Cast Iron Skillet Green Beans
Cast iron skillet green beans are perfectly charred with butter and fresh garlic, then finished with fresh lemon juice and grated Parmesan cheese. They're flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for all occasions.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 132kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans trimmed
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan optional
Instructions
- Heat your cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it's very hot, about 2 minutes. You want it just shy of smoking.
- Add the olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the green beans in a single layer. Don't stir, let them sit undisturbed for 3–4 minutes until they blister and char on one side.
- Toss and let them sit another 2–3 minutes. You want deep color on the beans, not just a light sauté.
- Push the beans to the edges. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the center and let it melt. Add the sliced garlic directly into the butter. Cook 60 seconds, stirring the garlic constantly so it doesn't burn.
- Toss everything together to coat the beans in the garlic butter. Season with salt, pepper and crushed red peppers.
- Pull off the heat. Lightly sprinkle with lemon juice, toss once more, and top with Parmesan if using.
Notes
- I typically snap the green beans with my fingers, but if you're making a large batch, consider cutting the ends with kitchen shears! It makes light work of prepping the beans.
- Be attentive in step 4 when you cook your garlic in butter. Both garlic and butter can burn very easily, so it's important to turn the heat down first and cook them just long enough for the garlic to get fragrant.
- Letting the beans sit undisturbed is key to getting a nice char and a good texture.
- Make sure your green beans are dry before adding them to the skillet. Moisture can cause the oil to spit and the green beans to steam instead of blister.
- Be careful not to overcook your green beans. You want them soft and tender but with some snap left in them. I recommend taste testing when in doubt!
- Feel free to add some crunch to your green beans by sprinkling them with toasted nuts or crumbled bacon before serving.