Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts

Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts are quickly stir-fried to to turn fresh green beans into a special side dish. And the addition of lemon, Parmesan, and pine nuts turns green beans into a gourmet treat!

PIN Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts to try it later!

When you’re writing a cooking blog you’re not only sharing recipes, you’re also documenting what you’re eating. And when I first posted this recipe for Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts, green beans weren’t something I cooked often.

Then I discovered those lovely thin French green beans at Costco! Those beans not only inspired me to make this recipe but also got me started growing my own green beans. And these green beans with lemon are still one of the green beans recipes I make most.

I took some new photos for this favorite green beans recipe, and I’m recommending it for my Friday Favorites pick this week to entice you to try it. And with lemon, parmesan, and PINE NUTS, you know this recipe has to be good!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• fresh green beans, preferably thin French green beans
• Olive Oil (affiliate link)
• whole garlic cloves
• lemon juice (I use my fresh-frozen lemon juice)
• lemon zest
• freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Pine Nuts (affiliate link)

What if you don’t have pine nuts?

Pine nuts can be pricey if you don’t buy them at Costco, and lately Costco is having a shortage at times. I think slivered almonds would be a great substitute to sprinkle on the green beans.

Can you use thicker green beans for this green beans recipe?

You can make this recipe with thicker beans or garden beans which often tend to be the thicker type, but you might have to slightly increase the stir-frying time.

How low in carbs are Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts?

Not only is this an amazing way to cook green beans, but these beans have only 7 net carbs per serving, with 4 grams of protein.

How to make Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Trim beans into pieces about 2 inches long (and wash if you’re using garden beans.)
2. Put green beans in a bowl, cover with cling wrap (or a loosely-fitting lid), and microwave for 2 minutes.
3. While beans cook in the microwave, zest the lemon and squeeze the juice.
4. Get the garlic and Parmesan ready and toast the pine nuts in a dry pan just until they’re barely starting to brown.
5. Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan, then add garlic and cook about 1 minute, or until fragrant and discard the garlic. Don’t let the garlic brown. (This is called “seasoning the oil.”) 
6. Add green beans and stir-fry over high heat until they’re just starting to brown, but are still slightly crisp. Taste one to see if it’s as done as you’d like it; thicker garden beans will take slightly longer.
7. Lower heat, add the lemon juice and stir to get that flavor mixed in with the beans.
8. Then turn off heat and sprinkle the lemon zest and Parmesan over the beans. 
9. Serve green beans hot, sprinkled with toasted pine nuts.

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

These Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts would be great with one of these main dishes:

• Baked Swedish Meatballs
• Air Fryer Lamb Chops
• Baked Mayo Parmesan Chicken
• Beef and Sausage Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
• Janet’s Dijon Mustard Chicken 

More Ideas for Green Beans:

If you’re a fan of fresh green beans, the category for Green Beans Recipes on the blog has more than 20 ways to cook them!

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Yield: 4 servings

Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

This recipe for Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts is a delicious way to use fresh green beans from the garden.

Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 lb. fresh green beans, preferably thin French green beans
• 1 1/2 T olive oil (or less, depending on your pan or wok)
• 2 cloves whole garlic
• 1 T lemon juice
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 T freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted in hot pan 1-2 minutes

Instructions

1. Trim ends from green beans. (I do this by gathering a handful, then standing them up on the cutting board while holding loosely so the beans all line up, then trimming the end. Turn over and repeat with the other end.)
2. Cut beans into pieces about 2 inches long.
3. Put beans into glass bowl, cover with cling film or a loosely-fitting lid, and microwave on high 2 minutes.
4. While beans microwave, zest the lemon and squeeze the juice. (You will not need all the juice, freeze the extra to use later.)
5. In a dry pan, toast pine nuts over high heat 1-2 minutes, until they barely start to brown. Set aside.
6. Heat oil in wok or large frying pan over high heat.
7. Add garlic cloves and stir fry about 1 minute. (This is a Chinese cooking technique called seasoning the oil.) Be sure not to brown the garlic or it will taste bitter. Remove garlic and discard.
8. Add beans and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, or until beans are barely starting to brown but are still slightly crisp. (I taste one to see if they are done. I prefer them slightly underdone.)
9. Lower heat, then pour lemon juice over beans, and stir beans a few times.
10. Turn off heat, then sprinkle lemon zest and Parmesan cheese over beans and stir again.
11. Remove green beans to serving plate, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts, and serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe inspired by A Veggie Venture.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 155Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 1mgSodium 31mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 5gSugar 5gProtein 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Green Beans with Lemon, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts would be a perfect side dish for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. They’re low enough in net carbs for most low-carb diet plans, but maybe a slight splurge on carbs for strict Keto.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Side Dishes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This amazing recipe for green beans was first posted in 2007 and it’s been a hit on the website ever since! The recipe was updated with better photos in 2021 and it was last updated with more information in 2026.