Cranberry orange glazed green beans are a new and healthy twist on traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole.
#SundaySupper is helping you balance out all of the upcoming indulgences with a menu of recipes to help you Lighten Up the Holidays. Step away from the canned soup and french fried onions and lighten up your holiday vegetable side dishes by making these slightly sweet and tangy Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans.
Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans
So I’m feeling pretty cruddy right now. As in, like, physically and mentally. This morning I went through all the effort to pop a nice turkey breast into the slow cooker. Added some parsley, onion, carrots, celery, apple, rosemary, the whole nine yards. I met a friend for a light lunch, stopped at the grocery store, and when I got home, since King Stuff was up from his nap, we decided to make a run to the furniture store so that The Hubby could show me a bedroom set he saw.
Well, several bedroom sets, a few dining room tables, a couple BeautyRests, and the 7-minute TempurPedic memory foam mattress experience later, it was rapidly approaching dinnertime, the boys were rapidly approaching meltdown city. While I had the turkey cooking itself, no side dishes were ready, and I was pretty hungry and not thinking clearly myself. That’s the sort of thing that happens after you try to go furniture shopping with small children. So in that foggy-headed moment, the diner up the road felt a whole lot closer and faster than getting all the way home and trying to figure out something that would cook quicker than baked sweet potatoes and roasted broccoli to go with the turkey.
Yeah, not exactly. There is a room for private parties at the diner, and of course, prime dinnertime on a Saturday night, naturally there HAD to be a party going on. And naturally my little guy needed a dry diaper and my big kid had to pee and then he couldn’t figure out if he wanted bacon or sausage with his pancakes which meant I couldn’t look at the menu and decide what I wanted and then our waitress disappeared and of course by the time we got our order in, the kitchen was bogged down with cooking all of the entrees for the party, and our orders had to wait.
There’s only so much “I Spy” that’s gonna keep a kid calm when mom and dad just made him NOT run all over the furniture store and now he just wants his pancaaaaaaaakkkkeeeesssssss! Heck, I was pretty hangry myself. After all of that, my dinner wasn’t even that good. Life lesson – don’t order short ribs at a diner. Not a good idea. And, to top it all off, when we got home and I had to get the turkey out of the crockpot and into the fridge, it smelled amazing. Dinner remorse, big time. What doesn’t feel amazing is my tummy. Yeah, just a little angry with myself right now.
Oh well, tomorrow we’ll have turkey and maybe I’ll make another batch of these cranberry orange glazed green beans…
Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans are a refreshing addition to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Try them instead of that heavy, creamy casserole. They are also lovely for a Sunday meal, but really can be made super fast for a tasty addition to weeknight dinners. Once you’ve got your beans cooked, it literally takes about two minutes to add the other ingredients and make it all glazy good. I even took a shortcut and used the bags of fresh green beans that have already had the stems snapped off, and you can cook right in the microwave. That’s definitely a much better shortcut than stopping for dinner at an overcrowded diner.
The orange marmalade adds a bit of sweetness, with some tart flavor from the dried cranberries. A wee bit of dijon mustard pulls it all together and balances it out with a little zing. Perfect fall flavors for a perfect vegetable side dish. My family polished off this batch of beans, so if you re making it for a big holiday meal, I’d highly suggest doubling or tripling it.
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Enjoy the cranberry orange glazed green beans recipe!
Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans
Sweet and tart with a little zing, and perfectly easy for a holiday meal or weeknight supper.
Ingredients
- pound of fresh green beans
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon minced fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 Tablespoons orange marmalade
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- a few grinds of black pepper
Instructions
- Steam green beans to desired doneness (or cook according to package directions if using fresh green beans in a microwave bag).
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add green beans and sage, and saute for a couple of minutes to let them brown slightly.
- Sitr in the marmalade, mustard, and cranberries, and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for another minute or two until the glaze thickens and coats the green beans.
Want some more healthy veggie sides?
