These garlic Parmesan green beans are an easy stovetop side dish made with fresh green beans, butter, garlic, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese. The beans are steamed until crisp-tender, then finished in a hot skillet in about 15 minutes.
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Steam green beans until tender. Sauté garlic in butter, then toss in the beans. Finish with Parmesan, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Serve hot.
Why We Love This Dish
- Ready in about 15 minutes
- Crisp-tender, not soggy
- Made with simple ingredients
- Easy side dish for chicken, steak, fish, or holiday dinners
- Naturally gluten-free
How To Select & Store Green Beans
Choose green beans that are bright green, firm, and free from wrinkles or soft spots. Fresh green beans should feel dry and crisp, not slimy.
Store unwashed green beans in a plastic bag or produce bag in the refrigerator. For the best flavor and texture, use them within a few days, though they will keep for up to a week.
How to Prep Green Beans For Cooking
Rinse the green beans under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
Trim the stem ends with a knife or snap them off by hand. You can leave the pointed ends on if you like. They are tender and do not need to be removed.
Once trimmed, the green beans are ready to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 lemon, zested and cut in half
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano Reggiano
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish, optional
How to Make Parmesan Garlic Green Beans
- Trim the green beans by snapping off the ends.
- To steam green beans, place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and cover with a lid. Steam for 5 minutes until they are crisp-tender, then drain and plunge them into a big bowl of ice water to stop their cooking.
- While the green beans are cooking, zest a lemon.
- When the green beans are cool, pat them dry with paper towels.
- Heat the butter and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. When the garlic starts to sizzle, sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the green beans. Toss the beans with the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and heated through.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped parsley, then sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and lemon zest over the green beans. Gently toss, allowing the cheese to melt slightly from the heat of the beans.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then transfer to a serving dish and serve hot.
Serving Ideas
Garlic Parmesan green beans go with simple chicken dinners, steakhouse-style meals, fresh fish, and Thanksgiving turkey. Serve them with any of these favorites:
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The green beans can be reheated in the microwave for a few minutes, depending on how many you have left. You can also heat a small skillet and add them to the pan for a few minutes. Add a little butter to them if they are dry.
Yes, but thaw and dry them well first. They will be softer than fresh beans.
Blanch the green beans a day ahead, then refrigerate them. Finish them in the skillet with butter, garlic, Parmesan, and lemon just before serving.
No, but it helps stop the cooking and keeps the beans bright green and crisp-tender.
Yes. Olive oil works well, or use half butter and half olive oil.
Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic, about 3 cloves
- salt and black pepper to taste
- zest of one lemon
- 1 lemon, sliced into wedges for serving
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped parsley, optional garnish
Instructions
- Trim the green beans by snapping off the ends.
- To steam green beans, place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and cover with a lid. Steam for 5 minutes until they are crisp-tender, drain in a colander, and plunge them into a big bowl of ice water to stop their cooking.
- While the green beans are cooking, zest a lemon.
- When the green beans are cool, pat them dry with paper towels.
- Heat the butter and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. When the garlic starts to sizzle, sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the green beans. Toss the beans with the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and heated through.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped parsley, then sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and lemon zest over the green beans. Gently toss, allowing the cheese to melt slightly from the heat of the beans.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then transfer to a serving dish and serve hot.
Sherry T says
Very crispy with great flavor. Making it again tonight.
Jose says
My family loved this!