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