I remember first choosing green beans instead of a loaded baked potato at Outback Steakhouse. “Are you sure?” my husband asked with raised eyebrows. But when those perfectly steamed beans arrived—glistening with that sweet-savory butter sauce—his fork kept mysteriously finding its way to my plate!
These aren’t your grandmother’s mushy, bland green beans. Outback has perfected the art of cooking green beans that remain bright, crisp-tender, and bursting with flavor, thanks to a simple but magnificent butter sauce that transforms this humble vegetable into something genuinely crave-able. With this easy dinner recipe idea, you can turn green beans into tasty treats.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Perfect Texture: Learn the secret to achieving that ideal crisp-tender bite every time
- Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand
- Quick Preparation: Ready in just 15 minutes from start to finish
- Versatile Side: Pairs beautifully with almost any main dish
- Crowd-Pleaser: Even vegetable skeptics will come back for seconds!
Ingredients for fresh steamed green beans
- Fresh cracked pepper – Provides a subtle heat and complexity that pre-ground pepper lacks
- Fresh green beans – The star of the dish, preferably thin haricot vert for the most tender result and quickest cooking
- Butter – Creates the silky base for the sauce and adds rich flavor
- Brown sugar – Provides a subtle sweetness that balances the savory elements
- Maggi seasoning – Delivers a concentrated umami flavor that elevates the entire dish
- Garlic powder – Adds aromatic depth without the harshness of fresh garlic
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors and helps bring out the natural sweetness of the beans
How to make perfectly seasoned green beans
Want to know how to make steamed green beans taste good? Use the right seasoning and butter sauce for the best restaurant-style green beans!
- Steam the green beans in a steamer or in the microwave until they are just done and still firm.
- Combine the butter, brown sugar, Maggi seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Stir until the brown sugar is completely dissolved.
- When the green beans are done, please place them in a bowl.
- Add half of the butter mixture, stirring the green beans until they are coated with the sauce.
What can you serve with green beans?
Let’s break this down into two areas. I will share some main dishes and some complementary side dishes.
Mains dishes perfect for green beans
- Grilled Steak
- Pork chops
- Roasted chicken
Side dishes that are perfect for Green Beans include:
Storage and reheating instructions for leftovers
- Refrigerator Storage – Let the green beans cool to room temperature, then tuck them into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheating Method – Reheat gently so the beans stay crisp-tender and that buttery sauce stays glossy. For a single serving, microwave covered in 30-second bursts, tossing after each burst, until just warmed through. For a larger portion, warm them in a skillet over medium-low heat, tossing often, and add a teaspoon or two of water if needed to bring the sauce back to life.
- Freezing – Not recommended. Green beans tend to turn soft after thawing, and the butter sauce can separate.
Love Outback Steakhouse? More Outback recipes
- Blooming Onion
- Steakhouse Potatoes
- Alice Spring Chicken
- Aussie Cheese Fries
- Restaurant Style Baked Sweet Potato
More Side Dish Recipes
- Roasted Red Potatoes
- Cooked Carrots
- Cheesy Asparagus Casserole
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Baked Cream Corn
- Cooked Cabbage
- Keto Broccoli and Cheese
- Cheesy Cauliflower
Be sure to check out more of my easy side dish recipes and popular casual dining restaurant copycat recipes.
Outback Steakhouse Steamed Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh green beans (preferably very thin), trimmed
- 4 ounces salted butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Maggi seasoning (see Note)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- Steam the green beans in either a steamer or your microwave until they are just done; you want them still firm. In my microwave, it takes about 2 minutes to steam the green beans.
- While the green beans are steaming, begin making your seasoned butter sauce.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, Maggi seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until the brown sugar is completely dissolved.
- When the green beans are done, place them in a bowl. Add about half of the butter sauce, in the bowl, and stir the green beans until they are coated.
What is maggi seasoning?
It is a bottle of liquid seasoning. This what the bottle looks like – Maggi Seasoning.
I did this for carrots – normally I throw some maple syrup on this was a really welcome change! Will do again with the beans for sure!
Please publish ” Texas Roadhouse” green beans. Those green beans are the BEST
Please tell me what the Maggi Seasoning is used in Outbacks Green Beans? You don’t even have the recipe for it or what to use? You said “See Note”. Well there is no “See Note”.
It is a sauce you purchase in the Asian section of your grocery store.
These are great, I’ve made them twice now, but haven’t followed exactly. Specifically, I cut the butter way down. You call for 4 oz of butter…that’s a whole stick. The pic seems to show a half a stick or 4 tbs… I’m using 3 tbs, and that seems quite adequate, and I LOVE butter. So is it really a whole stick? Also at the end, you call for using only half of the seasoning mix. What?
So in the recipe you mention that there is a note with regard to the “Maggi Seasoning”. I could not find the note. Could you tell me where to purchase it or how to make it. I love Outback green beans & would love to know what makes them taste different.
You can find this in the Asian section of most grocery stores. It’s a very common ingredient.
I used to work at Outback and always loved their green beans, this seasoning taste just like it and the whole family (including toddler) loved them!
Maggi seasoning is a brand with multiple bouillons, sauces and spices available. The recipe is tasty regardless but I would like to know more specifics about Maggi seasonings.
It tastes like a different soy sauce. Really tasty
I find that1/4 c. Brown sugar 3 T. soy sauce and 1/2 stick of butter sautéed with 2 T. of minced garlic 1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper works well in place of the Maggi sauce. Melt butter on low heat, sauté garlic until soft add brown sugar, and soy sauce. Cook over low heat until thickened. Maybe you will like this?
I served these to my husband last night without mention of a new recipe. He immediately said, “these are the best string beans I’ve ever had! What did you do to them?” Thank you for the recipe! Our store didn’t have maggi seasoning so I did what others did and used soy sauce.
Good for you 😉 It’s always great when your family loves a good meal!
Mmmmmm My whole family will love these!!
I hope they do!