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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Green Beans with Bacon

    Green Beans with Bacon

    Last updated: Oct 18, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    These green beans with bacon are wonderfully rich and decadent. The crispy bacon pieces add so much flavor!

    This delicious side dish is ready in less than 30 minutes. Due to its richness, it pairs well with light main courses such as chicken or seafood.

    Green beans with bacon served on a platter with a serving spoon.

    I make green beans often and enjoy recipes such as roasted green beans, green beans almondine, and green bean casserole.

    I especially like this recipe for green beans with bacon. Bacon enhances any dish (bacon-wrapped scallops come to mind), and it also enhances this one. It adds excellent flavor and texture!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Green Beans with Bacon Instructions
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Green Bean Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed to make green beans with bacon.

    Here's a look at the ingredients needed to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

    • Green beans: Make sure to trim their ends. It's easiest to use a bag of pre-washed and trimmed green beans.
    • Bacon: We'll use an 8-ounce package of raw bacon. The bacon should be diced.
    • Butter: Although it's OK to use the rendered bacon fat, I like the flavor that butter adds.
    • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme.

    Variations

    • You can use packaged bacon bits and cook the green beans in 2 tablespoons of butter.
    • If you need this recipe to be dairy-free, use 2 tablespoons of bacon fat and omit the butter.
    • I sometimes sprinkle dry-grated parmesan cheese on the finished dish.
    • Another excellent addition is to add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
    • Dried thyme is a good substitute for oregano.

    Green Beans with Bacon Instructions

    Here's an overview of the steps for making this recipe. The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below.

    Cook the bacon: Place the diced bacon in a large skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat. Cook the bacon, stirring often, until crispy.

    Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Cover to keep warm, or put it in a baking dish and place it in a 170°F oven.

    Chopped raw bacon in a skillet.
    Cooking chopped bacon in a skillet.
    Cooked chopped bacon is placed on paper towels.

    Deglaze the pan: Pour all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan, pouring it into a bowl and not into the sink.

    If needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and deglaze the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon (scrape off any browned bits from the bottom of the pan).

    Adding water to the skillet for deglazing it.
    Deglazing the skillet with a wooden spoon.

    Cook the green beans: Add a tablespoon of butter and let it melt. Add the green beans. Season them. Cook them over medium heat, stirring, for 1 minute.

    Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high. Cover the pan and let the beans steam until they are tender-crisp.

    Adding the green beans to the skillet.
    Adding water to the skillet.
    The skillet is covered with a lid.

    Top with bacon: Remove the lid and stir the green beans to coat them in the sauce. Use tongs to remove them to a serving platter. Scatter the bacon pieces on top. Serve immediately.

    Removing the green beans to a plate.
    Topping the green beans with cooked chopped bacon.

    Expert Tip

    It's easier to dice the bacon if it’s partially frozen. I like to place the package in the freezer for around 30 minutes. Then, I use a freshly sharpened knife to cut the bacon.

    Another trick for quickly chopping bacon is to use sharp kitchen shears instead of a knife.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use frozen green beans?

    No. For the best results, I urge you to use fresh green beans in this recipe.

    Can I use canned green beans?

    Absolutely not. Canned green beans are usually soft, mushy, and not very tasty. Please use fresh green beans in this recipe.

    How can I keep the green beans crisp?

    Cook them separately from the bacon, and don't overcook them - cook them just until they are tender-crisp.

    Can you suggest a vegetarian alternative?

    Yes - try green beans almondine. While the flavor profile is quite different, the almonds add crispiness similar to the bacon.

    Serving Suggestions

    Since this is a decadent side dish, I like to serve it with a light main course of chicken or fish, such as any of the following:

    • Fish stew
    • Broiled shrimp
    • Pulled chicken
    • Sole meuniere
    • Shrimp in cream sauce
    • Chicken Stroganoff
    • Seafood mix
    • Shrimp parmesan
    • Moroccan chicken

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

    Green beans with bacon served with a serving spoon.

    More Green Bean Recipes

    • Green beans almondine served on a white plate.
      Green Beans Almondine
    • Chinese green beans served on a white plate with chopsticks.
      Chinese Green Beans
    • Keto green bean casserole in a white baking dish.
      Keto Green Bean Casserole
    • Roasted green beans served on a white plate with a napkin.
      Roasted Green Beans

    👩🏻‍🍳 I publish a new or updated recipe every month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Green beans with bacon served with a serving spoon.
    5 from 15 votes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Print Recipe

    Green Beans with Bacon

    These green beans with bacon are wonderfully rich and decadent. The crispy bacon pieces add so much flavor!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 168kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 1 pound fresh green beans ends trimmed
    • ½ pound raw bacon diced
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

    Instructions

    • Place the diced bacon in a large, deep skillet. I use a stainless steel skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat. Cook the bacon, stirring often, until crispy, about 10 minutes.
      Cooking chopped bacon in a skillet.
    • Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Cover it to keep warm, or transfer it to a baking dish and place it in a 170°F oven.
      Cooked chopped bacon is placed on paper towels.
    • Pour all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan, pouring it into a bowl and not into the sink (or it will clog your sink). If needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the pan and deglaze its bottom with a wooden spoon, scraping off any tasty browned bits from the bottom.
      Deglazing the skillet with a wooden spoon.
    • Add a tablespoon of butter and let it melt.
      Adding butter to the skillet.
    • Add the green beans. Season them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Cook them over medium heat, stirring, for 1 minute.
      Adding the green beans to the skillet.
    • Add 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high. Cover the pan and let the beans steam until they are tender-crisp, for about 3 minutes.
      The skillet is covered with a lid.
    • Remove the lid and stir the green beans to coat them in the sauce. Use tongs to remove them to a serving platter. Scatter the bacon pieces on top. Serve immediately.
      Topping the green beans with cooked chopped bacon.

    Video

    Notes

    • It's easier to dice the bacon if it’s partially frozen. I like to place the package in the freezer for around 30 minutes. Then, I use a freshly sharpened knife to cut the bacon.
    • Another trick for quickly chopping bacon is to use sharp kitchen shears instead of a knife.
    • For the best results, I urge you to use fresh green beans in this recipe, not frozen or canned. 
    • You can use packaged bacon bits and cook the green beans in 2 tablespoons of butter.
    • If you need this recipe to be dairy-free, use 2 tablespoons of bacon fat and omit the butter.
    • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

    Add Your Own Notes

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 444mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g
    SubscribeI publish a new or updated recipe once a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Bailey Moore

      November 25, 2023 at 10:04 pm

      5 stars
      I always had green beans plain. I like them well enough, but this! Wow. Flavor explosion is an understatement.

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        November 26, 2023 at 8:55 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Bailey!

        Reply
    2. Colleen

      November 25, 2023 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      Didn't have thyme so substituted oregano. Turned out well! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        November 25, 2023 at 1:18 pm

        You're very welcome, Colleen! Glad you liked it.

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    👩🏻‍🍳 I publish a new or updated recipe every month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

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