How to Steam Green Beans in the Microwave for a quick, simple, and delicious weeknight side dish.
Hey, need something green for your plate and don’t feel like getting out a pot or pan? How about making some green beans in the microwave tonight?
I’ve shared a couple of these vegetables in the microwave posts on the site over the last year ( Broccoli in the Microwave, Cauliflower in the Microwave, and Corn on the Cob in the Microwave ), and they’ve been pretty popular.
I think a lot of us are looking for the quickest and easiest ways to add more vegetables to our diets, and the best vegetable side is the vegetable side that you will actually make.
With a veggie side this simple, there’s no reason not to.
Steaming green beans in the microwave instead of on the stove gives you the same beautiful, delicious, bright green green beans, tender, with just a little crisp bite left, but no steamer basket required.
Once steamed, you can toss with butter and salt or a little fried garlic like in my No-fail Butter and Garlic Green Beans and serve with something equally delicious and easy like Tri-tip in the Oven , Country-style Pork Ribs , or Salsa Chicken .
How to Cook Green Beans in the Microwave
Place washed and trimmed green beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bowl, 2 to 3 tablespoons.
Cover bowl with a plate and microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, until green beans are tender.
Carefully remove plate (the steam will be hot), drain liquid and add a tab of butter to the bowl. Toss to coat and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Serve with something simple and easy, and enjoy!
More Easy Vegetable Sides
- Oven-roasted Broccoli
- Roasted Zucchini
- Roasted Green Beans
- Green Beans with Bacon
- Oven-roasted Butternut Squash .
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 pound fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- ▢ 3 tablespoons water
- ▢ 1 tablesooon butter
- ▢ Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place washed and trimmed green beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bowl, 2 to 3 tablespoons.
- Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, until green beans are just tender.
- Carefully remove plate (the steam will be hot), drain any remaining liquid, and add about a tablespoon of butter to the bowl. Toss to coat and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
Three different recipes for quick and easy 2-ingredient pupsicles to keep your dog cool this summer.
Hey, friends, how is your summer treating you? And just as importantly, how is summer treating your four-legged best friend(s)?
Are you guys melting in the heat?
Ella and I are.
Ella, slowly melting.
The only thing keeping us from fully turning into puddles is air-conditioning and oodles and oodles of frozen treats ( Pudding Pops and Wine Popsicles for me, Watermelon and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats for Ella).
Those watermelon treats have actually been super popular on Pinterest this summer, and because of this, I’ve received multiple requests for more pupsicle recipes.
Which brings us here today.
How to Make Dog Popsicles, AKA Pupsicles
I have a secret for you. You don’t need a recipe for pupsicles. If it freezes, it’s safe for dogs, and your dog likes it, it can be made into pupsicles.
The pupsicle possibilities are literally endless, and all you need to get started are a couple of dog-friendly ingredients ( here’s a good list people foods you should and shouldn’t feed your dog ) and something to freeze your treats in.
I own these molds which make cute bone-and-paw-shaped dog popsicles, but a simple ice cube tray will work just as well.
And once you have something to make your treats in, here are three 2-ingredient pupsicle recipe ideas to try out:
Banana and Peanut Butter Pupsicles (Ella’s Favorite) 2 ripe bananas 2 tablespoons peanut butter (without artificial sweeteners)
Yogurt and Berries Dog Popsicles 1/2 cup blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries 2 5-ounce containers plain yogurt
Pumpkin and Banana Treats 2 ripe bananas 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
For all three of these recipes, you just combine them in your mold/trays and pop them in the freezer until solid, usually about 3 to 4 hours.
Then grab a pupsicle for your dog, something cold and sweet for yourself, and the two of you can enjoy a summer that’s just a little more bearable.
What molds did you use for the pupsicles?
I used a set of silicone molds to make the pupsicles in the photos. If you’d like a set of your own, you can buy the molds here , but you can also just use a regular old ice cube tray.
Please note, these are all dog-safe ingredients, but some dogs do not process dairy well. If that’s your dog, avoid the yogurt treats, and, as always, consult your vet if you have any questions or concerns about what you’re feeding your pet.
Also, dogs should always be supervised while eating frozen treats. Do not let them wander off with a half-eaten treat as uneaten pieces can melt and stain your carpets.
This recipe calls for plain, unsweetened yogurt and peanut butter without artificial sweeteners. DO NOT use yogurt or peanut butter that has been sweetened with xylitol, as it is toxic to dogs.
More Dog Treat Recips
- Birthday Cupcake Dog Popsicles
- High-value Dog Treats
- Gingerbread Treats for Dogs and Horses
- Watermelon and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats
2-ingredient Pupsicles (3 Ways)
Ingredients
Special Equipment
- Silicone treat molds or ice cub tray
Banana Peanut Butter Pupsicles
- 2 very ripe bananas mashed
- 2 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter *
Yogurt and Berries Pupsicles
- 1/2 cup chopped strawberries, blackberries or raspberries, pureed, or whole blueberries
- 2 5-ounce containers plain yogurt *
Pumpkin and Banana Pupsicles
- 2 very ripe bananas mashed
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie filling
Instructions
- If using floppy silicone molds, place them on a baking sheet or cutting board that will fit in your freezer, and clear enough space in your freezer for the molds to lay flat.
