Green Beans with Bacon is a simple yet mouthwatering side dish that turns a handful of everyday ingredients into something incredible! Fresh green beans join bacon, onion, and garlic in a dish that’s special enough for the holiday dinner table, but easy enough to make any night of the week.
Something inside me shifts when the scent of onions sauteing in bacon grease reaches my nose. I’m instantly reminded of the holidays growing up, and my Mom sizzling Green Beans with Bacon on the stove for the big meal.
In less serious news, it’s bacon and onions, y’all! And garlic! And green beans! And that pretty much sums up all the ingredients needed to make this simple yet INCREDIBLE side dish that’s special enough for your holiday dinner table, yet easy enough to make any night of the week.
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Quick and Easy Side Dish
In a world full of complicated side dishes, Green Beans with Bacon stands out not only for its epic deliciousness (seriously, do not cook this alone – you will be tempted to eat the entire pan!) but short ingredient list and ease of preparation.
All you have to do is:
- Steam: steam fresh green beans until they’re crisp tender.
- Saute: brown bacon in a skillet then saute chopped onions and garlic in the drippings.
- Combine: add the steamed green beans to the onions, garlic, and bacon then toss to combine and serve.
This dish has been a staple at my family’s holiday dinner table for as long as I’ve been alive – my Mom makes it for pretty much every major holiday including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
It’s a staple in the summertime too, when green beans are growing faster than you can pick them!
Ingredients Needed
There’s only a handful of ingredients needed to make green beans with bacon and onion. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Green beans: either loose by the pound, or pre-trimmed green beans in a bag.
- Bacon: thick cut, center cut, or regular cut – whatever you’ve got on hand. You can use pancetta too.
- Onions: or shallots.
- Garlic: freshly minced or pressed.
- Salt and pepper: plenty of each!
Green Beans with Bacon FAQ
I have a personal aversion to the texture of frozen green beans, but if you like them, they will work in this recipe. Follow the instructions for steaming on the bag then add them right into the skillet at the end.
Stick with fresh or frozen green beans for the best texture and flavor (I actually do LOVE canned green beans!)
You will need to brown the bacon anyhow, so I recommend sticking with the steaming + sauting method of cooking this side dish.
Serve with Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon
Step 1: Steam the green beans.
Start by steaming fresh green beans that have been trimmed until crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes. I love my trusty stainless steel steamer basket for the job!
Step 2: Brown the bacon, onions, and garlic.
Meanwhile, add chopped bacon to a large skillet then turn the heat to medium and cook until browned. Scoop the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain then remove all but 2 Tablespoons bacon grease (just eyeball it) from the skillet.
To the bacon grease add a chopped onion or shallot then saute until tender, 4-5 minutes, then add pressed or minced garlic and saute until extremely fragrant, 1 minute.
Your kitchen will smell INCREDIBLE!
Step 3: Combine.
Add the steamed green beans into the skillet then turn the heat up slightly and toss to combine all the ingredients. Cook for a minute or two to soften the green beans a touch further then add the browned bacon and season with plenty of salt and pepper.
That’s all she wrote!
Green beans with bacon leftovers, if you have any, reheat really well in the microwave.
Whether you make Green Beans with Bacon for your next holiday meal, or as an easy side dish with dinner tonight, I hope you love this treasured yet simple family recipe. Enjoy!
More Holiday Side Dish Recipes
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1/2 lb bacon, any kind, chopped
- 1 small yellow onion OR large shallot, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- salt and pepper
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Line a small prep cup with foil then set it aside.
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Add a couple inches of water to a large, deep pot with a lid then place a steamer basket inside. Arrange the green beans inside the basket then place a lid on top, turn the heat to high, and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low then steam the green beans until they’re crisp tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain the beans then set them aside.
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Meanwhile, add the bacon to a large skillet then turn the heat to medium. Cook until the bacon is browned then scoop onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain and set aside. Pour out all but 2 Tablespoons bacon grease (eyeball it) from the skillet into the prepped, foil-lined cup then reserve.
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Add the onions or shallots to the skillet then saute until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic then saute until very fragrant, 1 minute.
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Add the steamed green beans into the skillet then turn the heat up to medium-high and saute for 1-2 minutes, or until the beans are completely tender, adding a drizzle of reserved bacon grease if needed or desired. Add the bacon back into the skillet, season with salt and pepper to taste, then toss to combine and serve.
- If using frozen green beans, follow the instructions for steaming on the bag, then add them directly into the skillet at the end.
- This recipe has been updated from the original to steam the green beans vs saute them in the skillet in bacon grease, which I like better texturally.Â
Calories: 226kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 307mg, Potassium: 311mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 643IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
