This Bacon Green Beans 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. It is perfect way to dress up a side dish for holidays or special dinners.
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Facts about Green Beans
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.
Why This Green Beans with Bacon Recipe is a Keeper
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 then you have an amazing side.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge and are so good.
- Family Friendly: Even your picker eaters will love this recipe.
If you’re looking for more Bean recipes, try these Italian White Beans, Instant Pot Restaurant Style Refried Beans, and Green Bean almondine.
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Can I use fresh green beans or frozen green beans in place of the can green beans?
Of course, you can use fresh green beans, just clean and trim, cook and blanch. Thaw the frozen green beans for ease of cooking. Green beans are the best side dish to bring color and flavor to your meal, green beans work every time.
Ingredient Notes for Green Beans and Bacon
Skip the traditional green bean casserole, and level up the holiday menu with this super tasty Bacon Green Beans Side Dish. You can make a delicious side that everyone will love.
- Green Beans: Any brand of green beans for this recipe that you and your family enjoy for this delicious and easy green bean recipe. Canned or frozen green beans make it easy.
- Crispy Bacon: Cook the bacon fresh or use a refrigerated cooked bacon, bacon bits are not great for this recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Bacon Green Beans Side Dish such as Air Fryer Green Beans or Slow Cooker Beans
You can add onions that you saute in the bacon fat. There is so much more flavor that the classic green bean casserole. I saw a version on the food network and had to tweak it to make my own special version of this dish.
- 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. You can roast the beans in the air fryer for even more flavor. Roasted green beans recipe is a wonderful delicious side.
- Seasoning: Season with salt and pepper, just add to green beans then toss.
How to Make Green Beans in Bacon
This recipe is perfect for holidays when you just want something a little extra special. It is such a great and easy addition for Christmas dinner.
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These are the basic steps for making bacon and green beans casserole. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
STEP 1: Prep and Cook Bacon in a Large Skillet
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then chop the bacon into ½ inch pieces, and add bacon and cook in skillet over medium heat in a skillet until done. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon.
STEP 2: Cook Green Beans and Toss to Coat
Next, melt the butter. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, and seasonings. Then add the green beans to a large bowl, and pour the mixture over the green beans and toss well.
STEP 3: Add the Chopped Bacon and add Green Beans to the Casserole Dish
Next, return the bacon, reserving a little to sprinkle on the top. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, and toss to coat and add the bacon over the top of this delicious recipe.
STEP 4: Bake Green Bean Casserole
Finally, bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and serve warm.
Recipe FAQs for this Easy and Delicious Side Dish
Expert Tips for Making This Easy Green Bean Recipe
Save the bacon grease and pan drippings for adding flavor to this dish or others, you can add the onions to it to amp up the flavor or add the beans and saute them. There are so many variations. Excess bacon grease is wonderful addition to meals. Veggies that you cook in the bacon fat are amazing, people will come back for seconds and maybe thirds.
- Acid: A squeeze of lemon juice adds a freshness to this easy side dish or try to toast a few sliced almonds for the top.
- Add Pancetta: Replace the bacon with pancetta. It makes a wonderful substitution.
- 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. Add garlic or shallots to the recipe for green beans. 1 tablespoon of garlic make everything better.
What to Serve with Bacon Green Beans
Bacon Green Beans
Ingredients
- 43.5 ounces French style green beans, 3 cans
- 8 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped
- ¼ cup Unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Chop the bacon into ½ inch pieces, and cook over medium heat in a small skillet until done. Drain grease.
- Melt the butter. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, and seasonings.
- Add the green beans to a large bowl, and pour the mixture over the green beans. Toss well.
- Fold in the chopped bacon, reserving a little to sprinkle on the top.
- Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, and sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and serve warm.
Expert Tips
- Acid: A squeeze of lemon juice adds a freshness to this easy side dish or try to toast a few sliced almonds for the top.
- Add Pancetta: Replace the bacon with pancetta. It makes a wonderful substitution.
- 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. Add garlic or shallots to the recipe for green beans. 1 tablespoon of garlic make everything better.
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!