This Green Beans with Bacon and Onion recipe is one of the best ways to get your picky eaters to devour their vegetables. It’s sweet and salty and loaded with bacon. What’s not to love?!
Bacon makes everything better, that is why this recipe is irresistible.
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The Green Beans with Bacon and Onions side dish is perfect for dinner parties, holiday spreads, or Sunday night supper. It truly makes every meal better. Just the aroma of the bacon and onions cooking gets everyone excited for dinner.
The dish can be made with fresh green beans ( a personal favorite) canned green beans or even frozen beans. Green beans are packed full of healthy nutrients.
If you’re looking for more Bean recipes, try these Italian White Beans, Instant Pot Restaurant Style Refried Beans, and Grandma’s Molasses Baked Beans.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
Why We Love This Greens Beans with Bacon and Onion Recipe
When it comes to making side dishes the more flavor that you can impart to your vegetables the better. And let’s face it, two of the best flavors you can give to any vegetable but especially fresh green beans bacon, and onions!
- 30-Minute Side: Just a little prep and they cook in 20 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge and are so good.
- Family Friendly: Even your picker eaters will love this recipe.
- Adaptable: Can make it low-carb, meat-free, dairy-free, etc…
Ingredient Notes for this Fresh Green Bean Side Dish
- Fresh Green Beans: These are best but use canned green beans or frozen green beans for the dish.
- Bacon: Feel free to use any flavor that you like or even fake bacon for vegetarians. Thick bacon is the best.
- Onion: Dice one small onion for this green bean recipe.
- Brown Sugar: A little hint of sweetness enhances the green beans.
- All Purpose Seasoning: This blend has salt, black pepper, and garlic all included.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Southern Style Green Beans
It is easy to adjust this recipe to the taste of your family by tweaking the seasonings or adding more of their favorite. That is what makes it the perfect side dish that taste amazing.
- Ingredient variation: Try topping with Crispy Fried Onion Pieces. They add a little more flavor and crunchy to the finished dish.
- Other Veggies: Try adding a little red bell pepper or mushrooms to the dish.
- Slow Cooker: You can cook the bacon on the stovetop and transfer the drippings in skillet to the slow cooker, cook the onions and then add the green beans. Cook low and slow until ready to serve.
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon Recipe
Whether making it for your holiday table or for a busy weeknight meal, this green bean and bacon recipe is sure to please.
These are the basic steps for making this green bean casserole . Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions and nutrition facts.
Step 1: Cook Green Beans and Blanch
First, if you are making the dish with fresh green beans then you will have to blanch the beans in boiling water for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain the vegetable, then place beans in a large bowl and cover with water (a bowl of ice water) and set aside.
Step 2: Crispy Bacon
Then in a large skillet or cast iron frying pan, cook until bacon is crisp. Next remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Then crumble into pieces.
Step 3: Diced Onions
Next, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in the bottom of the pan. Sauté onion in bacon drippings over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Cook and stir often until the onions are translucent. Then stir in the brown sugar, all-purpose seasoning, and the blanched green beans.
Step 4: Cook Green Beans
Lastly, add the drained green beans and cook green beans for an additional five minutes until the beans are glazed. Finally, add the bacon and onions. Stirring occasionally. Serve with the crumbled bacon on top of the sauteed green beans. Add additional salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning.
Recipe FAQs for this Beans with Bacon and Caramelized Onions
Expert Tips for Making This Vegetable Side Dish with Green Beans Recipe
- Easy Side Dish: Cook green beans in advance to save time later. Use a slotted spoon to remove from the water then store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Add Pancetta: Replace the bacon with pancetta. It makes a wonderful substitution.
- Short-cut tip: Cook bacon in advance and crumble and store in an airtight container.
- Cheese: Top with some freshly shaved parmesan cheese after putting in a serving bowl.
- Seasoning: This great side dish can be spiced up with garlic powder, red pepper flake or other seasonings.
What to Serve with Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Fresh green beans
- 3 slices Bacon
- 1 Small onion, chopped
- 3 tablespoons Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- Blanch green beans in boiling water for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender.
- Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp.
- Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.
- Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in skillet.
- Saute onion in bacon drippings over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until tender.
- Stir in brown sugar, pepper and blanched green beans.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until beans are glazed and heated through.
- Serve with crumbled bacon on top.
Expert Tips
- Easy Side Dish: Cook green beans in advance to save time later. Use a slotted spoon to remove from the water then store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Add Pancetta: Replace the bacon with pancetta. It makes a wonderful substitution.
- Short-cut tip: Cook bacon in advance and crumble and store in an airtight container.
- Cheese: Top with some freshly shaved parmesan cheese after putting in a serving bowl.
- Seasoning: This great side dish can be spiced up with garlic powder, red pepper flake or other seasonings.
Such an easy way to elevate our green beans – love the bit of sweet with salty.
Fabulous! A simple upgrade to a traditional side thatmakey it next-level delicious. Love these green beans!