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- Butternut Squash Gratin with Sage Pesto & Gorgonzola
- Horseradish Cheddar Cauliflower Gratin
- Cornmeal Crusted Asparagus
In addition to the cranberry orange glazed green beans, here is the entire menu to help you Lighten Up the Holidays…
Drinks
- Lightened Up Eggnog by The Redhead Baker
- Low Calorie Pumpkin Pie Malted Milkshake by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Appetizer or starter
- Gruyere Cheese Puffs by Sustainable Dad
- Lighten-up Sausage Rolls by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Spaghetti Squash, Pears and Kale with Shrimp by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Lightened Up Cornbread Stuffing by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Spicy Eggplant Dip by Cooking Chat
- Carciofi alla Trapanese by Manu’s Menu
- Fresh Salmon Carpaccio by Food Lust People Love
Main Dishes
- Holiday Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes and Corn by Family Foodie
- Mini Mushroom Shepherd’s Pies by Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Grandma’s Mac n’ Cheese by What Smells So Good?
- Lean Mean Cheeseburger Soup by The Foodie Army Wife
- Roasted Butternut Squash & Chicken Sausage Soup by Hot Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
- Lightened-Up Fettuccine Alfredo by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
Side Dishes
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts by Brunch with Joy
- Butternut Squash Orzo Pasta by Life Tastes Good
- Hearts of Palm, Artichoke, Avocado and Butter Lettuce by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Quick and Easy Sweet Potato by The Educators’ Spin On It
- Lentil & Mushroom Stuffing by Foxes Love Lemons
- Almond-Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli by The Texan New Yorker
- Tangy, Spiced Red Cabbage by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Honey Ginger Glazed Carrots by Ruffles & Truffles
- Shrimp Salad with White Wine Vinaigrette by eating in instead
- Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Green Beans with Rosemary Garlic Butter by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Mediterranean Lentil Stuffed Delicata Squash by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Leaner Green Beans by Noshing With The Nolands
- Spiced Tri-Colored Carrot Salad by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Horiatki Salata by Peaceful Cooking
- Healthier Potluck Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad by The Weekend Gourmet
- Farro Stuffing with Cranberries and Walnuts by The Dinner-Mom
- Roasted Parsnip and Apple Soup by Curious Cuisiniere
Desserts
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Sweet Apple Bites by Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Individual Cheesecakes by Nosh My Way
- Light and Luscious Chocolate Cheesecake by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pumpkin Pie Pudding by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Healthy Brownie Recipe | Applesauce Brownies by The Perfect Brownie
- Peanut Butter Coconut Mini Bars by Basic N Delicious
- The Blondie Recipe by Wallflour Girl
- Cinnamon Roll Granola Bars by Pies and Plots
- Skinny Ninja Cheesecake by NinjaBaker.com
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pumpkin Blondie by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
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Definitely a delicious option to the classic green bean casserole. Thank you for sharing
Kathia Rodriguez recently posted…Peanut Butter Coconut Mini Bars #SundaySupper
Thanks Kathia, and thanks for hosting!
I love this recipe! It sounds like the perfect side dish! I am saving it for my holiday menu!!!
Thank Manu. It is a nice change.
What a day you had. Not one you want to repeat, I’ll bet.
That said, your green beans look and sound wonderful and I’m sure will be a nice compliment to your crock pot turkey. LOL
Renee – Kudos Kitchen recently posted…Low-Calorie Pumpkin Pie Malted Milkshake #SundaySupper
It was a little crazy! Glad I’ll have a nice dinner tonight.
Great, great combination of flavors are in these green beans. So perfect for the holidays!
We’ve all had those days. Thanks for the kitchen and some mad skills for adding something colorful and joyous to dinner.
Chris Baccus recently posted…Gruyere Cheese Puffs for #SundaySupper
Yep, I definitely know I’m not alone! Thanks Chris!
We have been harvesting beans from our garden all week – so there are still plenty to try this!
