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Garlic Butter Sausage with Green Beans - A Simple, Flavor-Packed Skillet Meal

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12–14 ounces smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed (cut in half if long)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1–2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or 1/4 cup chicken broth (for sauciness)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Prep the green beans: Rinse, trim the ends, and pat dry. Dry beans sear better, which keeps them crisp-tender.
  2. Slice the sausage: Cut into 1/2-inch coins. Uniform slices help everything cook evenly.
  3. Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then sausage. Cook 4–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on both sides. Transfer to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
  4. Sauté the green beans: Add green beans to the hot skillet with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook 5–7 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until bright green with a bit of char and still crisp-tender. If the pan looks dry, splash in a tablespoon of water to help them along.
  5. Make the garlic butter: Push beans to the edges to create a well. Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the center. Once melted, add minced garlic, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Stir 30–45 seconds until fragrant—don’t let the garlic brown.
  6. Combine and deglaze: Return sausage and any juices to the pan. Add lemon juice or chicken broth and scrape up browned bits. Toss everything to coat in the garlic butter. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  7. Finish and serve: Cook 1–2 more minutes until glossy. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.