This 4 ingredient Green Beans with Bacon and Onion is the easiest side dish that's full of so much flavor! Fresh green beans are boiled then sautéed in rich bacon fat with onion until tender and delicious. Made in just 20 minutes with minimal tools, these green beans are perfect for a weeknight meal or holiday occasion.
When it comes to side dishes, I'm all about making them super simple to make but still vibrant with flavor. This Green Beans with Bacon and Onion satisfies all of my vegetable cravings with the decadent richness of bacon in each bite. The onions add a sweet and caramelized jammy-like quality to the recipe, making it pretty addicting.
This easy side dish is inspired by the old fashioned green beans and bacon my family has made for generations. My recipe just happens to be a modernized version. With just 20 minutes and 2 pans, there's no reason you can't have this vegetable side dish on the table tonight!
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I'm sharing my best tips of how to cook green beans like a pro, so they are tender and crisp, rather than soggy and mushy. The best cooking method is called blanching. This is where you boil the beans until they are just tender then place them into ice water to stop the cooking immediately.
The beans then finish cooking on the stovetop in the bacon fat for a mouthwatering flavor. Now you could also roast the green beans or even microwave them in a store-bought package if you're in a pinch for time. This side dish is so versatile which is why my family requests it over and over!
If you love veggie dishes you should also try my gremolata green beans, garlic broccoli and mushrooms, and green bean salad.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
- 4 ingredient side dish. With just a handful (literally!) of ingredients, this vegetable dish is ideal to add to any meal.
- Great for picky eaters. Even the pickiest veggie eaters will want to eat this when they realize it has bacon!
- Customize with spices and herbs. Add new flavors to change up the tastes! Smoked paprika, chili flakes (for spice!), lemon zest, and fresh thyme would all be delicious.
- Minimal cleanup and prep time. With just 20 minutes and 2 pots, this recipe is made quickly and efficiently. You can also prepare it in the oven if that's easier depending on the main course recipe.
Chef's Tip: In this recipe, we're teaching you all about blanching vegetables. This method in involves boiling the veggies until they are the correct texture, then placing them in ice water. It creates perfectly cooked vegetables every single time.
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Fresh Green Beans: The flavor and texture of a crisp but tender green bean is the ultimate pairing with bacon fat. For a shortcut, buy pre-trimmed green beans at the store.
- Bacon: Regular thickness here is fine.
- Yellow Sweet Onion: Adds a hint of caramelization and natural veggie sweetness to the recipe. Shallot would also be delicious too.
- Salted Butter: Gives a hint of seasoning and rounds out all of the flavors for the best bite.
Tools You'll Need
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook green beans for 3-4 minutes or until tender but crisp.
- Drain beans in a colander, then place in an ice water bath. Drain again in a colander. Pat dry, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it's crispy. Remove from the skillet to a paper towel lined plate. Carefully pour all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in a small bowl.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet. Cook until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir butter into the onions. Add the drained green beans, and toss with the onions. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Sauté for 1 minute.
- Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the cooked bacon.
Tips and Variations
- Set up an ice bath in advance. When you are blanching the beans, be sure to set the ice bath up in advance. This is crucial to stopping the cooking of the green beans after boiling to achieve the perfect texture.
- Try roasting the green beans. If you would prefer to use the oven, that works well too! roast the green beans in some of the bacon fat, 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes until just tender.
- Air fry the green beans. This is another alternative cooking method. Simply cook at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes, checking every so often and shaking the beans frequently for easy cooking.
- Add a spice mix. Sprinkle with my homemade ranch seasoning or cajun seasoning for a new flair.
- Try with other vegetables. This recipe would also be so delicious with Brussels sprouts or broccoli.
Storing Leftovers
Any leftover green beans in bacon are stored best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop over medium low heat until just warmed through, about 5 minutes.
You can freeze the leftovers as well, just be aware that the texture of the green beans may become a bit mushy after being reheated. It can be frozen for up to 2 months.
What to Serve with Green Beans in Bacon
The beauty of this simple side dish is that it really is good anytime of the year and with almost any main course recipe. Our favorites to serve it with are Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing, Alice Springs Chicken, Beef Tips and Gravy, and Creamy Garlic Pork Chops.
Of course you can't just have one side dish either. Some of our other favorites to pair with these green beans are House Salad, Ranch Potatoes, and 3 Ingredient Rice!
More Easy Vegetable Dishes
FAQs
Yes! You'll want to cook the bacon first to get it crispy and to also be able to cook the beans in the delicious bacon fat.
Try adding in delicious spices or fresh citrus like lemon zest. All of these flavors can make them so delicious.
Yes, this is another great method if you would prefer a hands-off recipe. Roasting the beans is also so delicious and adds a slight caramelized flavor.
Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans cleaned and trimmed
- 4 slices bacon
- ½ cup chopped sweet onion
- ½ tablespoon salted butter
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook green beans for 3-4 minutes or until tender but crisp.
- Drain beans in a colander, then place in an ice water bath. Drain again in a colander. Pat dry, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it's crispy. Remove from the skillet to a paper towel lined plate. Carefully pour all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in a small bowl.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet. Cook until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir butter into the onions. Add the drained green beans, and toss with the onions. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Sauté for 1 minute.
- Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the cooked bacon.
Video
Notes
- Set up an ice bath in advance. When you are blanching the beans, be sure to set the ice bath up in advance. This is crucial to stopping the cooking of the green beans after boiling to achieve the perfect texture.
- Try roasting the green beans. If you would prefer to use the oven, that works well too! roast the green beans in some of the bacon fat, 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes until just tender.
- Air fry the green beans. This is another alternative cooking method. Simply cook at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes, checking every so often and shaking the beans frequently for easy cooking.
- Add a spice mix. Sprinkle with my homemade ranch seasoning or cajun seasoning for a new flair.
- Try with other vegetables. This recipe would also be so delicious with Brussels sprouts or broccoli.
Jessica
These beans were so easy to make my family loved them!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so much!!
Kathy K.
Yummy--I want to make this. When do I add the butter? With the onion?
Laura Ashley
Stir butter into the cooked onions. I apologize, that note was missing 🙂 Thank you for flagging it for me!