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    Home » Side Dishes » Lemon Parmesan Green Beans

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans

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    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to almost any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make using 8 simple ingredients in just 20 minutes.

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    Serve these sauteed green beans whenever you need a quick side dish for dinner on busy weeknights or for fancy dinner parties too. This side is a staple in my home because fresh green beans are available all year long —and it may become a staple in yours too.

    Why You'll Love these Lemon Parmesan Green Beans

    • Cheesy, lemony goodness. This recipe is simple. Boil your beans, sauté them, then garnish with lemon and cheese. But trust me, you’re not missing out on any flavor here. The balance between acidic lemon and fragrant parmesan are what make these lemon parmesan green beans so good.
    • You just need 20 minutes. You’ll need about 10 minutes to prep your ingredients and 10 to cook. These cheesy green beans are so easy to make that you can cook them quickly alongside other dishes.
    • Serve them any time of the year. You can find fresh green beans at your local supermarket any time of the year – although you may find the freshest sometime between May and October. Nonetheless, there’s never a bad time for green beans. So, you can enjoy this easy recipe all year long!
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    Ingredient Notes

    To make these easy Lemon Parmesan Green Beans, you will need the following
    ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

    • green beans - fresh green beans work best. Look for fresh green beans that are bright in color and snap easily when bent. Avoid beans that are wilted or have brown spots. You could also use frozen French cut green beans. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time and cook them through to make sure the centers aren’t cold. 
    • butter - olive oil or other neutral oil with a high smoke point would also work.
    • onion
    • garlic - freshly chopped garlic always adds the most flavor, but you can also use pre-minced garlic if you’ve got some on hand.
    • lemon juice - If you’re out of fresh lemons, concentrated lemon juice is fine to use, too.
    • Parmesan cheese
    • salt and pepper
    • lemon – lemon wedges or slices are optional, for serving.

    You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large cooking pot, and large skillet.

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Lemon Parmesan Green Beans

    1. Blanch cook green beans. Add green beans in a large pot of boiling water and blanch cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain under cold running water for a minute and set aside
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat until melted and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Add green beans. Stir in the blanched green beans and cook until warmed through, about 1-2 minutes.
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Season. Add lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat.
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    1. Serve. Serve immediately with lemon wedges or slices on the side or a sprinkle of lemon zest and extra grated parmesan on top (if desired).

    Recipe Variations

    • Add nuts. Sprinkle some roasted nuts on top before serving such as pine nuts or almonds. Adding roasted sliced almonds basically turns it into a cheesy Green Beans Almondine.
    • Add herbs. Add chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or basil, to the lemon parmesan green beans for extra flavor.
    • Add balsamic vinegar. Drizzle balsamic vinegar or a balsamic reduction over the green beans for a tangy and sweet flavor.
    • Add bacon. Bacon always makes green beans even better. Crumble some cooked bacon on top for added smoky and savory flavor.
    • Spice it up. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the green beans for a bit of heat.

    How to Serve

    These Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are best served fresh alongside almost any dinner
    meal. Pair it alongside:

    • Oven Baked Chicken Breast and Broccoli Rice
    • Garlic Butter Salmon and Oven Roasted Vegetables
    • Miso Black Cod and Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
    • Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Skillet Dinner Rolls
    • Balsamic Chicken Kabobs and Roasted Potato Wedges
    • Stuffed Eggplant and Homemade Pita Bread
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    • Blanch the green beans. Don’t skip this first step of the recipe. Blanching the green beans in boiling water before cooking helps to lock in their color and nutrients. 
    • Use good quality Parmesan cheese. Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor. Avoid using pre-grated cheese, which can be dry and lacking in flavor – which is especially noticed in a recipe like this with simple ingredients where the Parmesan will shine.
    • Garnish with lemon zest. Finely grate some lemon zest over the top of the green beans before serving for an extra burst of flavor.
    • Serve immediately. Serve the lemon parmesan green beans immediately after cooking to ensure that they are at their freshest and most flavorful.
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    Storing and Freezing Instructions

    How to Store

    Allow lemon parmesan green beans to cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

    How to Reheat

    When reheating cooked green beans, you must be careful not to overcook them. I recommend heating them over medium-low heat on the stove or popping them into a conventional or toaster oven for 2-4 minutes at 350F.

    How to Freeze

    Place leftover green beans in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat.

    More Green Bean Recipes

    • 15 Best Green Bean Recipes
    • Green Beans Almondine
    • Green Beans with Bacon
    • Pesto Green Beans
    • Green Bean Fries
    • Sautéed Garlic Green Beans

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

    Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.

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    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Diet: Gluten Free
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    Description

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to almost any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make using 8 simple ingredients in just 20 minutes.


    Ingredients

    • 1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
    • lemon, wedged or sliced (for serving)

    Instructions

    1. Add green beans in a large pot of boiling water and blanch cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain under cold running water for a minute and set aside.
    2. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat until melted and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. 
    3. Stir in the blanched green beans and cook until warmed through, about 1-2 minutes.
    4. Add lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat.  
    5. Serve immediately with lemon wedges or slices on the side or a sprinkle of lemon zest and extra grated parmesan on top (if desired).

    Notes

    How to store: Allow lemon parmesan green beans to cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

    How to reheat: When reheating cooked green beans, you must be careful not to overcook them. I recommend heating them over medium-low heat on the stove or popping them into a conventional or toaster oven for 2-4 minutes at 350F.

    How to freeze: Place leftover green beans in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat.

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Side Dish
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans are the perfect side to any entree dinner meal — buttery, lemony, and cheesy. This quick side dish is easy to make in 20 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com
    Lemon Parmesan Green Beans
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    Comments

    1. Jim says

      December 08, 2024 at 4:25 am

      I don’t often leave a tandem this time I just had to say, Bravo! The flavors were so god together. My new favorite green bean recipe.

      Reply

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