I am jealous that you are still getting your own fresh beans!
Yes – my garden is in full swing http://instagram.com/p/ugoNwZNOAr/?modal=true
The marmalade is a brilliant idea, Brianne! I love your flavor combination here. Pinning this one on my Recipes to Try board!
Stacy Rushton recently posted…Fresh Salmon Carpaccio #SundaySupper
Thanks Stacy. I’ve had it in my fridge from another recipe, and it was just calling my name!
Yowza these green beans sound good!! This is going on my MUST make list!!
Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen recently posted…Lightened-Up Fettuccine Alfredo #SundaySupper
Your doctored up green beans look terrific! I love the addition of dried cranberries. Sorry for the lackluster meal at the dinner…but at least dinner was ready for the next day 🙂
I love the color contrast in this dish! I think I’ll be bringing this to a holiday meal this year!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere recently posted…Roasted Parsnip and Apple Soup #SundaySupper
Thank, yes I loved the colors as much as the flavor.
The combination of cranberry and orange totally makes me think of the holidays. I don’t like green beans unless they’ve got some kind of awesome flavor going on, and these totally do!
Shaina recently posted…Spiced Tri-Colored Carrot Salad #SundaySupper
Yes, a classic holiday flavor combo!
This looks so fresh and tasty. What a great side, thanks for sharing.
Shannon R recently posted…Mini Mushroom Shepherdâs Pies Recipe for #SundaySupper
It totally is. Thanks!
What a rough day for you, Brianne. I bet it must be one exhausting day. Thanks for sharing this cranberry orange glazed green beans, definitely looks delicious and special for the holidays.
Linda | Brunch with Joy recently posted…Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Wasabi Mustard for #SundaySupper
It was a crazy day!
I almost always eat at home, even when I’m running late and in a hurry. Usually it’s a good decision, but I totally understand how you felt. These green beans look amazing! Such a fab side dish!
Laura Dembowski recently posted…Cinnamon Roll Granola Bars #SundaySupper
Yeah, we do most of the time, but I was desperate! 🙂
What a beautiful combination of flavors this is! I’m looking forward to trying it. Pinned!
Kelly recently posted…Lettuce-Edge Repurposed T-shirt Cardigan
Thank you, enjoy!
I love green beans this sounds like a great combination to me!
Cindys Recipes and Writings recently posted…Lightened Up Cornbread Stuffing #SundaySupper
Gotta love sweet and savory!
“No short ribs at a diner.” I’ve comitted that to memory, just now. Sorry you had such a rough day, but at least it was a learning experience for you readers, right? 😉
I know it sounds crazy, but what kind of green beans to make is always my biggest dilemma for Thanksgiving. So many options. Just printed this to add it to the pile of options.
Lori Yates recently posted…Spiced Sweet Potato Rolls with Bourbon Honey Butter #BecomeABetterBaker
Haha, yeah, the short ribs were not good! My family always wants the traditional casserole, but I think I have them convined to try something new this year. But at least the blog lets me experiment even when they want to stick with the usual.
This is perfect holiday food in my books!
Sarah recently posted…Grandma’s Mac n’ Cheese – #SundaySupper Lightens Up!
Thanks! I agree!
Mmmm. This makes me hungry.
David Ryan recently posted…The Calculatr
Me too 😉
That look amazing!! I love that it’s a healthier version. YUMMY!!! thanks for linking up to the Create LInk Inspire party. You are being featured today on Nap-Time Creations in some great fall food!! Check it out! Emily
Thanks so much!!
Hey there! Wanted to let you know that I’m featuring your recipe as one of my favorite’s on this week’s Wednesday’s Whatsits. The new post will go live Tuesday at 8pm PST. I hope you continue to submit – your food looks fantastic! -Krissy
Krissy Allori {self proclaimed foodie} recently posted…Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Thanks so much!! I’m honored!
uuummm,….. so yummiii i have try it sister, thanks so much for the receip
Thanks so much for the receip