Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

If you're looking for big flavor with just a little bit of effort, try this delicious green beans recipe. It's super easy to make for a quick weeknight side dish, but it's also special enough for a dinner or holiday party, which, admittedly, is our favorite kind of recipe.

You'll find that it's easy to double or even triple this green beans recipe if you have a big group coming for dinner and need to scale up. The result is a tender and garlicky green bean with a touch of savory cheesiness (thanks to the Parmesan) and a heartiness that will keep you coming back for seconds (that's from the bacon).

Going Green (Beans)

A little bit of everything you need to know about green beans before you start cooking.

How to Buy Green Beans

Whether at the supermarket or farmers' market, you want to look for green beans that are bright green and crisp. If you're shopping and see haricot verts, and think, "Aren't those just green beans with a fancy name?" you're not wrong. Haricot verts are a French variety of green beans; they are typically longer and thinner, which make them very tender and delicate. You can use them as you would regular green beans, but they tend to cook faster, so keep an eye on them in the oven. Green beans are best when in season, which happens during summer and early fall.

How to Store Green Beans

Store green beans, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. They're a fairly durable vegetable and can last for about a week in the vegetable drawer.

Can you freeze them for longer storage? Absolutely! We have an entire guide on how to do it.

How to Trim Green Beans

The easiest way to trim green beans is to line them up on a cutting board and slice off the stem end that once connected the bean pod to the rest of the plant. You're probably familiar with snapping off the ends, but the slicing method is faster.

Only trim your beans when ready to cook, because the end can dry out if trimmed too far in advance. This is why you should avoid buying pre-trimmed beans at the grocery store; you'll end up trimming the dried bits off anyhow. While you can flip the beans and trim the wispy ends as well, they are edible and can be quite pretty to keep in a dish.

Ingredients for Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Aside from the green beans, you'll need pantry staples like garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. You'll also need shredded Parmesan cheese. The more aged the Parmesan you select, the more intense the flavor, so select a cheese that suits your palate.

Lastly, you'll need bacon. Thin or thick-cut both work, it's up to you. If you want to get fancy, substitute bacon with pancetta, an unsmoked and cured pork belly product from Italy that is similar to bacon, but slightly different in flavor.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Step 1. Season

Combine green beans, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, tossing to coat.

Arrange the green beans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.

Step 2. Bake

Bake in a 450°F oven until green beans are tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Sprinkle green beans with Parmesan, and continue to bake until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute.

Step 3. Finish

Remove the green beans from the oven and sprinkle with bacon. Serve immediately.

Other Seasonings for Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Minced shallot, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of your favorite vinaigrette (after baking) are all great ways to add flavor to these green beans.

You can also play with the recipe. If you like the bacon bits in this recipe, you could try combining them with bread crumbs, for a crunchy green bean topping that happens to be a great way to use up stale bread. You could serve the green beans almondine style, a French preparation that garnishes them with crunchy almonds, lemon, and browned butter.

Do I Need to Blanch Green Beans Before Roasting Them?

No! Roasting green beans in the oven at a high temperature will quickly cook them while keeping them tender and bright green.

What Do I Pair With Garlic Parmesan Green Beans?

The dish goes great with any proteins in your cookbook, but it's especially nice alongside a roast chicken. You can also pair it with lemon-garlic salmon for a fresh take on a classic dinnertime duo. When the holiday season rolls around, these green beans would make an excellent Thanksgiving side or Christmas ham accompaniment.

Editorial Contributions by: Alana Al-Hatlani.