Description
Parmesan green beans elevate simple side dishes with rich, cheesy goodness. Crisp vegetables mingle with savory parmesan, creating a delightful companion to any main course you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 150 grams (5 ounces) streaky bacon, chopped
Vegetables:
- 500 grams (1 pound) green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat a cold skillet over high heat and cook bacon until crispy and golden, approximately 2-3 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.
- Carefully measure and retain 1.5 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the skillet, discarding the excess fat.
- Quickly sauté minced garlic in the reserved bacon fat for 10-15 seconds until fragrant and lightly golden, ensuring it doesn’t burn.
- Add green beans to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat evenly with the aromatic bacon fat.
- Pour chicken stock into the skillet, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 3 minutes until beans become tender-crisp and maintain a vibrant green color.
- Introduce heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese, and freshly cracked black pepper to the skillet. Continue simmering for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to gradually thicken and develop rich flavors.
- Perform a final seasoning check, adjusting salt if necessary. Transfer the creamy green beans to a serving dish and garnish generously with the previously crisped bacon pieces.
Notes
- Bacon Technique Start with a cold skillet for even, crispy rendering without burning the meat.
- Fat Management Reserve just the right amount of bacon fat to infuse rich flavor without overwhelming the dish.
- Garlic Precision Brief cooking prevents burning while releasing maximum aromatic notes into the green beans.
- Dietary Modifications Swap bacon for turkey bacon or tempeh bacon to create lighter, vegetarian-friendly versions that maintain smoky complexity.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 358 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg