What could be better than green beans coated in a seasoned breadcrumb and parmesan mixture? This side dish recipe is packed with incredible flavor, and it only takes about 15 minutes to make. Italian green beans are such a popular vegetable side dish in our family, and I’m sure you’ll love them, too!
Italian Green Beans
There’s something so magical about breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, and spices mixed together. It just makes anything and everything incredibly delicious. These green beans are no exception – they’re truly SO tasty.
If you’re looking for an easy holiday side dish, these Italian green beans are perfect for you! They need hardly any prep time, and they cook so quickly. Plus, they only use one pot, so that leaves the rest of your burners free to finish the rest of your holiday meal.
How To Cook Italian Green Beans
Start by boiling the green beans in chicken broth (you can use salted water or vegetable broth if you’d like to make this dish vegetarian). As soon as they’re finished cooking, drain them and run them under cold water.
Meanwhile, saute the spices and garlic, then toast the bread crumbs and parmesan with the spices. Add the green beans back in and cook until they’re hot. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including measurements, times, and helpful tips, etc.
Fresh Green Beans or Frozen Green Beans
You can use either in this recipe! I recommend using the long thin kind though (like haricots verts), because that will yield the best results. I used fresh green beans in the photos for this recipe, but I keep a large bag of the thin frozen green beans in my freezer and use them for recipes like this frequently.
Fresh or frozen green beans will work well in this recipe, but I wouldn’t recommend using canned green beans. They’re quite a bit softer than the final texture of the green beans in this side dish. If you like soft green beans though, it might be perfect for you that way! It’s really up to your preference.
String Beans vs Green Beans
String beans and green beans are actually one and the same! The “string” in the title refers to the string that used to have to be removed from every bean before cooking (similar to snap peas). Due to selective breeding, the string only exists with heirloom varieties these days.
Try Making It With Bacon
If you love bacon, this recipe would be delicious with some added in. To do this, you’ll need to omit the oil and use bacon grease for the cooking instead.
- Start by cooking about 6 slices of bacon in a large heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
- Once the bacon is crispy and the fat has fully rendered, remove the bacon strips from the pot, but leave the grease behind.
- Continue with the rest of the recipe as it’s written, starting with sauteing the spices and garlic in the bacon grease.
- Reserve the bacon until the end, and at that point cut it into small pieces, and stir it into the dish.
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Side Dishes
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Best Italian Green Beans Recipe
What could be better than Italian green beans coated in a seasoned breadcrumb and parmesan mixture? They only takes about 15 minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans (washed and ends trimmed)
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs*
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil.
- Add the green beans to the pot, making sure they’re all lined up in the same direction and tightly packed. This helps ensure that they cook evenly. Partially close the lid. Boil for 5 minutes.Drain the green beans into a colander and run them under cold water to halt the cooking process.
- Bring the pot back to the stove and heat it on medium heat. When it’s hot, add the olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, basil, theme, chili flakes, and sea salt. Saute until garlic is aromatic, about 1 - 2 minutes.
- Add the breadcrumbs and parmesan. Stir to mix. Saute until the breadcrumbs are toasted and the parmesan is melted into the breadcrumbs, stirring with a wooden spoon constantly to stop the breadcrumbs from sticking to the bottom.
- Add the green beans back to the pot and toss to combine. Saute for long enough to reheat the beans and serve warm.
Notes
*The best breadcrumbs for this recipe are homemade ones (pulsed in a food processor from a day old loaf of bread).
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 163Total Fat: 9.8gCarbohydrates: 14.4gNet Carbohydrates: 11.2gFiber: 3.2gSugar: 4.9gProtein: 6.5g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Make this quick green bean side dish for your next family meal or for your favorite holiday! Italian green beans are a favorite dish in our family, and I’m sure your family will love them, too.
3 thoughts on “Italian Green Beans Recipe”
These beans are a staple in our family😋
Hi Donna, So happy to hear you like the green beans with breadcrumbs! -Alexa
Personally, I would put the cheese with the breadcrumbs on the top then bake it for 20 minutes till it gets a little crispy on the top