Banana Peanut Butter Pupsicles
- In a small, microwave-safe bowl, microwave peanut butter for 10 to 20 seconds and stir until pourable. To each mold, add a spoonful of peanut butter and enough mashed banana to fill the mold. Use a knife to swirl in the peanut butter if desired.
Yogurt and Berries Pupsicles
- Combine spoonfuls of berries and yogurt until molds are filled.
Pumpkin and Banana Pupsicles
- Combine spoonfuls of pumpkin and mashed banana until molds are filled.
- Freeze until solid, 3 to 4 hours. Remove treats from molds/trays and store in an air-tight freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
These Carnitas Burrito Bowls with crispy carnitas and homemade cilantro lime rice make a fabulous dinner or batch of meal prep lunches for the week.
Hey, friend. Need something good and simple and easy today? How about a burrito bowl?
Yes, I said a burrito bowl.
I used to be kind of down on the whole food-in-a-bowl trend (someone, please explain to me how smoothie bowls are anything but exhausting), but you know what?
I think burrito bowls are a force for good in the world.
They’re a big ol’ bowl of comfort foods thrown together and smothered with guacamole. Definitely on the side of the angels.
These Carnitas Burrito Bowls are meant as a companion recipe to my Easy Carnitas made on the stove or Slow Cooker Carnitas . Those recipes make huge batches of meat, so the bowls are perfect for using up some of the leftovers.
If you don’t have any carnitas made (and don’t feel like cooking some), you can use store-b
ought carnitas or substitute sliced cooked chicken thighs (try the thigh recipe from my Chipotle Chicken Tacos ).
The base for these bowls is a batch of homemade cilantro lime rice , made with chicken broth , a little butter, fresh lime juice and cilantro. It’s super quick and easy to throw together and gives an excellent flavor boost to everything you pile on top of it.
And those toppings are really up to you. I topped mine with corn, pinto beans, Monterey cheese, Pico de Gallo , guacamole, and sour cream. There’s an ingredient list in the recipe below, but think of it as more of a suggestion.
Add your favorite burrito ingredients: peppers, pickles, potato chips (what? I’d eat it). Go wild.
This recipe makes four bowls, so if you’re a household of one or two, that’s a dinner and lunch (or a couple of them), but the recipe can be easily doubled if you’re feeding a big family or want to meal prep at the beginning of the week.
Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
I love carnitas for meal prepping because their flavor only improves in the refrigerator. Seriously, day two or three carnitas are the best carnitas.
Since these bowls are best enjoyed warm, pack everything that can be microwaved into meal prep containers (I use these 3-cup Pyrex ones ). If taking to work for lunch, pack a little sour cream together with anything else that you don’t want to microwave in a small separate container, and you’re all set.
Then maybe hide in your office to enjoy your lunch, because these bowls are definitely going to make everyone jealous. 😉
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Carne Asada
- Steak Fajitas
- Carne Asada Fries
- Chicken Fajitas
- Salsa Chicken
Carnitas Burrito Bowl Recipe Notes
- If meal prepping these bowls for the week, omit the guacamole unless you’re magic and know how to keep it fresh for more than a day, in which case, please tell me your secret. The bowls are still great without it.
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Rice
- ▢ 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
- ▢ 1 cup long-grain or extra-long-grain rice
- ▢ 1 lime zested and juiced (keep juice and zest separated)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 14g ) butter
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 1/4 cup chopped, loosely packed cilantro
Carnitas Burrito Bowls
- ▢ 2 cups cooked carnitas warmed
- ▢ 1 15-ounce can pinto or black beans warmed and drained
- ▢ 1 15-ounce can corn warmed and drained
- ▢ 1 cup pico de gallo
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 2oz ) shredded Monterey jack or Mexican blend cheese
- ▢ 1/2 cup guacamole
- ▢ 1/4 cup sour cream
For Topping
- ▢ 1 lime quartered (optional)
- ▢ Cilantro chopped (optional)
Instructions
Cilantro Lime Rice
- In a medium saucepan, cook rice according to package instructions, substituting chicken broth for water and adding lime juice, butter, and salt to the pot along with the rice.*
- Once rice is cooked, stir in half the lime zest and half of the cilantro. Taste and add more of each if desired.
- Divide rice between 4 bowls (or food prep containers.)
Carnitas Burrito Bowls
- Add equal parts of remaining burrito bowl ingredients to each bowl of rice.
- Add a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of cilantro if desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
How to Steam Green Beans in the Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablesooon butter
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place washed and trimmed green beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bowl, 2 to 3 tablespoons.
- Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, until green beans are just tender.
- Carefully remove plate (the steam will be hot), drain any remaining liquid, and add about a tablespoon of butter to the bowl. Toss to coat and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
