The 3-Ingredient Cacio e Pepe Green Beans My Son Loves

They’re salty, just a little spicy, and come together in 15 minutes.

By
Lou Perseghin
Lou Perseghin
Lou Perseghin
Lou Perseghin is a stay-at-home Dad, a home cook with 15+ years of experience, and a culinary content creator. His work is featured on Simply Recipes.
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Published October 30, 2025
Lou Perseghin
A dish of green beans topped with finely grated cheese served on a white oval plate with a spoon

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

"You wouldn't like it, it's spicy." In some cases, this phrase slyly protects grown-ups from sharing coveted treats with littles. In others, like these punchy beans, it's pointless. My son loves a spicy challenge, and eats these green beans straight from the pan every time I make them. He proclaims them “not too bad” as he happily sweats (just a little bit).

I love these cacio e pepe-inspired green beans because they come together wonderfully quickly—the most challenging part of the prep is grating the cheese.

If you’re looking for an alternative to fries, these beans make a fantastic side dish for burgers, steaks, and heavy, savory dishes. Because they’re firm, they pair beautifully with a remoulade sauce for dipping and can be eaten by hand.

Plate of cooked green beans topped with grated cheese a hand sprinkling cheese over the dish

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

Tips for Making My 3-Ingredient Cacio e Pepe Green Beans

  • This recipe relies on the firmness of fresh beans. It will not work with canned or frozen varieties.
  • These beans only steam for a few minutes, so pay attention to the time. You want them to retain the wonderful crispy bite of fresh beans. They’re the last thing I make for a meal after everything else is ready. 
  • This recipe is meant to be quite peppery, and it’s essential to measure the pepper for the full effect. You can turn up the heat further by swapping in blackened Cajun seasoning, chili powder, or crushed red pepper flakes, or keep things more moderate by substituting a teaspoon of garlic or onion powder instead of the black pepper. 
  • Pecorino Romano cheese is traditionally used in cacio e pepe, but you can substitute it with parmesan or another hard cheese. (Or use that reliable jar of “shaky cheese” in your fridge—it’s a staple at my house!)

More Quick Veggie Sides

Cacio e Pepe Green Beans

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 3 to 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh green beans, ends trimmed

  • 3 tablespoons water

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 tablespoon salted butter

  • 2 tablespoons finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for garnish

Method

  1. Steam the green beans:

    In a 10 to 11-inch stainless steel skillet set over medium-high heat, combine the green beans, water, and salt, stirring to coat. Cover the pan with a lid and cook until the beans are glistening and just starting to soften (they’ll still be quite firm), about 5 minutes, tossing halfway through.

  2. Add the butter and pepper:

    Uncover, add the pepper and butter, and cook, tossing frequently, until the water has evaporated and the beans are thoroughly coated with melted butter and pepper, about 1 minute.

    Simple Tip!

    If your stove has a hood, turn it on for this step, as the pepper will give off some fumes as it cooks.

  3. Finish:

    Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the beans to a serving bowl. Add the cheese,  toss gently until the beans are thoroughly coated, and shower with more cheese as desired. Serve immediately.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat in a stainless steel pan set over medium-high heat with a teaspoon of olive oil, tossing frequently until heated through.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
51 Calories
2g Fat
7g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 51
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 210mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 10mg 52%
Calcium 64mg 5%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 196mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.