A refreshing marinated green bean salad with red onions, chickpeas, and homemade Italian dressing, this vegan side dish is loaded with nutrition and great for summer potlucks and cookouts. It’s ready in just 15 minutes!
As I write this post, the windows are open and the sun is pouring into my office. Summer, I see you! And what’s better than a refreshing, veggie-loaded dish like this cold green bean salad on a hot day?! Nothing, I tell you. Nothing. Well, maybe a glass of white wine to go with it. But I digress…
The inspiration for this Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad was the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, a.k.a. the start of cookout season.
This year, we’ll be traveling over Memorial Day to visit my family in Colorado, so we won’t be making this salad. But believe me, this recipe will be on repeat all summer long in the Streit house!
Turns out that crunchy green beans, thinly sliced red onion, chickpeas, and a flavorful Italian dressing is a pretty amazing combination.
And the best part? Green bean salad is a great make-ahead dish for you to keep in the fridge and grab on your way out to a BBQ.
How to Make Marinated Green Bean Salad
Here’s my biggest tip for making the perfect green bean salad: don’t cook the green beans too long! You want them to be equal parts soft and crunchy.
To accomplish this, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and drop the green beans in to cook for JUST 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat immediately, drain them in the sink in a colander, and rinse with cold water ASAP.
Although I haven’t done it, I think you could also use canned green beans if you’re in a pinch. But, I personally prefer fresh green beans over canned.
While the green beans are cooking, thinly slice ½ of a red onion and drain a can of chickpeas. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dried oregano, parsley, garlic powder, rosemary, and basil.
Put everything together in a bowl, and mix it up. Done. Serve right away, or store it in the fridge for a while (even a whole day) before you serve it…so it’s nice and marinated and cold! Yum.
You can serve green bean salad with burgers, fish, chicken, you name it. Slice up some fruit, and you’ve got yourself a delicious summer meal. This salad also makes a good vegan main dish!
More Potluck Dishes
- Quinoa Arugula Salad with Pineapple
- Vegan Potato Salad Recipe with Fresh Dill
- Red, White, and Blue Beet Slaw
- Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad
📖 Recipe
Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans - trimmed and long ones sliced in half, about 3 cups
- ½ red onion - thinly sliced into half-moons
- 1 15.5 oz can chickpeas - drained and rinsed
For the dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water or a large skillet with an inch of water to a boil. Trim the green beans, and slice any long ones in half, then drop them into the boiling water for just 2-3 minutes. If you are using a skillet, cover it after you add the green beans and reduce heat to medium. When the green beans are finished cooking, drain them in a colander in the sink. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- While the green beans are cooking, thinly slice the red onion and drain the chickpeas. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, rosemary, basil, and salt.
- Combine the green beans, red onion, chickpeas, and dressing in a large bowl. Mix until well combined. If the green beans are wet from being rinsed, I recommend patting them dry before you add them to the bowl so that they absorb more of the dressing.
- Serve right away, or transfer the salad to an airtight container in the fridge to serve later. I prefer to let the flavors marinate for a while in the fridge. Enjoy!
Mary
That was really good! Boiled the green beans for 2.5 minutes and it was perfect. For my taste, also added the red onion during the last minute of boiling. Next time I’ll slightly reduce the rosemary and add a few teaspoons of sweetener or honey. A few grinds of black pepper, and maybe add some roasted pepper slices for color? I think that would taste great. Easy, quick, and I can see where the dressing would be great over salad greens as well. Thanks for posting the recipe!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Mary, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Your ideas for additions sound delicious!
Patsy Bell Hobson
I like this recipe. Using fresh herbs really brightens up this dish.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Patsy!
Colleen
My husband and I love this recipe, we eat them as an afternoon snack, grandkids love them too! I also added fresh garlic.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Colleen, that’s so great to hear! I’m thrilled that all of you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for leaving a review.
Louida
Are those calories per serving or for the entire recipe?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Calories per serving, which is about 1/4 of the recipe
Lisa
This is so delicious!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!
Trish
Just made this it’s excellent I added some fresh garlic doesn’t get any better.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
That’s great to hear! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, and the addition of fresh garlic sounds delicious!
Teri Richter
This salad was outstanding. I added a little balsamic glaze to it for some sweetness. I don’t like oregano so left that out.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Teri, that’s great! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, and I bet the balsamic glaze was a delicious addition! Thanks for rating the recipe and letting me know.
Heidy
This salad looks delish, can I serve it as a side dish for a mushroom risotto ?
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Heidy, yes, that sounds like a great combination!
Abby Gabby
Made this tonight as a side for leftover londen broil. I sub balsamic vinaigrette and the dish was delicious. I’ll definitely make this again. Dressing was more than enough. I’ll be adding feta cheese tomorrow after letting it rest over night. Maybe cherry tomatoes…thanks for sharing.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Yum! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Abby. Thanks for leaving a review!