I first threw this dish together when my nephew, who’s famous for turning up his nose at anything green, came over. He took one bite, and suddenly he was all smiles, asking for more every visit. It felt like a total win for me as his aunt who just wants him to eat something besides pasta.
Tasty Ingredients
- Fresh green beans: Choose beans that are firm and vivid green. Those will roast up best
- Olive oil: Go for a decent extra virgin bottle for flavor
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Use whole milk mozzarella if you can—grate it yourself for max gooey-ness
- Minced garlic: Chop up fresh garlic cloves for the strongest flavor (skip the powder!)
- Kosher salt: Its chunky texture spreads flavor evenly
- Fresh ground black pepper: Crack your own pepper for the freshest taste
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan to up that nutty, savory vibe
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
- Get Your Oven Blazing:
- Flip your oven on to 425°F. Give it time to really heat up. While that happens, use cooking spray to coat your baking sheet corner to corner so the beans don’t stick.
- Lay Out Your Beans:
- Spread trimmed green beans out on your pan. One flat layer works best. Give them space—if they’re crowded, you’ll just end up steaming them, not roasting.
- Mix Up Your Garlic Oil:
- In a bowl, stir together olive oil, Parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix it well until it’s a little thick. You want the bits of cheese through the oil so it’ll stick to the beans nicely.
- Coat Those Beans:
- Drizzle your garlicky oil mix all over your beans. Use your hands or a spatula to toss them so every one gets covered. Don’t rush—coating them well means every bite tastes great.
- Put Them in the Oven:
- Roast in your hot oven for 20 minutes. They should stay nice and green, with a few toasty edges. Test by poking one with a fork—it should be soft with just a little snap left.
- Cheese Time:
- Take out the beans and sprinkle them evenly with mozzarella. Spread it so there’s cheese all over—no one likes a cheeseless corner. The heat under will start melting it already.
- Broil for Bubbly Cheese:
- Switch your oven to broil, and move the baking sheet up top. Watch closely—it goes from golden and bubbly to burnt super fast. Pull them when you see deep golden brown spots.
- Dive In and Serve:
- Move the hot, cheesy beans to your serving bowl. When you pull them apart, you’ll see those awesome cheese strings. Dish it up right away for best crunch and gooey melt.
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