Roasted Balsamic Green Beans and Mushrooms

Roasted Balsamic Green Beans and Mushrooms are a healthy and tasty side dish that will get everyone to eat their veggies. Plus the leftovers are delicious and can be utilized all week. They are a favorite green bean recipe along with these Grilled Green Beans and 10 Minute Garlic Green Beans.

It seems like I often get stuck in a rut, making the same simple side dishes over and over. Usually a salad. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good salad, but when you have the same salad day after day, it can get a bit tiresome.

Whenever I take the time to make something a little more intense, I wonder why I don’t do it more often! It doesn’t really take that much effort to spruce up your veggies. Take these Balsamic Roasted Green Beans, for example. It’s a simple matter of washing, slicing, and tossing the vegetables with a few simple ingredients, and the results are absolutely delicious. The few extra minutes you spend dressing up these vegetables is time very well spent.

Roasting vegetables seems like witchcraft to me. It’s amazing how much more flavorful they are once roasted. And the process is super simple. This recipe is just a springboard—once the veggies are roasted you can serve them warm or cold, or add them to a cheesy quesadilla, toss them on top of a salad, on your eggs, or even in a sandwich or wrap. Hopefully, this will motivate you to be a little more adventurous with your vegetables!

Recipe Ideas for Roasted Balsamic Green Beans and Mushrooms

• Spices and fresh herbs are your friends when it comes to this recipe! Consider adding fresh rosemary or thyme to the recipe before roasting or topping with some freshly chopped parsley or basil. Dried herbs and spices can also add tons of flavor. Lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, cumin, or paprika would all be delicious.
• Don't be afraid to add in even more veggies! Just look for veggies that cook in the same amount of time as the green beans and mushrooms. Zucchini, summer squash, snap peas, eggplant slices, thinly sliced carrots, or asparagus would all work.
• Definitely double the recipe. Roasted veggie leftovers may not sound like much but these are delicious in salads, quesadillas, or tossed with cooked pasta for a quick pasta salad.

How to Prep Green Beans for Roasting

When it comes to buying green beans, usually there are two options. You can buy loose green beans or bagged prewashed and trimmed green beans. The bagged beans tend to be more expensive, but they do speed up prep work since you don't have to wash or trim the green beans.

If you opt for fresh green beans, start by choosing the right green beans. They should be firm, bright green in color, and making a snapping sound when broken. Avoid any green beans that are discolored, bruised, or look wrinkled. 

To prepare them for cooking, start by washing the beans well to remove any dirt or debris. Then dry them with a cloth. Once dry, you want to either snap or slice off the stem end of the green bean. To do this quickly, line up the green beans and slice off the stems at the same time. You will also want to cut off any broken or browned edges. 

How to Prep Mushrooms for Roasting

There are so many different schools of thought when it comes to cleaning mushrooms. You can use a mushroom brush, wipe them with paper towels, but I like to wash them. Start by filling a large bowl with water. Add the mushrooms to the bowl and move them around with your hands. The dirt and debris will fall right off into the bowl and float to the bottom. Then immediately dry with a towel.

Looking for more roasted vegetable recipes?

• Sesame Soy Broccoli
• Honey Roasted Baby Carrots
• Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Rosemary Baby Potatoes
• Garlic Balsamic Mushrooms

Things I used when preparing this recipe:

• High quality balsamic vinegar: Since the balsamic vinegar is one of the main flavors in this recipe, it's really important to choose a high quality one that will pack in the flavor and bring the right amount of sweetness and tartness. This doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune though. Personally, I usually buy the Whole Foods 365 Aged Balsamic Vinegar and also enjoy this one and this one.
• Parchment paper: I don't know about you but I hate cleaning up sheet pans after roasting veggies, especially since the balsamic vinegar will caramelize and stick to the pan. I use this to make sure clean up is a breeze.
• Baking sheet: There are so many options out there but I have been using this brand for years and find they hold up really well.