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 sizzling bacon and onions 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.
Add some green beans and garlic and that pretty much sums up 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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Pin ItIngredients Needed
Like I said, all you need are a handful of ingredients 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!
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 ease of preparation. All you need to do is:
- Steam: fresh green beans until they’re crisp tender.
- Saute: bacon in a skillet then saute chopped onions and garlic in the drippings.
- Combine: the steamed green beans with 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!
Serve with Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon
Step 1: Steam the green beans.
Start by steaming trimmed fresh green beans until crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes. I love my trusty stainless steel steamer basket for the job!
Can I use frozen or canned green beans?
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. I do not recommend canned green beans for this recipe.
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. Add pressed or minced garlic then saute until extremely fragrant, 1 minute.
Your kitchen will smell INCREDIBLE!
Can this be made in the crock pot?
You will need to brown the bacon anyhow, so I recommend sticking with the steaming + sauting method of cooking this side dish.
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!
Leftovers of green beans with bacon reheat really well in the microwave, just a heads up!
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
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes
- Wild Rice Stuffing
- Gluten Free Biscuits
- Party Potatoes Deluxe
- Gluten Free Focaccia
- Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
Directions
- Line a small prep cup with foil then set it aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Great recipe, loved adding layers of flavor, then adding green beans, easier to adjust the salt. Loved the way you steamed the green beans, it was much easier, and they came out perfect. I like just a little bite to them.
Yes, same! So glad you loved these, Cindy! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Sorry, but 5-7 minutes is not nearly enough time for the green beans.
It is for me, Tammy. If you prefer very soft beans, then please by all means steam them for longer.
This is always how my Iowa (Indiana-born) grandmother made hers, and it’s the only way to make green beans, IMHO. This will be our whole meal in the summer when green bean harvest is at its peak!
Totally agree – so easy, and SO delicious!! Thanks Deb!
OMG! Yummy!!!
I hope you get a chance to try them, Jackie!
I love this recipe and have tried it many times as is. What I’m thinking though is after taking out the green beans, sauteing some mushrooms till brown and then adding in some heavy cream till reduced a bit. Any maybe then blending that mixture and pouring it over the beans and topping with fried onions. A la tradition Thanksgiving green bean casserole. Any thoughts???
omg, YES! Sounds so delicious, Karin!
Stirred into some sauteed bacon with a little liquid is the only way my mom ever served green beans. I lean toward your treatment. I add sliced onion and almonds to the pan and add the beans after the almonds toast a bit.
I do that every year for the holidays, but omitting the fried onions (because everyone in my family likes it better without). Consider adding a touch of nutmeg with the cream. Easy peasy!
Sounds delicious, Deb!!
That sounds so delicious, Dan!
Ohmagosh, Kris! It is now August and I picked up some foot long green beans from our self service farmer’s market. I have some peppered bacon in the freezer. I am telling you now instead of after I fix this recipe…because I don’t know how to spell when I’m chewing with my mouth full of deliciousness…it’s a brain focus thing.. Thank your mom and YOU for always making my table look and taste AWESOME!!!
Hugs,
Jan Coffman
LOVE that this was such a hit, Jan!! Can’t beat those big August beans!
so good! Thanks Kristen
Just made this. YUM-O. Great recipe.
Congratulation on having your picture and recipe featured in Seasons magazine. It was like seeing a picture of friend. I have enjoy your blog and check it first things on MW and F. Watching Lincoln grow is a real treat since my grandchildren are teenagers. Looking forward to another year of your wonderful recipes.
I love how your grocery store displays the veggies–they look like mountains!
This looks so easy + delicious + pretty! Must try!
I love Green Beans! Thanks for sharing this 15-Minute Green Beans and Bacon recipe. I will try this recipe tonight.