Need a quick, healthy, and tasty side dish to bring to a gathering? This green bean parmesan salad is super simple to make and doesn’t require any reheating. Made with only 6 ingredients, it’s the perfect side to accompany any dinner!

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What side dish comes to mind when the host of a party asks you to bring something green? A salad right? Or if it’s Thanksgiving time… maybe brussel sprouts or broccoli? But what about green beans! And I’m not talking about green bean casserole here. Green beans boiled and then mixed with a few ingredients like oil and cheese, mwah chef’s kiss! 

I feel like green beans sometimes get a bad wrap, if cooked incorrectly they can turn mushy and soggy and end up being pushed around the plate until they inevitably get thrown in the trash. This recipe uses fresh green beans, cooked just right, so they still have a little bit of crunch and are super satisfying.

What’s the difference between green beans, string beans, and haricot verts?

The simple answer is not much. Haricot verts are the French version of green beans and they are a little thinner and shorter than regular green beans. Typical green beans are about 5-7 inches long if you buy them fresh. As for string beans, these are the same thing as green beans but are just an outdated term. They are all a form of green bean and are interchangeable in this recipe. See recipe notes for cooking time variation if using haricot verts!

Ready to make this delicious green bean parmesan salad? It’ll take you less than 15 minutes, I promise!

Ingredients in this Green Bean & Parmesan Salad

Green Beans: Fresh green beans or haricot verts. Not canned or frozen, those tend to get mushy.

Parmesan: Fresh grated parmesan if you have it, or even powdered parmesan will suffice. 

Dried Cranberries: Chopped up nice and small. Craisins or raisins are a good substitute here as well!

Spices: A pinch of salt and pepper and a ½ tbsp of red pepper flakes go a long way in this simple recipe!

Olive Oil: To coat the green beans in.

Walnuts: Chopped nuts of your choice, I picked walnuts (of course!) but slivered almonds, pecans, or chopped cashews would be great in this dish.

Kitchen Tools Needed for this Recipe

• Cheese grater
• Cutting board and sharp kitchen knife
• Medium saucepan

How to Make Green Bean & Parmesan Salad

Step One: Snip or cut the ends off the green beans. Boil 4 cups of water in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Place the cut green beans in the pot and boil for 5-8 minutes until slightly tender.

Step Two: Place boiled green beans in a large bowl and toss with olive oil, red pepper flakes, and a dash of salt and pepper. 

Step Three: Add the parmesan, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Toss the beans to coat with the toppings. Serve and enjoy warm or cold!