Loaded Skillet Toasted Green Beans.
Let’s talk about the most unboring boring green beans.
Because they may look sort of boring, but they are anything but. This little bowl is bursting with flavor in the most cliché sense of the expression. It’s full of EVERYTHING I love.
BY THE WAY.
It is basically a miracle that I’m still discussing Thanksgiving and haven’t moved on to Christmas yet – like we haven’t even put the tree up in real life. It’s usually up by now but since it tastes me approximately 37 hours longer to do everything in the world at the moment, it hasn’t happened. I really can’t even fathom it. I envision throwing myself on the couch and telling just exactly Eddie where the ornaments should go while eating ice pops because that sounds sane. ??
I only say this because I seriously wonder HOW I moved so quickly before I had this giant bowling ball in my stomach. And I don’t learn at all, because everyday I still make a normal to-do list and manage to do everything then like only half or three-fourths get done and I’m all HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE I DIDN’T STOP MOVING ALL DAY WHY AM I WORKING AT A SNAIL’S PACE.
So as it turns out, I’m right on time with the seasons! Maybe I should be pregnant like this every Fall??
Over the last two weeks I’ve rambled on and on about how Thanksgiving here HAS to taste traditional and “normal” and like childhood. You know? I find that there are only a few places one can stray from the normality safely, and if you’re not a green bean casserole type (my dad says mushrooms are a fungus, not a food…) this is where you can find safe haven.
These little green noodle-like beans are toasted in a skillet, in bacon grease no less. And they include:
bacon (duh)
caramelized shallots (I’m apparently really into these right now)
toasted almonds (honey toasted from trader joe’s are the way to go)
garlic brown butter breadcrumbs (life)
crushed red pepper flakes (heat!)
AND feta cheese.
The feta is a must. It adds a refreshing and tangy pop to these sweet and savory beans which have just the teeeeeniest bit of fire.
And obviously, they are super simple and so necessary for every other dinner day besides Thanksgiving. Like maybe tonight?
No seriously. What are you eating for dinner tonight? Do you even eat regular dinners during the week of a crazy holiday that necessitates so much prep work? I’d be cool with a bowl of cereal or thirty slices of cheese, but let’s be honest: Eddie would die without real dinner so if you’re in the same boat, these should probably be your dinner.
In fact, they alone can be your dinner. They totally work with a fork right from the skillet. Don’t ask.
Loaded Skillet Toasted Green Beans
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 2 pounds fresh green beans
- 1/3 cup toasted almonds
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
garlic butter breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
- 1/3 cup seasoned panko bread crumbs
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the bacon and shallots. Cook until the bacon is crispy and the shallots begin to brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes minutes. Remove the mixture from the skillet and place it in a bowl while you cook the green beans.
- Add the green beans to the skillet. If there isn’t any bacon fat left, you can use butter or olive oil (about a tablespoon) to toast the beans. I find that the beans are seasoned enough with the bacon flavor and feta, but you can add some salt and pepper here if you like. Cook the beans over medium heat, stirring and tossing occasionally, until they are bright in color and cooked – but still slightly crunchy – about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the shallots and bacon back into the skillet and toss. Toss in the toasted almonds and feta.
- Sprinkle with the garlic brown butter bread crumbs and serve immediately.
garlic butter breadcrumbs
- Add butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk constantly while it bubbles. The minute brown bits begin to form on the bottom of the pan, remove from heat and whisk for an additional 30 seconds. (for more step by step photos of browning butter, click here) Let butter stand for 2 minutes, then add in minced garlic and whisk. Add in panko and pepper flakes and stir well to coat and combine. Set aside.
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go vegetables!
46 Comments on “Loaded Skillet Toasted Green Beans.”
These green beans look amazingly unboring! And I’m cracking up with your list of to dos. I feel you and I have no bowling ball to blame!
Whoa. I love plain green beans, but I’m pretty sure if I tried these, I’d never eat them plain again!!
I THOUGHT that I liked green beans….until now! Because clearly I have been eating them all wrong when I put ONLY toasted almonds on top. The feta? Dying.
Pinned!
Yesssssss. I want a big bowl of these! And you TOTALLY deserve to sit on the couch and eat pops while you direct Eddie on where to hang the ornaments. Do it!!!
Eating it with a fork straight from the skillet? That’s my idea of fun.
Also, bacon!! :D
Oh my, I am so making these for Christmas dinner!
