You will LOVE these Green Beans with Bacon! This easy side dish recipe has just 3 ingredients, is naturally low-carb, and is ready to eat in 20 minutes!
Green Beans and Bacon Recipe
This easy Green Beans and Bacon recipe is going to be a favorite on busy weeknights and special holidays! It’s the perfect vegetable side for picky eaters, and it barely takes any time at all. You’ll love how easy this green beans with bacon side dish is!
Why you’ll love it:
- Quick & easy – This recipe is ready with very little work in about 20 minutes. It’s not a fussy side dish that requires special ingredients or a ton of seasonings, either.
- Decently healthy – Sure, I know there’s a lot of fat and calories in bacon, but there’s a lot of protein, too! It’s also low-carb, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free. This is a great way to get veggie haters to finish a serving of green beans!
- Goes with everything – This is an easy side dish that can be paired with pretty much any meat or entree! It’s a great go-to veggie side that even a lot of picky eaters can handle.
Ingredients for Green Beans with Bacon
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need. Find the exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Thick-cut bacon – Because this recipe is so simple, I feel like splurging for the thicker-cut bacon is best. Small, meaty bits of bacon perfectly complement the tender, crisp green beans. If you only have thinner bacon, that will be fine–Just watch it and don’t let it burn.
- Fresh green beans – This recipe is best with fresh green beans, not frozen. If you use frozen green beans, there will be too much moisture, and the dish will be soggy.
- Finely minced garlic – It’s important that this is very finely minced because the garlic doesn’t really get cooked at all. The fresh, bold flavor of the raw garlic is perfect with the salty bacon and earthy green beans.
- Salt & pepper to taste
You’ll also need a skillet, a plate lined with paper towels, a slotted spoon, and a stovetop or hot plate for this recipe.
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon
This is an easy recipe that’s great for beginner cooks and busy people! Here’s a step-by-step guide for this delicious side dish.
Crisp bacon
Cut the bacon into small pieces while you heat a skillet to medium. Toss the bacon into the pan, cooking until crisp and browned. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel lined plate.
Cook beans
Pour off all the bacon grease from the skillet EXCEPT about 1 tablespoon. Add the green beans to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until they’ve begun to char and have reached your desired tenderness.
Combine
Once the beans are to your satisfaction, return the bacon to the pan and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic. Toss the coat, then serve immediately.
If you dislike a raw garlic flavor, add the garlic before the bacon and saute for 30-90 seconds until just fragrant. Then add in your salt, pepper, and bacon, and then serve.
Can you cook green beans in the air fryer?
Sure, here’s a great recipe for tender, crispy green beans in the air fryer. Just like in this recipe, you could cook the bacon and green beans separately, then combine right before serving.
What to serve with green beans and bacon
The simplicity of this recipe means it goes great with everything. We love it with Asparagus Stuffed Chicken and a Keto Cheddar Garlic Biscuit for an amazing low-carb meal. For a quick stress-free holiday meal, pair these with an Air Fryer Turkey Breast, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, and Roasted Butternut Squash!
More easy keto sides:
- Garlic Butter Mashed Cauliflower
- Keto Roasted Radishes
- Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli and Cheese Sauce
- Keto Dinner Rolls
Store
This dish should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3-4 days. If you’re prepping ahead of time, you can keep the freshest texture by storing the green beans and bacon separately, then tossing them together in a pan to crisp and warm up when you’re ready to eat.
Reheat
This reheats best in a pan on the stove over medium heat–Simply warm the skillet, toss in the leftovers, and stir occasionally until warmed throughout. You could also reheat on a sheet pan in the oven (350 for 5-10 minutes) or in the air fryer (preferably with a liner so the bacon doesn’t fall to the bottom, 350 for 2-5 minutes).
Do you have to blanch green beans?
No, this recipe does not require you to blanch your green beans. We prefer a crisp texture, and blanching them before sauteing them will lead to much softer green beans. This is also why we prefer to use fresh green beans over frozen or canned.
If you love this easy side, check out these delicious side dish recipes:
- Instant Pot Collard Greens – These greens get perfectly tender from the pressure cooking, and they’re ready quick enough for a weeknight. The bacon adds a salty, crispy boost, too!
- Foil Pack Green Beans – This sesame-soy flavored dish is so simple and perfect. Bonus points: there’s basically no cleanup because you just throw the foil away!
- Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes – I love that this recipe doesn’t take up space on the stovetop during the holidays, and they can stay warm at a potluck dinner!
- Bacon-Wrapped Cabbage – This low-carb recipe only requires 5 ingredients, doesn’t have to be attended to during the cooking time, and is delicious!
- Italian Baked Mushrooms – Simple, super flavorful, and they go with tons of different meals! Leftovers are great tossed with scrambled eggs the next morning, too.
- Planning a special occasion or holiday meal? This list of Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes has a lot of amazing sides that are perfect for your next dinner!
Green Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon
- 12 ounces fresh green beans ends trimmed
- 3 cloves garlic very finely minced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into small pieces and brown over medium heat. When the bacon is crisp, remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Pour off all of the bacon grease except 1 tablespoon. Add the green beans to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally 6-7 minutes until they have begun to char and reached your desired tenderness.
- Add the cooked bacon, garlic, salt, and pepper and toss to coat.