Green Beans and Sausage with Garlic Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
- 1 poundItalian sausage (hot or sweet, your choice)
- 1½ poundgreen beans
- 4 clovesgarlic
- 1 mediumyellow onion
- 2 ouncescrusty bread
- 3 tablespoonolive oil
- ·salt
- ·black pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes
Prep
- 01
Trim the ends from 1 1/2 pounds green beans.
- 02
Dice 1 medium yellow onion.
- 03
Mince 4 cloves garlic.
- 04
Grate 2 ounces crusty bread into coarse crumbs (about 1 cup). Toss with 1 clove minced raw garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
Method
- 01
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the sausage from its casing and crumble it into the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- 02
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 03
Add the green beans to the skillet. Stir to coat with oil, then season generously with salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and lightly browned in spots, about 8–10 minutes.
- 04
Return the sausage to the skillet and toss everything together. Cook for 1 minute to warm through. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- 05
Transfer to a serving dish and top with the garlic bread crumbs.
Spice Tips
For warmth, increase the red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon. A splash of white wine or chicken broth (about 1/4 cup) added with the green beans creates a savory pan sauce. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Sausage adds rich flavor and body; choose hot sausage for more spice or sweet sausage for mild comfort. The garlicky bread crumbs are baked or toasted separately for maximum crunch.