Sweet and Sour Green Beans and Corn Recipe

Corn and green beans are an often overlooked vegetable combination! Yet, this sweet and tangy green beans and corn recipe makes it sing! It makes a delicious vegetable side that can be served hot or cold with a wide variety of meals.

I love this quick green beans with corn! The corn makes this dish look brighter and more colorful than plain old beans! I have never had a complaint from anyone who has tried them which to me makes this a successful side dish!

Love green beans? Then you've got to try my balsamic green beans and easy green beans recipe! Along with tangy green beans and corn, they're a simple way to add more variety to your vegetable sides.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Basic Ingredients. Many of which you may already have in your pantry.
• Great Flavor. The sweet and sour flavor is appealing to both kids and adults.
• Quick and Easy. This dish is perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings and it pairs well with most main courses.
• Versatile Recipe. Use either canned, frozen or fresh green beans!

Ingredients

It's the combination of ingredients in this recipe that creates the perfect balance of flavors. Understanding each ingredient's role will help you create a delicious dish that everyone will love. Here's a look at the main ingredients:

• Green Beans: I love using fresh green beans but you can also use thawed frozen beans or even canned green beans. Both frozen and canned will have a softer texture.
• Corn: Canned corn makes this side dish super simple. You can also thaw out some frozen corn or use fresh corn kernels if you prefer. The fresh is great especially in the summer.
• Shallots: Adds mild onion flavor to the dish but you can also use white or yellow onions or swap it out with minced garlic instead.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Vinegar adds a wonderful tangy element to this corn and green bean dish. You can also use freshly squeezed lemon juice!
• Sugar: Sugar helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the green beans and balances the tartness of the vinegar.

See the recipe card below for the full list and exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this green bean recipe.

• Add Bacon: Sprinkle some crispy bacon or turkey bacon right before serving. It makes this side dish even more irresistible. BONUS TIP: Use 1-2 tablespoons of the leftover bacon grease for cooking the green beans and onions for more flavor!
• Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes or homemade hot pepper sauce to the sauce mixture for a bit of heat. Taste before you add mixture making sure it's just right for you.
• Just Green Beans: You can skip the corn if you want to make this just sweet and sour green beans.

How to Make Green Beans and Corn

This easy side dish goes together in just a few simple steps. Here's a look at the highlights.

1. Prep your ingredients. Wash, trim and cut the green beans as desired. Also, dice your shallots into finely chopped pieces.
2. Cook the beans in boiling water for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender and bright green. When ready, drain the water, and leave in your colander. 

3. Cook the shallots in oil over medium-high heat until softened. Be sure to stir constantly to keep it from burning. Add the vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar to the shallots and mix together.
4. Add the corn to the pot.

5. Return the beans to the pot and cook just until heated tossing until the corn and green beans are coated with the seasoning and oil.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Hint: Once completing the dish taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. If you prefer your sweet and sour green beans to be sweeter or more sour, adjust the levels of sugar and apple cider vinegar according to your preference before serving.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these green bean recipes or our delicious Jalapeno Creamed Corn.

Storage

• Refrigerator: Store leftover sweet and sour green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

• Freeze: I don't recommend freezing this green bean and corn recipe. However, if you're using fresh green beans you can cook them as directed for five minutes and then cool them quickly in ice water. Once cooled, freeze them in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Properly stored, frozen green beans can easily last up to 3 months in the freezer. Then you can thaw them out and continue making the recipe as directed.

• Reheat: This corn and green bean recipe can be reheated in the microwave and stovetop. Place them in a microwave-safe container and microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway to ensure even heating. If using the stove, heat them in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

What to Serve with Green Beans and Corn

This recipe goes great with a wide variety of dishes! You can even enjoy it chilled as a salad if you prefer.

• We love to serve this green bean dish with our favorite ham recipes for dinner or pork dishes!
• It also makes a great side dish for this chicken stew recipe and salmon patties. Honestly goes with every main course we've ever tried. We've been making this easy recipe for years.
• Serve it up with other comfort food sides such as this cheesy potato casserole, risotto pasta, and coconut ginger rice.

Tips

When preparing sweet and sour green beans, you'll want to keep a few helpful tips and tricks in mind for the best results.

• Use apple cider vinegar for best results it has a milder flavor than other types of vinegar.
• Make sure the green beans and corn are drained well before adding to the pan. This prevents the dish from being watery.
• Be sure to taste and adjust the seasonings to your own tastes. You can easily adjust the sugar or vinegar to make it sweeter or more sour.

FAQ

Do you have questions about sweet and sour green beans? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about them.

Making This Recipe Video

Take a moment to peek at our video below.  So easy and definitely tasty!

More Sweet and Sour Recipes

Do you like sweet and sour? We love sweet and sour everything. Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

This post was originally published in October 2018. It has been updated with new images and content.