The pan starts to sizzle, butter melts, garlic hits the heat, and suddenly those "just green beans" turn into a bowl everyone actually reaches for. Shiny, bright, crisp-tender beans with a light, golden, cheesy coat. Not sad. Not plain. Just salty, garlicky, crunchy in the right places, and completely family-approved.
These Parmesan green beans are my no-brainer side for busy nights and "oh… I forgot a veggie" moments. Meat planned? Potatoes, rice, or pasta sorted? This finishes the plate in minutes.
At a glance
⏲️ Prep time: 5 minutes
🍳 Cook time: 10 minutes
🥄 Per serving: about 230 kcal (side dish estimate)
🥘 Key ingredients: fresh green beans, butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs
👩🏻🍳 Taste: crisp-tender, buttery, garlicky, salty from the Parmesan
📖 Allergens Contains: milk (Parmesan, butter), gluten (bread crumbs)
Does not contain: egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, fish. (Always check the label on your Parmesan and bread crumbs.)
📋 Why make this: fast weeknight rescue, works with any classic main, good enough for holidays
⭐ Difficulty: easy: if you can stir, you can make this.
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Parmesan Green Beans With Crispy Breadcrumbs
I make these all the time. On weeknights when the day ran away from me and I still promised "a real meal." On Sundays, next to roast chicken. On holidays when the oven is full, I need one pan on the stove that never lets me down.
Plain green beans don't stand a chance here, so I fix them with butter, garlic, and a generous shower of finely grated Parmesan. The cheese melts into a thin, savory coat instead of heavy clumps. When I have dried oregano or thyme, they go in. If not, a quick sprinkle of Italian seasoning is perfect. No oven, no risk of wrinkled or burnt beans. Just one skillet, a few ingredients, and a side that looks like you planned it.
My kids call it "such a fun twist," which is code for they eat their vegetables without arguing. Crispy, glossy green beans that feel a little extra, without extra work. Always a win at my table.
What You'll Need
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Fresh green beans: the star; they should stay bright green and crisp-tender.
- Butter and sunflower oil: full flavor, glossy finish; this is a butter recipe.
- Garlic: warm, savory base; cook it gently so it doesn't burn.
- Breadcrumbs: provide a crunchy layer; fine breadcrumbs bake evenly and golden brown.
- Parmesan cheese (finely grated): melts fast, clings to the beans, no clumps.
- Salt & black pepper: to bring it all together.
- Dried oregano and thyme: adds a cozy, herby note.
- Optional: Italian seasoning: easy swap if you don't have single herbs.
How to Make It
The full step-by-step is in the recipe card.
- Step 1: Cook or steam the green beans until bright green and crisp-tender.
- Step 2: Melt butter in a hot pan, add garlic and herbs, let them gently sizzle.
- Step 3: Toss in the bread crumbs and coat them in the garlic butter.
- Step 4: Take off the heat, add beans and finely grated Parmesan, toss so it melts and clings, then serve right away.
Top Tip
- Watch the color: Bright green with a little bite is perfect. Dull and floppy means too far.
- Use the timing as a guide: Boiling: about 6-8 minutes. Steaming: 3-5 minutes. Always taste one.
- Finely grated Parmesan only: It melts fast and coats evenly.
- Add Parmesan off the heat: Turn the heat off first, then add the cheese.
- No herbs at home? Use Italian seasoning or skip. Butter, garlic, bread crumbs and Parmesan already carry the dish.
- Holiday hack: Blanch the beans 1-2 days ahead, cool, and chill. Just before serving, warm them in butter, spiced breadcrumbs, and garlic, then finish with Parmesan.
- Rescue trick: Beans cooled down? Warm them briefly in the microwave, then toss again in a hot pan with a little butter and fresh Parmesan.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- 18 oz. green beans
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper , at taste
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the green beans and cook 6-8 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender, or steam for 3-5 minutes. Drain very well.18 oz. green beans
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.2 tablespoons sunflower oil, 2 tablespoons butter
- Add the garlic, oregano, and thyme and cook briefly until fragrant (do not let them brown).¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano, ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
- Stir in the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs are dry, golden brown, and crispy. Season with salt and pepper.¼ cup breadcrumbs, salt and pepper
- Arrange the green beans on a plate and sprinkle the crumbs over them, or toss the green beans in the crumbs. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top and toss until the cheese melts slightly and the green beans are covered with a thin, savory layer. Serve immediately.½ cup Parmesan cheese
Notes
- Lemon zest finish: add a little fresh lemon zest on top right before serving for a bright twist (perfect with fish or roast chicken).
- Extra garlicky: add an extra teaspoon if your table loves garlic; keep the heat gentle.
- Herby version: use Italian seasoning instead of single herbs for an easy pantry-style version.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat in a skillet with a small knob of butter or briefly in the microwave, then toss and (if you like) finish with a little extra Parmesan.
Nutrition
Stephanie says
This green bean recipe with bread crumbs is the perfect side dish. We enjoyed this recipe!
Andréa says
Thank you!