Italian Green Beans and Potatoes in Tomato Sauce is a simple side dish made with tender baby potatoes and fresh green beans simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

Italian green beans and potatoes is one of those simple, old school recipes that proves you really don’t need a ton of ingredients to make something delicious. Baby potatoes and fresh green beans are slowly simmered in a tomato sauce seasoned with garlic, onion, Italian seasoning and just a little red pepper for heat.

I love how the potatoes soak up all that delicious tomato sauce as they cook while the green beans become perfectly tender. Serve this alongside your favorite Italian dinner with plenty of crusty bread for soaking up every last bit of sauce. I always used to sneak bites of this right out of the pot as a kid. I hope you enjoy it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple ingredients: Everything in this recipe is inexpensive and easy to find.
Full of flavor: Garlic, onion, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes give the tomato sauce tons of flavor.
Easy to make: Everything cooks together in one pot with very little hands-on work.
Versatile: Serve it as a hearty side dish or even as a light meal with some crusty Italian bread.

Ingredients

Heres everything you'll need to make this delicious side dish. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.

Onion – Adds a delicious savory base to the tomato sauce.
Garlic – Fresh garlic adds tons of flavor and pairs perfectly with the tomatoes.
Italian Seasoning – Adds a blend of classic Italian herbs without needing several individual seasonings.
Salt and Pepper – Lightly season the onions while they sauté, then adjust the final dish to taste.
Red Pepper Flakes – Just a few flakes add a subtle background heat without making the dish spicy.
Crushed Tomatoes – Creates the rich tomato sauce that the vegetables simmer in.
Chicken Broth – Loosens the tomato sauce and gives the potatoes enough liquid to cook until tender. More can be added as needed if the sauce reduces too much.
Baby Potatoes – Cutting the potatoes helps them cook faster and soak up all that delicious tomato flavor.
Fresh Green Beans – Trim the ends before adding them to the pot.

How to Make Them

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and lightly season it with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 3–4 minutes or until the onion begins to soften. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and a few red pepper flakes. Sauté for another 1–2 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth until everything is well combined.

Sauteed onion and garlic stirred into seasoned tomato sauce and chicken broth

Add the halved baby potatoes and trimmed green beans and gently stir them into the sauce. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer. Cover the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and continue simmering uncovered for another 15–25 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce begins reducing too much before the potatoes are tender, add additional chicken broth about ¼ cup at a time as needed. Serve & enjoy!

slice potatoes and gree beans added to tomato sauce

Pro Tips

Cut the potatoes evenly. Keeping them roughly the same size will help them cook at the same rate.
Don’t boil it aggressively. Once the sauce comes to a gentle boil, lower it to a simmer so the bottom doesn’t scorch.
Use the lid strategically. Keeping the pot covered during the first part of cooking traps steam and helps the potatoes become tender. Removing it toward the end allows the tomato sauce to reduce and thicken.
Keep an eye on the liquid. Different pots and stovetops can cause the sauce to reduce faster. Add another ¼ cup of chicken broth whenever needed.
Check the potatoes, not the clock. Depending on their size, they may take a little more or less time. They’re ready when easily pierced with a fork.
Don’t forget the bread. You’re going to want something to soak up that tomato sauce.

Variations

Make It Vegetarian: Replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
Add Parmesan: Finish the dish with freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.
Add Fresh Herbs: Stir in some chopped fresh basil or parsley right before serving.
Make It Spicier: Increase the amount of red pepper flakes for more heat.
Add More Garlic: If you’re a big garlic fan, an extra clove or two certainly won’t hurt.

What To Serve With This

This is such an easy side dish to pair with almost any Italian style dinner. Serve it with chicken cutlets, chicken Parmesan, meatballs, sausage, pork chops or roasted chicken.

And definitely put some warm Italian bread on the table. The tomato sauce that collects at the bottom of the bowl might just be the best part.

Can I Use Frozen Green Beans?

You can, but fresh green beans will give you the best texture. Frozen green beans are already partially softened, so I would add them later in the cooking process so they don’t become mushy.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat them gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave. The sauce will continue to thicken as it sits, so add a splash of chicken broth while reheating if needed.

Other Easy Side Dishes

Never underestimate a good side dish. They can make or break the entire meal! I've rounded up All My Best Side Dish Recipes so you can find them easily in one place.

ALL MY BEST SIDE DISH RECIPES HERE