Delicious green beans with bacon and garlic are a perfect vegetable side dish.
These green beans have tons of flavor and are easy to make. They can be ready in no time at all with my make-ahead tips!
Tasty side dish
You just can't go wrong with fresh green beans. Green beans are crisp with a lot of flavor on their own, but add a little garlic and bacon and you have an amazing side dish!
These green beans are made by first blanching the beans and then quickly sauteing them in a hot skillet.
I love blanching the beans first because blanching green beans really brings out that vibrant color and crispness of the bean.
Plus, you can easily blanch the beans ahead of time, refrigerate them and then pull them out for a quick saute just before dinner.
I love doing this make-ahead method during the holidays or when I know we will have limited time to get dinner on the table.
Key ingredients
Ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Green beans - select firm, fresh green beans. This recipe can also be made with frozen green beans. Just add the beans frozen right to the skillet.
- Bacon - adds so much flavor and saltiness. Cut your bacon into small pieces and cook until crispy. You'll use a bit of the bacon grease to saute your green beans - talk about extra flavor!
- Garlic - this recipe just uses one clove of garlic. However, you can add extra if you're a garlic lover!
- Salt - use coarse salt like kosher salt or flaked sea salt. You really want the crystals of salt to remain on the green beans.
Step by step directions
How to make it
In this section I share step by step photos, cooking methods, techniques and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- Wash and trim your beans
- Blanch beans for 3-4 minutes and then cool beans in ice water. Check out a full tutorial for blanching green beans if you want to know more!
- Drain beans
- While beans are cooking, cook bacon in a large saute pan until crispy
- Remove bacon and grease, reserving about a tablespoon of the bacon grease in the pan
- Add beans to the pan and cook over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes
- Stir beans and then add garlic to the center of the pan
- Add bacon
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt
- Serve hot
Recipe tips
- Once you add the beans to the hot pan, don't stir for the first minute. You want that delicious searing to happen and the beans become just slightly browned.
- Don't overcook your beans or they will lose that vibrant color and crispness
- Add additional garlic if you like a stronger garlic flavor
Make ahead instructions
Preparing parts of this recipe ahead of time saves time later and frees up stove top burners. For holiday dinners or busy weeknights, I like to have as much done as possible ahead of time.
- Blanch your beans ahead of time. Once cool, drain and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- You can also cook your bacon ahead of time if you'd like. Be certain to save a tablespoon of bacon grease to cook with your beans. Or you can use a tablespoon of olive oil.
- Saute beans as directed
To make with frozen beans
You can use frozen green beans in this recipe. Don't thaw, just add directly to the hot pan. You may need to increase the cooking time by 1-2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Blanching brings out the bright color while keeping the crispness of the beans. You can saute the beans without blanching, but the color won't be as bright.
Cover and refrigerate any leftover beans and use them within 3-4 days.
More delicious side dishes
Serving suggestions
These green beans are delicious with just about any main dish. Some favorites include
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious vegetable side dishes!
Green Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans
- 1 tablespoon salt (for blanching)
- 3-4 slices bacon
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 pinch coarse salt
Instructions
- Wash and trim your beans1 pound green beans
- Blanch beans in boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes and then cool beans in ice water1 tablespoon salt
- Drain beans
- While beans are blanching, cook bacon in a large saute pan until crispy3-4 slices bacon
- Remove bacon and grease, reserving about a tablespoon of the bacon grease in the pan
- Add beans to pan and cook over medium high heat for about 2 minutes
- Stir beans and then add garlic to the center of the pan and cook for about 30 seconds1 clove garlic
- Add bacon and cook for another 30 seconds
- Taste a bean to make certain it is fully heated through. If needed, cook for an additional minute.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt1 pinch coarse salt
- Serve hot
Notes
- Once you add the beans to the hot pan, don't stir for the first minute. You want that delicious searing to happen and the beans become just slightly browned.
- Don't overcook your beans or they will lose that vibrant color and crispness
- Add additional garlic if you like a stronger garlic flavor
- Blanch your beans ahead of time. Once cool, drain and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- You can also cook your bacon ahead of time if you'd like. Be certain to save a tablespoon of bacon grease to cook with your beans. Or you can use a tablespoon of olive oil.
- Saute beans as directed
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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