans to buy, and they're priced accordingly.

Do coffee grounds help green beans? ›

What Vegetables Like Coffee Grounds? Coffee grounds as a fertilizer can be used when growing vegetable crops such as potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, radishes, and beans. Root crops need magnesium and potassium, while nitrogen is indispensable for green crops.

Should you drain canned green beans? ›

But if you're someone who needs to watch your sodium intake, it certainly can't hurt to drain and rinse canned beans before using them. Doing so can reduce the sodium by 40%. If you don't want to rinse, consider at least draining them first. Draining alone will “reduce the sodium by a third,” says Reinagel.

What can I add to green beans for flavor? ›

Butter: A bit of butter adds a rich flavor and helps the seasoning stick to the green beans. Seasoned salt: Buy seasoned salt from the store, or make your own seasoned salt at home. Chili powder: This is an unexpected knockout seasoning. Chili powder adds a touch of spice and color without being too overpowering.

Do you season green beans before or after cooking? ›

After the green beans are boiled, remove them from the pot and strain them through a colander and then immediately pour them into your buttered pan. Season the green beans with salt and pepper.

What are glory green beans seasoned with? ›

Green Beans, Water, Less Than 1% of: Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor, Sea Salt, Potato Starch, Sugar, Dried Onion, Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic Powder, Spice. Allergen Warning: Contains: Soy.

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