Spring is here! 
I know, I know, it has sprung, but that's just the dumbest thing ever in all of the land to say, right? Spring has been springing for a few weeks here already with this crazy weather, and some of our daisies and tulips have already done their thing and are gone until next year. Sad because it feels like time is going way too fast, you know?
This time of year I like cooking with a main ingredient and supplementing with salad or proteins that need to be used up. Kind of like spring cleaning for my fridge, no more languishing food, I say to myself every year. It's a noble pursuit. These broiled green beans are definitely flavorful enough to be the absolute star of a dinner with some sliced tomatoes and grilled chicken or similar. They're coated in butter and spices, to start, and the broiler action leaves you with some nice flavorful dark bits and beans that are tender but not sad/mushy. No one likes those guys.
And the Meyer lemon! Tastes like a Cutie + a lemon, but sub regular lemon if you have that instead of a Meyer. It is slightly sweeter than a regular lemon, but either variety would work perfectly. The lemon chars just a little bit and the juice mixes with the butter to make a nice little sauce.
You should probably serve these broiled green beans over rice for sauce-mopping purposes.
You need! Green beans, the thinner the better. Then butter, crushed red pepper, salt, onion and garlic powders. Meyer lemon for broiling (sliced as thinly as you can get it) and basil for garnish and we're good to go. 
First, move your oven rack to the center of the oven, about 8 inches below the top. Turn the broiler to high, and grab a baking sheet. I broil these on parchment paper for easy clean up, but regular cooking spray is fine. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then stir the spices to make a gloriously flavorful melted butter mixture. 
Pour that over the green beans. 
Then mix! Stir the butter into the beans to coat them evenly. 
Arrange the beans in one layer on the baking sheet, then scatter the Meyer lemon slices all over the pan. 
Now, broil! I have a long time frame here because broiling is so dependent on your oven. These took 11 minutes, but I'd say check your beans after 6-7 minutes and then again every minute or two so that you don't burn the beans. 
We're looking for charred edges, juicy lemon slices, and soft green beans. 
Top with basil leaves, and done! This is so very simple but really delicious and almost annoyingly springy, but is spring ever annoying, or just welcome? 
Welcome, I think. Enjoy!
(ps, these are super delicious paired with mashed potatoes, loaded baked potato salad, grilled chicken, or salmon cooked in a cast iron skillet! I also love these as a lighter Thanksgiving side dish option)
Recipe
Broiled Meyer Lemon Green Beans with Basil
Ingredients
- 12 ounces thin green beans trimmed
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons salted butter or unsalted with a little extra salt!
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ meyer lemon very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Arrange an oven rack to about 8 inches from the top, and preheat the broiler to high.
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray.
- Place the green beans in a medium bowl for mixing. In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and crushed red pepper. Pour the butter/spice mixture over the green beans and toss to coat.
- Spread the buttered green beans on the baking sheet in one even layer. Place the Meyer lemon slices directly over the green beans. Broil for 8-12 minutes (this depends on your oven), checking after 7 minutes to be sure the beans blister but don't burn. My green beans took 11 minutes to char and cook through.
- When the beans are soft and dark at the edges and the lemon slices have started to caramelize, remove from the oven. Scatter the basil leaves over top and serve while hot.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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