Green Beans with Bacon

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.

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!

Ingredients

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.

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).

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.

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.

Expert Tip

Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

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.

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Recipe Card

5 from 15 votes

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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

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• Add a tablespoon of butter and let it melt.
  
• Add the green beans. Season them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. 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, for about 3 minutes.
  
• 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.
  

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.

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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

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