Parmesan Green Beans

Never worry about mushy green beans again! These roasted green beans come out perfectly cooked with just a hint of crunch. They are delicious with these Simple Chicken Cutlets or Slow Cooker Maple Pork Tenderloin.

If you think you aren't a fan of green beans, it's probably because you have been eating overcooked, mushy green beans. Maybe they came out of a can, perhaps they were steamed to death, or they were simply cooked until they turned to mush. These Parmesan green beans are completely different. They are bright green, still have some crunch, and have the most delicious browned edges. 

Today I am going to share two methods for cooking the most delicious green beans. You can either roast them in the oven or cook them over high heat in a skillet. Both methods will result in tender-crisp green beans that are full of flavor and sweetness. I love to flavor them up with lemon, garlic, and Parmesan cheese but you can add any seasonings you like. Check out the bottom of the post for some great seasoning ideas. 

How to prep green beans for cooking?

• Picking the best green beans: Start by looking for green beans that are bright green and vibrant. Stay away from yellowed or browned beans. Then take a look at the skin. It should be smooth without bumps or wrinkles. It should also feel firm to the touch and make a snapping sound if you break it in half. Lastly don't look for the largest green beans, bigger beans can be stringy with less flavor. Look for small to medium beans. 
• Trim the ends: Place the beans in a small pile with the stem ends together. Chop off the stems using a sharp knife.
• Trim the tails (optional): If you like, you can also chop off the tail end (the smoother, pointed end) but it isn't necessary. It's just based on personal preference.
• Rinse and dry: Lastly, rinse the beans under cool water and dry them well. 

How to roast green beans?

When roasting green beans, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure they come out perfectly roasted every time. The most important is to make sure your green beans are nice and dry. Dry them off with a kitchen towel after rinsing to remove all the extra moisture. Wet green beans will steam instead of roast and you will miss out on the all the delicious flavor roasting brings.

Next, you want to make sure your green beans are in a single layer on your baking sheet. Use more than one baking sheet if needed. Again this is to prevent the beans from steaming. It is ok if they touch a little but always try and give your vegetables some room when roasting.

In terms of temperature, green beans can be really be roasted at any temperature between 375-450 degrees. I share this information because many times people wonder how to cook their side dish and main dish at the same time. Although my favorite temperature to cook green beans is 425, you can adjust up or down as needed. At lower temperatures, they will take a bit longer and at higher temperatures, they will cook faster. Just keep an eye on them. They are ready when they are bright green, tender-crisp, and have some nice browned spots. 

To make clean up easy, I almost always cover my baking sheet in foil. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, really almost anything. You can also add almost any seasonings or spices. Simple salt and pepper is delicious but don't be scared to mix things up and try other spices as well.

Can I use frozen green beans?

Although I always recommend using fresh produce for roasting, it is possible to roast frozen green beans but there are a few extra steps to make sure they turn out well. One note, they won't come out quite as browned as fresh green beans, but they are still delicious.

1. Higher temperature: I find that frozen green beans come out best when they are roasted at 450 degrees. The high heat helps them to defrost quickly and helps the extra moisture evaporate quickly.
2. Preheat the baking sheet: One trick to roast frozen vegetables is to preheat the baking sheet in the oven. Just place the baking sheet in the oven while it preheats. Then carefully add the green beans, already tossed with oil and spices, to the baking sheet in a single layer.
3. Single Layer: It is super important when roasting frozen green beans that they are in a single layer and have some space. They will not roast if they are overlapping or crowded.
4. Oil: You may want to use a touch of extra oil when roasting frozen beans. The extra oil helps the beans to brown on the outside and get that delicious roasted exterior. 

Can I use canned green beans?

Unfortunately, canned green beans don't work well for this recipe. Since they are already cooked and contain a lot of moisture, they just won't get the nice, browned exterior and tender-crisp texture. However, if you like canned green beans, you can always saute them in some oil with garlic, salt, and pepper as the recipe suggests. Then top with fresh lemon and Parmesan. This is a great way to elevate canned green beans.

Add some extra flavor

• Bacon or pancetta: Slice up a few slices of center cut bacon, pancetta, or Canadian bacon and toss them with the green beans. They will cook along with the beans and add some great flavor.
• Breadcrumbs: Toast some breadcrumbs in a pan with olive oil or butter. Then sprinkle them on top of the cooked green beans for some crunch.
• Fresh herbs: Don't shy away from adding some fresh or dried herbs. Try adding rosemary or thyme to the green beans while they roast or top the cooked green beans with fresh basil or parsley.
• Add vinegar: There is nothing better than adding some balsamic vinegar to your green beans. Toss some with the beans before cooking or drizzle a small amount on top right before serving. They are also delicious with some balsamic glaze drizzled on top before serving.
• Add nuts: The combination of green beans and almonds is popular for a reason. Toss your cooked green beans with some sliced or chopped almonds. You can also use pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts.
• Spices and seasoning: The options are pretty much endless here. Some favorites include grill seasoning, Everything Bagel seasoning, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, and Old Bay.