This looks AMAZING! I do not like green bean casserole at all, so I’m always looking for a Thanksgiving alternative and this fits the bill. Definitely going to try this soon.
THESE look amazing! I am so in love with green beans, and ever since seeing these cross my twitter feed this morning I’ve been thinking about them. I just texted my hubby ‘loaded skillet green beans for dinner!’ and he replied ‘sounds good’ lol!
We already had our thanks giving in Canada, so I’ll have to make these tonight.
I was juuuuust looking for an un-boring green bean recipe. Problem solved. I’m cooking the whole meal this year just for the two of us (Kenna tore her ACL and is having major surgery tomorrow and has to be monitored 24/7 for the first 2 weeks), so I’m trying to make a little bit of everything! :)
“Go vegetables” haha1! as a dietitian, I approve :)
p.s. don’t feel bad for not really decorating or jumping into the holiday spirit, Im still in denial that Thanksgiving is THIS week! Its just happening all too fast…I can’t even enjoy the anticipation. You are not alone :)
These look SO GOOD. And totally unboring. I’m not really a green bean casserole person, but I am a green bean person, and this twist looks perfect!
mmmmm, you made green beans look so good!
I love that there’s breadcrumbs with red pepper flakes! I need some ZIP and that’s perfect! Pinned!
garlic butter breadcrumbs?! Trust me when I say I will be hogging the bowl at thanksgiving!
I already said it on instagram but I think it needs to be said again – OMG! – Get in my belly!
i hear you on the cheese for dinner! I am, in fact, noshing on cheese while trying to decompress from work and regain my energy so I can cook a dinner involving protein for the hubbie. Why can’t we just eat ALLL THE CHEESE??
I would so eat this and I’m not a green bean person at all!
I want to eat these for dinner every single night. My boyfriend is like you, he would be completely happy with a large brick of cheese. Don’t even have to cut it, just give it to him and he’s a happy camper haha.
We never had green bean casserole growing up! I made it one year, and it was an actual disaster with mushy beans and a weird sauce…oh my…anyway, this is way more my style! I still might overcook the beans, but I think I can manage! lol
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Love this grean bean feta salad! I’m such a green bean enthusiast! Will do this tonight!
I’m the same way with my to-do lists though it’s just occurred to me that I can still blame my bowling ball. Even though she’s no longer attached to me and is currently chilling out in her crib falling asleep sitting up (so cute and hilarious to watch on the baby monitor!). In some ways I get less done now!
green beans are my favorite thanksgiving side dish – but only if they include bacon, cheese, and nuts. this is my kind of recipe…
Yummy! These look so so SO good! Are you taking pictures on crumpled and then uncrumpled parchment paper?? I love that look.
Yowza! I’m in the same boat as your Dad– mushrooms are icky. These sound amazing!
seriously love this! Its such a great side for thanksgiving. Yum-o.
Those look amazing, i love how much stuff you loaded onto them! I can never think of what to put on green beans, and generally stick with almonds and maybe parmesan – definitely trying this next time to change it up a bit!
These are so beautiful! I agree, mushrooms are gross! This looks way better!
I’ve always hated the green bean casserole (thank heavens my family never made it), but this I could go for!
Geez, this knocks any green bean casserole, even one from scratch, right off the list…so much more flavor here!
These look amazing! If I’m bringing them over to family’s house for thanksgiving, is there a way to prepare ahead of time and reheat? Any recommendations for that?
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I’ve never had green bean casserole before (Aussie here) but I made this last night and it was a-freaking-mazing. Especially those garlic butter breadcrumbs, omg.
These. Look. Awesome!
I have a huge bag of green beans in my freezer leftover from my summer CSA waiting to be used, this looks like the perfect usage!
Amazing, i like it :)
Thank you
Made these for Christmas dinner…everyone has officially declared these the best they have ever had. Absolutely incredible. Thanks Jessica!
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YUM!!! Made these with dinner last night. They were so good. I initially put the feta in a little pile next to the beans when I served them, thinking the feta would overpower all the other flavors going on. NOPE! After the first bite, I immediately mixed the cheese up wit all the other yummy scattered around the beans. I’m sorry I doubted you. Haha. These were so fun and delicious. This recipe is definitely going in my arsenal of power sides. THANK YOU!
I’m so happy to have discovered your delightful blog and this recipe. I can’t wait to try the green beans.
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I love the recipes you make. Thank you very much for this recipe, one of my favourites.