Easy Green Beans with Bacon

Green beans with bacon are one of those simple, comforting side dishes that somehow always steal the spotlight. Growing up, any veggie instantly became more exciting the moment bacon showed up — and honestly, nothing has changed.

This stovetop green beans recipe gives you crisp-tender green beans, perfectly cooked bacon, and a buttery, savory finish that tastes like it came from a steakhouse, but it’s ready in just 20 minutes.

Whether you’re prepping for a holiday dinner or pulling together a quick weeknight meal, these skillet green beans with bacon deliver big flavor with hardly any work.

Easy Green Bean Recipe

I grew up on green beans — but they didn’t start out green, our green beans were purple! They were slightly sweeter than regular green beans, but otherwise tasted the same and would turn green after cooking.

Purple beans make me think of home and gardening every summer with my family. We worked long hours in that garden, but never as long as our mom, who is superwoman. Our hands would turn purple from picking and canning beans during the summer and we would have to scrub and scrub when we were done. Isn’t it funny how something you hated as a kid somehow becomes something you miss?

read more: Looking for easy sides? Try our Classic Baked Beans with Bacon next!

Why You’ll Love These Bacon Green Beans

• Quick: Side dishes should be quick and simple and this dish is ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Flavorful: It’s impossible for something to be bland when bacon is involved! Plus, add the garlic seasoning and this dish is bold in flavor!
• One-Skillet: Cleanup is a breeze and all the flavor is contained in one dish.
• Holiday-Friendly: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter…this dish works for them all! It’s a regular on our Sunday dinner table as well!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this simple green bean recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Fresh Green Beans: Add crisp texture and natural sweetness and they hold up well to sautéing without getting mushy.
• Olive Oil: Prevents sticking, helps beans sauté evenly and adds light, savory flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and a silky coating and it helps seasonings stick to the beans.
• Garlic Spread Seasoning: Quick way to add garlic and herb flavor without chopping garlic cloves.
• Brown Sugar: Balances the salty bacon and seasoning and lightly caramelizes the beans for extra flavor.
• Bacon: Adds smoky, salty crunch and the bacon drippings flavor the beans as they cook.

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

1. Cook the Green Beans: Place your trimmed green beans in a pot of boiling water. Let the green beans boil until they are bright green and tender.
   • PRO TIP: It’s important to let the water boil first as beans put in too early will have to cook for longer and you’ll end up with a mushy, brown bean.
2. Blanch: Use a stainless steel spider strainer (this is our favorite) to lift the green beans out of the pot and straight into an ice bath.
3. Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate. Once cool enough to handle, crumble into small pieces.
4. Combine: Add the green beans to the same pan you cooked the bacon in. Add a little oil and butter as well and sauté until hot and flavorful, then garnish with the bacon crumbles and serve!

How to Prepare Fresh Green Beans

If you are using fresh beans, then you will want to snap the ends off, making sure that you pull the attached “string” off with the stem (you will notice a fibrous string along the side that will come off when you try to “snap” the stem off. It’s similar to celery strings).

You can leave green beans long, but I actually prefer to snap ours once or twice because they are easier to eat.

How Long to Boil Fresh Green Beans?

For this simple green bean recipe, cook the fresh green beans in boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Then, drain the beans and immediately submerge them in an ice bath to prevent them from cooking further. You’ll end up with bright green crispy-tender green beans.

Green Beans FAQs

What to Serve with Fresh Green Beans with Bacon

I mentioned earlier that these green beans are perfect for holidays or just a simple side dish for a weeknight meal. Here are some ideas for main dishes to serve with it:

• Prime Rib Roast
• Roasted Chicken
• Brown Sugar Ham
• Classic Meatloaf
• Smoked Brisket

Storing and Reheating

Green beans with bacon should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep for up to 5 days. I prefer to reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop so that the bacon crisps back up.

I hope these green beans with bacon find their way to your table and become one of those recipes your family asks for again and again. It’s simple food, but sometimes those are the dishes that end up being everyone’s favorite. Whether it’s and easy holiday side dish or for a quiet weeknight at home, these green beans add a little comfort, a little nostalgia, and a whole lot of flavor.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes:

• The Best Mashed Potatoes
• Sheet Pan Potatoes, Green Beans, & Carrots
• How to Make Oven Baked Potatoes
• Cheesy Potato Casserole
• Lemon Roasted Broccoli
• All of our side dish recipes!