Copycat P.F. Chang's Spicy Green Beans
Copycat PF Chang's Spicy Green Beans have all the flavor -- at a fraction of the cost!

Welcome back to Sunday Scratchups, your weekly recipe from scratch around seasonal sales and frugal ingredients. I do adore the Spicy Green Beans at P.F. Chang's, but don't adore the price.
So, this sale week for green beans seemed like a good time to play around and see how close I could get to the original -- at this time of year, you can get green beans under $1.00/lb at many produce stores! Much cheaper than you'll ever pay for that tiny yet oh-so-tasty restaurant side, right? 🙂

These didn't come out quite the same as at P.F. Chang's, but they're close -- and they're much fresher, plus they're spicy garlicky good.
These copycat spicy green beans can easily be made gluten free, too, as long as you use a gluten free soy sauce or tamari.
Copycat P.F. Chang's Spicy Green Beans

Ingredients
¾ lb fresh green beans
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1.5 tablespoon minced garlic
Crushed red pepper, to taste
For the sauce
1 teaspoon chopped green onions
1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten free if necessary)
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
½ teaspoon sugar
Directions
Wash and trim green beans, then cut them into fairly even pieces. In separate bowl, mix green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and sugar.

In large pan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat, then add garlic. Saute about 30 seconds, then add green beans and crushed red pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green, stirring often. Stir in sauce and cook just until heated through, then serve.
Spicy garlicky good

I think next time I might up the chili garlic sauce and red pepper, just for my own taste, but these green beans turned out great as-is! Copycat P.F. Chang's Spicy Green Beans are a great quick side dish option for everything from shrimp fried rice to sweet & tangy chicken vegetable stir fry. Do be sure just to cook these green beans crisp-tender, though, in order to let that fresh green bean flavor really shine through!
Copycat P.F. Chang's Spicy Green Beans, printable recipe
Copycat P.F. Chang's Spicy Green Beans
Ingredients
- ¾ lb fresh green beans
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1.5 tablespoon minced garlic
- Crushed red pepper, to taste
For the sauce
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten free if necessary)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Wash and trim green beans, then cut them into fairly even pieces.
- In separate bowl, mix green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and sugar.
- In large pan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat, then add garlic.
- Saute about 30 seconds, then add green beans and crushed red pepper.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green, stirring often.
- Stir in sauce and cook just until heated through, then serve.
Notes
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This looks fabulous! I can't wait to try this recipe :). As a random snack I often drain and heat a can of green beans and then smother with the chili garlic sauce. I like that this uses fresh green beans and more garlic... I'll bet it'll look so much more appetizing (and taste more delicious!) on the dinner table than my cheater version.
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you !! Yum!!
Rachel's Mom
Thanks again for the recipe! My family loved it! This is my secret weapon for getting everyone to eat all the veggies on the table.
Awesome! Glad they enjoy it 🙂
Where do you buy that brand of chili garlic sauce from vietnam?
Most large grocery chains, Amazon... It's pretty readily available. 🙂
Ditch the vinegar and Add ginger and honey and it’s exactly like P.F. Chang’s!!! Found this out on accident but it was life changing lol.
Is this a photo of your green beans? I don't see any chopped green onions! Are they finely chopped or ????
They're finely chopped and in the sauce. Sorry for the delay, just saw this!