Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon

Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon is an easy side dish that’s perfect for any weeknight meal or holiday menu. Using only 4-ingredients- butter, fresh green beans, sautéed onions, and crisp salty bacon.

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I can’t remember the first time I started to like green beans but there was a chunk of my childhood where I would turn my nose up whenever my mom served them with dinner. Every time she would say “you have to take at least one bite”. I did of course, because otherwise I couldn’t leave the table. Green beans are probably number 2 when it comes to my favorite veggie now, so moms and dads keep trying!

It doesn’t get any better than a pan of tender buttery green beans with crispy bacon and onions. I mean, the smell alone while these ingredients sauté in the skillet is heaven! This recipe is quick and easy, it’s beautiful to look at, and totally irresistible once you take your first bite.

Ingredients For Sautéed Green Beans And Bacon:

• Bacon
• Red onion
• Butter
• Fresh green beans
• Salt and pepper

Tips for choosing the best green beans:

Depending on the time of year you may be able to find Haricot verts. This French green bean is ideal for sautéing because it’s thin and comes out perfectly tender. Otherwise a standard fresh String bean from your local grocery store will work just fine. You’ll want to choose thinner size beans as they tend to be less tough after they’re cooked. Also look for darker colored beans. These will stay more vibrant after they are cooked than ones chosen with a lighter skin.

Can I use canned green beans?

Yes! Some people don’t like the texture of fresh green beans. See the recipe notes for using canned green beans in place of fresh.

What type of bacon should I use?

I prefer a leaner, good quality bacon that has a lot of meat. If you have a hard time finding ones with more meat and less fat, you can cut away some of the fat. I also choose thinner bacon as it comes out crispier than a thicker cut.

Step by Step How To Make Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon:

Step 1. Heat a large pan with fitted lid over medium heat. Cook bacon just under the crispy stage. Add red onions and sauté with the bacon until the bacon is crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.

Step 2. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the pan and add butter. When butter is melted add green beans. Toss to coat and season with a little salt and pepper. Place the lid on and cook green beans 12-15 minutes tossing occasionally. You may need to adjust the heat so it doesn’t get too hot.

Step 3. Once green beans are tender to your liking add the bacon and onions back to the pan and toss everything together. Taste for seasonings and serve warm.

Can I make Ahead Sautéed Green Beans?

Freshly sautéed green beans are best eaten shortly after they are made. The texture changes if they have sat in the refrigerator for any length of time and then reheated.

What Can I Do with my leftover sautéed green beans?

If you have leftovers use in soups, stews, or casseroles. This will infuse great flavor and with the additional cooking time, the beans will be just the right texture for these other recipes.

Other Side Dishes You Might Enjoy:

• Spicy Green Beans and Chard
• Homemade Stove Top Stuffing
• Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf
• Green Bean and Wild Rice Casserole

Let’s eat!

Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon

The Menu Maid

Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon is an easy side dish that's perfect for any weeknight meal or holiday menu. Using only 4-ingredients- butter, fresh green beans, sautéed onions, and crisp salty bacon.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 5 servings

Calories 154 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 5 slices of thin lean bacon, cut in small pieces
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced small
• 1 tbsp reserved bacon fat
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 lb fresh French green beans or string beans, ends trimmed see notes if using canned beans
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Heat a large pan with fitted lid over medium heat. Cook bacon just under the crispy stage. Add red onions and sauté with the bacon until the bacon becomes crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.
• Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan and add butter. When butter is melted add green beans. Toss to coat and season with a little salt and pepper. Place the lid on and cook green beans 12-15 minutes tossing occasionally. You may need to adjust the heat so it doesn’t get too hot.
• Once green beans are tender to your liking add the bacon and onions back to the pan and toss everything together. Taste for seasonings and serve warm.

Notes

Tips:

Using canned green beans- For this recipe drain 3 cans of green beans. Cook bacon and onions per the instructions and remove from the pan. Add butter to the 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and add green beans. Turn the heat down to low and gently toss the beans and heat through, about 2-3 minutes. Follow the rest of the instructions and serve warm.

Choosing the best fresh green beans- Depending on the time of the year you may be able to find Haricot verts. This French green bean is ideal for sautéing because it’s thin and comes out perfectly tender. Otherwise a standard fresh String bean from your local grocery store will work just fine. You’ll want to choose thinner size beans as they tend to be less tough after they’re cooked. Also look for darker colored beans. These will stay more vibrant after they are cooked than ones chosen with a lighter skin.

The best bacon for this recipe- Choose a good quality bacon that has a lot of meat. If you have a hard time finding ones with more meat and less fat, you can always cut away some of the fat. I also look for a thinner cut of bacon so it’s more crispy.

Using leftover green beans- If you have leftovers dice in small pieces and add to soups, stews, or casseroles for great flavor.

 

Note: This recipe could easily serve up to 6 people with other side options. 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories	154
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10.4g	13%
Saturated Fat 4.1g	20%
Cholesterol 27mg	9%
Sodium 461mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 7.3g	3%
Dietary Fiber 3.2g	11%
Total Sugars 1.5g
Protein 8.8g
Vitamin D 2mcg	8%
Calcium 38mg	3%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 306mg	7%

Keyword Bacon, Butter, Easy side dish, green beans, Holiday side dish, Red onion, Sauteed green beans, Sting beans

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