These bacon green beans are an easy and delicious side dish. In this recipe, onions and garlic are gently sautéed in butter, then fresh green beans and crispy bacon are added and cooked with a little beef broth until tender. This dish is special enough for a holiday table yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
What’s great about this recipe
- These green beans are full of flavor: The blend of onions, garlic and crispy bacon adds a deep, smoky flavor to the green beans.
- Quick and easy: With straightforward steps and minimal prep time, this side dish is easy to put together even on busy nights.
- Versatile side dish: These prepared green beans complement a variety of main dishes. Try them with our chicken with cream of mushroom soup or these simple French onion pork chops.
Ingredients
- Bacon – Regular cut bacon works best. Thin sliced bacon won’t give us hearty pieces, and thick sliced may be too chewy.
- Produce – Fresh green beans are best because they stay snappy and have a vibrant green color. Onions (yellow or white) and garlic add plenty of flavor.
- Spices – We keep it simple with salt and black pepper.
- Broth – We use beef broth because it gives the dish a rich flavor. But chicken or vegetable broth will work too.
- Butter – Use regular or unsalted. See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
- See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
Cook the bacon until crispy
Here are three cooking methods to choose from:
- Oven: Preheat to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange bacon without overlapping. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until crispy.
- Microwave: Line a microwave-safe plate with 2 (good quality) paper towels. Arrange bacon slices on the plate and cover with 2 more paper towels. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes, then check. Continue in 1–2-minute intervals until crispy. Be careful; the plate will be very hot!
- Skillet/Stovetop: Arrange bacon in a skillet without overlapping. Cook on medium heat, turning occasionally, until crispy.
When the bacon is cool enough to handle, crumble or chop it.
How to make bacon green beans
- Melt the butter in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted and foamy, add the onions. Cook them gently for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the green beans, bacon, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Raise the heat to high and bring the broth to a boil. Immediately lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Keep the broth at a simmer, raise or lower the heat as needed.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes until the green beans reach the desired tenderness.
- Taste and add salt, if needed. As a reference we did not add extra to ours.
Storing Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To freeze, let them cool, then place them in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months. However, freezing is not recommended because the green beans can become mushy.
For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips
- Use low sodium bacon, low sodium beef broth and unsalted butter if you are sensitive to salt. Adjust the salt at the end, if needed.
- It’s best to use fresh green beans in this recipe. In a pinch, use frozen green beans. Thaw them in the refrigerator, drain well, and pat dry with a paper or kitchen towel.
- The cooking time will depend on how tender you like your green beans. If you like them snappy, cook them less. For tender green beans, cook them a little longer. Keep in mind that the residual heat in the skillet will continue cooking the green beans even after you remove them from the burner.
- This recipe is made on the stovetop, saving precious oven space when making a large holiday meal. Cook the bacon a day ahead of time if you like making it in the oven. Chop it up and place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Quick side dishes are a plus when you are preparing a holiday meal or on busy weeknights. If you like this recipe, check out more of our tasty side dishes.
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📖 Recipe
Bacon Green Beans
These bacon green beans are an easy and delicious side dish. In this recipe, onions, and garlic are gently sautéed in butter, then fresh green beans and crispy bacon are added and cooked with a little beef broth until tender.
Ingredients
- 6 Bacon Strips Cooked Crispy crumbled or chopped
- 12 ounces Fresh Green Beans washed, ends trimmed and cut into 1 - 1½ inch pieces
- ½ Small Onion finely diced
- 1 Garlic Clove minced
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- ½ cup Beef Broth
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy (see post for instructions using the oven, microwave, or skillet if needed).
- When the bacon is cool enough to handle, crumble or chop it and reserve for later.
- Melt the butter in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted and foamy, add the onions. Cook them gently for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the green beans, cooked bacon, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Raise the heat to high and bring the broth to a boil. Immediately lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Keep the broth at a simmer, raise or lower the heat as needed.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes until the green beans are tender. The cooking time will depend on how tender you like your green beans. Keep in mind that the residual heat in the pan will continue cooking the green beans even after you remove them from the burner.
- Taste the bacon green beans and add salt, if needed. As a reference we did not add any extra to ours.
Notes
Use low sodium bacon, low sodium beef broth and unsalted butter if you are sensitive to salt. Adjust the salt at the end, if needed.
It’s best to use fresh green beans in this recipe. In a pinch, use frozen green beans. Thaw them, drain well, and pat dry with a paper or kitchen towel.
Nutrition
Calories: 142kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 6gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 509mgPotassium: 282mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 767IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Karen
I made this green beans and bacon with frozen (cooked)
French cut greens and it turned out delicious, will make it this way again
Elizabeth
Hi Karen,
I love French cut green beans! Happy you enjoyed them, thanks for stopping by.