Cheesy Green Beans

Cheesy green beans

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 casserole

These green beans are creamy and cheesy, and they make a fabulous side dish for any meal. They're super easy, too. The green beans are gussied up with a small amount of heavy cream and some shredded cheese. If you're tired of the same plain old steamed veggies, try this recipe.

Fresh green beans are in season during the summer, which might be surprising since they are so traditional as a side dish during the winter and holidays. They are easy to grow in your garden, either the bush varieties or pole beans. Browse a farmers market during the summer to see different heirloom varieties for this vegetable. Some have stripes or surprising colors.

Green beans add color to the plate, and they are an excellent vegetable to serve with roasted chicken, fish, or pork and starches such as mashed potatoes or rice.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups green beans, cooked

  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 dash cayenne pepper

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, divided

  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 F.

  2. Butter a shallow baking dish. Add the cooked beans to the dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese, salt, cayenne pepper. Dot with half of the butter, then pour cream over it all.

  3. Stir to blend ingredients. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the green beans and dot with remaining butter.

  4. Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. 

  5. Serve the green beans hot and enjoy.

Tips

  • This recipe uses cooked green beans. That allows you to start with either fresh green beans or frozen. With fresh green beans, clean them and trim the ends. Steam them in a steamer or the microwave until they are the desired doneness. Cook frozen green beans according to the package directions. You could use canned green beans if you like soft green beans.
  • Refrigerate any leftovers and use them within the next three to four days. You can also freeze leftovers. For the best quality, eat them within two to three months.

Recipe Variations

  • Spice up the green beans by adding more cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
  • Add garlic powder or crushed garlic to the beans before baking.
  • Add onion powder or sautéed onions before baking.
  • If you miss the crunchy french fried onions or buttered breadcrumbs of green bean casserole, simply add those to the top while baking.
  • Use a pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar for more spice. For more intense flavor, use crumbled blue cheese or Gorgonzola.
  • Add pimientos or diced sweet red peppers for an extra burst of flavor and more color.

What Is the Difference Between French-Style Green Beans and Regular?

French-style green beans, also known as haricot verts, tend to be thinner and longer than typical green beans. This makes them more tender and the beans inside smaller. They can be used for this recipe, just avoid precooking them for too long. Note that french-cut green beans are different—these are regular green beans that are sliced.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
165 Calories
14g Fat
7g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 165
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 215mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 147mg 11%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 147mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)