To save some time cook the green beans ahead, place in a zippered plastic bag and refrigerate until ready to use. Make certain to pat the green beans dry using a paper towel before sautéing them. If you like spicy like my family does add in 1-2 teaspoons dried chili flakes when sautéing the garlic. Just to let you know, I tried this recipe using Green Giant brand frozen whole beans and it was not as successful as using the fresh beans. Prep time does not include boiling the beans. This is a really great recipe for fresh summer green beans!