Creamy Green Beans with Parmesan and Toasted Almonds
Everyone seems to have a favorite green bean casserole recipe that is shared and passed along everyone holiday season. When we first started dating almost 30 years ago we didn’t really have a go-to Holiday green bean dish. Back then so many of our friends made the classic green bean casserole out of canned green beans. We were never crazy about that recipe because we grew up eating fresh green beans often enough to crave that crisp and tender bite of freshly sauteed green beans. Now our 2013 homemade green bean casserole version is definitely a holiday hit because of the texture of fresh green beans and fresh parmesan cheese.
Video: Creamy Green Beans Recipe:
Creamy green beans recipe made on the stove top
So we set up to make our own version of creamy green bean dish fit for the holidays and all the turkey. Our goal was to create a creamy green bean recipe that was simple because with so many dishes being made during a holiday feast, we didn’t want to tackle with a complicated vegetable side dish.
This version we have today is a simple and fantastic way to enjoy creamy beans using fresh green beans and all made in a skillet. It’s a version we wrote for our Bountiful cookbook and since then have adapted it to use sour cream, which we have readily available in our fridge more than cream cheese.
Simple no-fuss Holiday creamed green beans
Our creamy green bean dish is a no-fuss, simple and satisfying dish that can easily be prepared in about 30 minutes if you have everything prepped ahead of time. So far, it’s another favorite homemade green bean casserole side dish that needs to be made as a triple batch because everyone loves the perfectly tender texture. The nutty crunch from the almonds is also a favorite and no one misses the fried onions. But that shouldn’t stop you if you want to take this dish over the top with fried onions.
Creamy Green Beans with Parmesan and Toasted Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium onion , sliced
- 1 pound (454 g) green beans , trimmed and cut in half
- 1/4 cup (60 g) sour cream
- 1/2 cup (50 g) parmesan cheese , plus more for topping
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) kosher salt , or to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper , to taste
- 1/2 cup (70 g) toasted sliced almonds
- 1 cup (100 g) toasted bread crumbs , optional
- lemon wedges for serving , optional
Instructions
- Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add about 1 Tablespoon (15ml) olive oil, then add the sliced onions and cook until soft and lightly browned.
- Add the 1 pound (454g) green beans and cook until they turn a bright green color, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add 1/4 cup (60g) sour cream, 1/2 cup (50g) parmesan cheese, 3/4 cup (180ml) milk, about 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) salt or to preference, and black pepper to personal taste. When cheese mixture comes to a simmer, turn heat to low and continue cooking green beans until they are your preferred tenderness (we usually cook for 10-15 minutes depending on the size and freshness of the green beans).
- Remove from heat and add additional parmesan cheese to preference and top with about 1/2 cup (70g) toasted sliced almonds and about 1 cup (100g) toasted bread crumbs (optional). Add additional salt and pepper if needed, to taste. Serve warm with optional lemon wedges.
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
Easy Holiday Bean Recipes
- Here’s a great ham and bean soup recipe for the holidays.
- spicy white bean dip recipe
- quick and easy vegetarian bean chili recipe
- kale bacon and white bean salad
- pesto white bean salad
- baked beet greens
- This recipe was originally published in our 2013 cookbook and adapted with more recent changes.
I’m in love with how creamy this came out. I’m going to make this for Thanksgiving for sure.
I’m loving how easy this recipe is and how it goes with just about everything. It’s really tasty.
Never tried a recipe with green beans – this dish was BEAUTIFUL. I put the recipe in my binder and will make again and again.
I’ve been trying to find innovative ways to cook green beans since they’re my latest addiction. This one is by far my favorite green bean recipe. I love it!
My kids don’t really like eating veggies but this is absolutely delicious that they’ll eat this right up! Thanks so much for this recipe.
Would gladly have his one for weed dinner as well …