Garlic-Parmesan Green Beans

These Garlic-Parmesan Green Beans will be your new one-skillet secret weapon when you need a quick and delicious side dish. Bursting with a garlicky aroma, they’re a versatile companion for everything from roasted chicken to baked salmon or even hearty stuffed veggies. Quick to make on a busy weeknight yet elegant enough to steal the show at a dinner party, these beans do it all. Plus, they’re packed with nutrients like vitamin K and vitamin C. Read on below for our best tips and tricks for making this side dish a winner every time.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

• Using a combination of butter and olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning by raising the smoke point while also adding a little flavor to the beans. We love the smooth flavor of extra-virgin olive oil, but any neutral-flavored oil like canola or avocado oil will work just as well.
• Garlic burns easily, which is why we add it toward the end of cooking. The beans should be tender-crisp before you add the garlic to the pan. Once the garlic is fragrant and beginning to color, remove the pan from the heat. 
• The peak season for green beans is July to September, but you can find fresh green beans year-round. Avoid limp or flabby beans that don’t break with a crisp, snappy sound. Avoid any beans that have brownish scars. 

Nutrition Notes

• Green beans are packed with a wide variety of nutrients, from vitamin K (to support strong bones) to vitamin C (to support a healthy immune system). These legumes may also reduce the risk of certain cancers like breast, colon and prostate. Green beans contain compounds like chlorophyll, carotenoids and fiber that can help decrease inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to an increased risk of cancer, so eating foods with anti-inflammatory properties, like green beans, may help reduce your risk. 
• Eating garlic on a regular basis may reduce blood pressure. It may also lead to better blood sugar levels, particularly in people with diabetes. Garlic also has probiotics to help feed the healthy bacteria in your gut.