Green Beans' Best Cheesy Companions

Green beans are a versatile vegetable that can be cooked in many ways. One popular way to prepare them is with cheese, creating a delicious and comforting dish. There are several types of cheese that pair well with green beans, such as cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese. This combination makes for a tasty side dish, especially during the holidays, and is a great way to get some extra veggies into your diet.

Cheesy roasted green beans

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green beans
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced, or 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
• 1 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Optional Ingredients

• Cayenne pepper
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Butter

Method

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with non-stick cooking oil spray.

Arrange the green beans on the baking sheet in a single layer and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the oil mixture over the green beans and toss to coat evenly.

Bake for 20 minutes until vibrant and tender-crisp.

Remove from the oven and top with mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and broil (or grill) until the cheese melts and becomes golden (about 4-5 minutes).

Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.

Tips

For an extra kick of heat, add 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper to the olive oil mixture.

If you're looking for a crispy texture, add some panko breadcrumbs to the mix. Toast them in a separate pan until golden brown before sprinkling over the green beans.

You can also add butter to the mix for a richer flavour. Simply melt the butter in a pan, add the green beans, and cook until they reach your desired tenderness.

Variations

While mozzarella and parmesan are great cheese choices for this recipe, you can also use Swiss cheese, Gruyere, Provolone, or Monterey Jack.

Feel free to get creative and experiment with different types of cheese to find your favourite combination!

Green beans with cheese sauce

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans, trimmed
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• A pinch of ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup of water

Optional

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of cracked pepper
• 1 1/4 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded

Method

First, bring 1/4 cup of water to a boil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the green beans and a pinch of salt, cover, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the lid, turn up the heat, and cook until the water has evaporated, about 1 minute. Stir in 1 tablespoon of butter and continue cooking until the beans are crisp-tender, for another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Next, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until golden, which should take about 2 minutes. Now, whisk in the milk, garlic powder, dry mustard, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne, and cook, whisking continuously, until thickened, which should take about 2 minutes. Stir in the cheddar cheese and cream cheese and heat until melted.

Finally, pour the cheese sauce over the green beans, or serve on the side. You can also add some extra ingredients to this dish, such as olive oil, parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper, and roast the green beans in the oven before adding the cheese.

Cheesy garlic green beans

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans, fresh or frozen
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced, or 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
• 1 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

Method

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray.

Arrange the green beans on the baking sheet in a single layer and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Drizzle this mixture over the green beans and toss to coat evenly.

Bake for 20 minutes until vibrant and tender-crisp.

Remove from the oven and top with mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and broil (or grill) until the cheese melts and becomes golden (about 4-5 minutes).

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

Tips

This recipe works best with fresh green beans, but you can also use frozen ones. If you want to add a little spice, try sprinkling on some cayenne pepper.

For a more indulgent dish, you can use sliced or shredded mozzarella, or even Swiss cheese, Gruyere, Provolone, or Monterey Jack.

If you don't have an oven, you can cook the green beans on a stovetop. Simply sauté them in a pan with butter and garlic, then add the cheese, salt, and pepper.

Enjoy as a side dish with roast turkey or chicken, or even grilled pork chops.

Green beans with cheddar and mozzarella

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans, trimmed
• 3-4 oz freshly grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper

Optional Ingredients

• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray.

Place the green beans on the baking sheet in a single layer and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the oil mixture over the green beans and toss to coat evenly.

Bake for 20 minutes until vibrant and tender-crisp.

Remove from the oven and top with the cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and broil (or grill) until the cheese melts and becomes golden (about 4-5 minutes).

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

Tips

For an extra kick of spice, add 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper to the olive oil mixture.

For a more well-rounded dish, add 2 tablespoons of finely chopped onion to the olive oil mixture. Cook the onion until it begins to brown before removing from the saucepan and covering to keep warm. Stir the onion into the green beans before topping with cheese.

Green beans with panko and cheese

Ingredients

• Fresh green beans
• Olive oil
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Lemon
• Garlic
• Parmesan cheese

Optional Ingredients

• Chilli powder
• Red chilli flakes
• Cayenne pepper
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Butter
• Dried cranberries
• Chopped toasted nuts or seeds

Method

First, boil your green beans in a large skillet until tender. While the beans are cooking, make a dressing with olive oil, lemon zest, and garlic in a small bowl or cup.

Once the beans are cooked, plunge them into an ice bath to maintain their vibrant colour. Drain the beans and pat them dry with paper towels, then return them to the skillet and toss with the dressing.

Next, make the panko topping by toasting the panko crumbs in a small skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Add the remaining lemon-garlic vinaigrette to the panko crumbs and stir to coat.

Finally, assemble the dish by transferring the beans to a serving dish and squeezing lemon juice over them. Sprinkle the panko topping over the beans and serve immediately, with lemon wedges on the side.

Variations

This recipe can be adapted in several ways to suit your taste. You can add Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mixture, or add a pinch of chilli powder, red chilli flakes, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Fresh herbs like thyme or oregano will add extra flavour, or you could use butter instead of olive oil for a richer taste. For a pop of colour and sweetness, add some dried cranberries, or add some crunch with chopped toasted nuts or seeds.

Tips

This dish can be made ahead of time, making it perfect for dinner parties or holiday meals. It can be served warm or at room temperature, so you don't have to worry about timing.

If you're short on time, you can also microwave the green beans instead of boiling them. Simply microwave the trimmed beans until tender, then add butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Serving Suggestions

Green beans go well with almost any protein. Try them with sous vide chicken thighs, spicy honey lime chicken, sous vide pork loin with raspberry balsamic sauce, prime rib, or healthy meatloaf with mushroom gravy.

Frequently asked questions