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Keto green beans with cream cheese and garlic are a simple, under 10-minute green bean side dish that is low-carb and keto-friendly.
This truly is an easy side dish recipe idea to whip up, but it has tons of flavor in each bite.
Why Simple Green Bean Dishes just Work.
Anything other than frozen vegetables and butter on the side of the plate often turns me off regarding side dishes.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed during the school week and think chicken/corn, chicken/broccoli, chicken/peas, etc., so having easy dishes that really dress up your sides without too much work is a must.
When it comes to green beans, there is no doubt that green bean casserole with cream of chicken is about the most flavorful thing you can make. But that shouldn’t be the only time you make green beans during the year.
And these easy, simple, and 10-minute green beans with cream cheese are a creamy, homemade side dish that is low carb and keto-friendly.
Yes! Green beans are a great source of healthy vegetables with wonderful nutritional value.
While many keto or low carb dieters prefer to use their net carbs in other ways, I love the healthy green bean.
You can easily enjoy a cup of green beans with only 7 carbs! There really are a lot of kinds of beans, and while the “green” kind gets the worst rap, to me, they are also the best tasting and worth it. Plus, should you really feel guilty about eating a side of veggies?
Is Cream Cheese low-carb?
Cream cheese is another low-carb option, and since it’s dairy, it is also super keto-friendly and a great way to get some fats in. You can expect about 3.5 cards in a 3-ounce container of cream cheese.
How to make Keto Green Beans
There are so many choices when it comes to beans. You can either get canned whole green beans, use fresh green beans, or use frozen but thawed green beans.
Here is the breakdown, depending on which kind you use:
Note: You just need one kind, not all kinds!
2 cans of drained whole green beans (equaling 30 oz)
14 oz of fresh but boiled green beans
1 bag of frozen green beans
You also need 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of cream cheese, and some seasonings.
This recipe is easy to scale back.
Please note in my recipe images that I used some frozen AND canned green beans to get the variation of colors (and because I had some frozen left over that I needed to use up!)
Serve your green beans alongside just about anything.
My favorite dinners that go with green beans are Chicken and Rice Casserole, Cajun chicken Alfredo, Copycat Alice Springs Chicken, Honey Garlic Chicken, or Simple Ritz Chicken Casserole.
Green Bean Side Dishes
Need more side dish recipes to enjoy your green beans??
Keto Green Beans in Cream Cheese and garlic are a delicious smothered green beans hot side dish that is low carb friendly and flavorful for the keto diet!
Ingredients
1/2tablespoonminced garlic
1tablespooncream cheese
2tablespoonsof butter
salt & pepper
30oz.drained can of green cut whole beans OR 1 bag frozen green beans
Instructions
Pour drained or frozen green beans, plus minced garlic, into a skillet on medium heat.
Heat green beans for approximately 3 minutes to warm up.
Now add 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon of cream cheese and stir until all combined, heating for 3-5 minutes more.
Serve cream cheese green beans with salt and pepper
Notes
This simple dish can be served with bits of bacon, crispy onions, or if keeping keto free, try Keto Cheese Crisps for your crunch.
I do not recommend using french green beans as the cream cheese makes the dish heavy and your beans will get limp and supersaturated
Nutritional values are hard to calculate as the measurements are picking up all the green bean options as being in the recipe, so please use your apps to calculate
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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One cup of green beans contains almost 7 grams of carbohydrates so they can easily fit into a daily allowance of fewer than 50 grams in a keto diet. Green beans are a low-calorie, nutritious vegetable that can be a part of your healthy diet.
If you're looking for cream cheeses that you can add to your keto diet without compromising your daily macros, nutritionists swear by the following brands:
Among these, black soybeans and green beans have the lowest carbs, potentially making them better for a keto diet. On the other hand, chickpeas, pinto beans, and navy beans have high carbs. You might want to avoid these if you're strictly following a keto diet.
The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.
You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.
Overconsumption of starchy vegetables should be avoided on the ketogenic diet. However, non-starchy vegetables are recommended, especially greens such as spinach, Brussels sprouts and kale.
Cream cheese is an excellent source of fats, and Philadelphia is one of the most widely recognized cream cheese brands. A 2 tbsp serving contains only 2 g of net carbs but packs 7 g of fat. For a low-carb, high-fat diet like keto, those are excellent macros. This delicious spread is incredibly versatile.
Moderation is key. So, if you're having cheese as part of a weight loss strategy like keto, make sure you know your daily calorie limit along with your protein and fat macronutrient needs. As mentioned earlier, 1-3 ounces should fit well into a keto diet plan.
Cream cheese: Cream cheese is very popular in the keto diet. At only 84 calories per 1 ounce serving, it has 1 gram of carbs and 2 grams of protein but packs 8 grams of fat per serving. It can be a keto-friendly snack or meal addition when more fat is needed.
Is Guacamole Keto-Friendly? Yes, absolutely. As mentioned above, guacamole is loaded with healthy monounsaturated fats and minimal carbohydrate content. This makes it a perfect low-carb, high-fat keto snack when served with keto-friendly chips or raw veggies.
The amount of carbs in beans make them nearly impossible to eat on a ketogenic diet. Most types of beans, such as red kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, should be avoided on a standard ketogenic diet due to their high carbohydrate content.
Lectins are proteins present in green beans that help bind carbohydrates. Lectins cause digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Cooking beans neutralizes the lectin, making them safe to eat, improves taste, and increases antioxidant levels.
Green beans are full of fiber, which is an important nutrient for many reasons. Soluble fiber, in particular, may help to improve the health of your heart by lowering your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. The fiber in green beans helps to keep your digestive system healthy and running smoothly.
Detailed nutrition comparison for green bean vs broccoli. Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin K and calcium. Green bean has more alpha-carotene than broccoli, however, broccoli contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and broccoli are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium.
“When alternative sides are plentiful, assume guests will eat a little less of each and one pound will serve four people,” Hartigan says. “And if vegetarians outnumber carnivores at your table, assume your green beans will go fast and assume that one pound will serve two people.”
- Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.
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Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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