This Easy, Cold Balsamic Green Bean Salad is a healthy and quick summer salad recipe with fresh string beans, tomato, feta cheese, and homemade Italian dressing. Feel free to top with bacon and almonds if you want a little crunch!
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.
This post was originally posted in 2019. It has since been updated.
FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.
What Kind of Green Beans Do You Use? Can You Use Canned or Frozen?
I use fresh string beans with the ends trimmed. You can use canned green beans, but I wouldn’t recommend them for a salad. Fresh, blanched green beans will make the perfect salad for this recipe.
Yes, you can use frozen green beans and follow similar steps to prepare them. The beans will not have as much crunch as fresh.
You can also prepare the green beans using my Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.
How to Make a Cold Balsamic Green Bean Salad
- Blanch the green beans on the stove.
- Add the green beans to a large bowl with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sliced red onions, basil, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Chill.
How to Blanch Green Beans
You can read more about How to Blanch Green Beans here. You will need to first blanch the green beans because you don’t want them to be mushy. When you blanch green beans you submerge the green beans in a pot of boiling water for only a few minutes.
The green beans should turn bright green. Upon removing them from the boiled water, place the green beans in a bowl of cold water to stop them from cooking. This will help produce a nice, crisp salad.
Do You Need Sugar or Sweetener?
This green bean salad doesn’t use any sugar. The hint of sweetness throughout comes from the balsamic vinegar and cherry tomatoes.
How Long Will it Last in the Fridge? Can You Make it Ahead?
Green bean salad will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can You Freeze It?
If you plan to freeze it, I wouldn’t add the balsamic vinegar to the entire salad. Freeze it without the balsamic vinegar.
What to Serve With the Salad
Air Fryer Ribs
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken
More Salads Recipes
Keto Broccoli Salad
Keto Cauliflower Potato Salad
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Zucchini Noodle Pasta Salad
Green Goddess Salad
Fried Chicken Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Keto Low Carb Chicken Salad
Cookout Side Dish Recipes
Instant Pot Baked Beans
Southern Baked Beans
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Coleslaw
Southern Potato Salad
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Easy, Cold Balsamic Green Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
- 1 teaspoon fresh or dried basil I used dried
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons red cherry tomatoes sliced in half
Instructions
- Add about 6 cups of water to a large pot on the stove. Boil the water.
- When the water has boiled, add the green beans. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the green beans turn very bright green and are crisp.
- Remove the green beans from the pot and rinse with cold water. Dry the green beans.
- Add the green beans to a large bowl with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, feta, tomatoes, basil, sliced onions, salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
- Chill in the fridge for 45 minutes.
Chef Lou
Sunday 4th of June 2023
Easy and taste great
shauna
Monday 8th of November 2021
Never been a huge green bean fan but i had some in the fridge and made this dish, these were great. Very good side to pair with a protein for a dinner
staysnatched
Saturday 13th of November 2021
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Gretchen DeLuca
Monday 29th of June 2020
Fast and Easy summer side! Will be on repeat.
staysnatched
Monday 29th of June 2020
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!