Prepared on the stovetop with tasty spices and pan-fried bacon, these seasoned fresh green beans with bacon are a great side dish infused with so much flavor. They’re right at home alongside roasted turkey or ham for a holiday meal, but are quick enough to make for any weeknight dinner! {Gluten-free, low carb and keto-friendly}
Easy Seasoned Green Beans with Bacon
Cooking fresh green beans with bacon is a surefire way to get your family to eat more veggies! If you want crisp beans with a bright green color (not dull or mushy ones), you’ll love this super easy recipe.
You start by sauteing the green beans in bacon grease, then steam them quickly. No blanching or ice bath required! Then toss with the seasoning and crispy bacon. They’re truly the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, and are delicious to boot!
For more healthy green bean recipes, be sure to try out my Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds and Green Beans with Red Peppers!
Why We Love This Sauteed Green Beans and Bacon Recipe
- So much flavor thanks to the bacon
- Way less mess and requires only one pan
- Easy side dish ready in about 20 minutes
- Formulated by a Registered Dietitian to be nutritious, yet flavorful
- Serve for formal occasions or a weeknight meal
- No fuss, no stress
- Classic side dish for any holiday menu
- Easy way to incorporate some extra veggies
Ingredient Notes
- Bacon: Bacon provides a boost of flavor to the tender green beans and a delightful crunch. Use reduced-sodium and leaner bacon for a healthier option. Turkey bacon can also be used if preferred.
- Green beans: Rich in fiber and vitamins A, C and K, green beans are the star of the show! Look for French green beans or long slender green beans at your grocery store or local farmer’s market. Fresh green beans that are free of spots and blemishes are best.
- Seasonings: I use a blend of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and black pepper. You can also sub in minced fresh garlic cloves for the garlic powder if preferred.
Instructions
- First, cook the bacon pieces over medium high heat in a large skillet until crispy. Set aside on a plate until needed.
- Meanwhile, mix the spices together in a small bowl.
- Place beans in the same skillet used to cook the bacon. Sprinkle with some of the seasoning mixture. Saute green beans for about 5 minutes, carefully stirring occasionally.
- Add in 1/2 cup of water and saute for one minute more.
- Remove the green beans from heat, cover and let stand for 2-3 minutes or until tender crisp.
- Next, drain water from the pan, sprinkle on the rest of the seasoning mix and stir in the bacon. Season to taste with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Serve warm.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable green bean recipe!
Tips for Making the Best Green Beans
- I prefer using French green beans (the slender beans, also known as Haricot Verts) for this recipe over regular green beans, as I find they’re more tender, and less tough and stringy.
- Pick green beans that don’t have any spots, or wrinkles and avoid ones that are starting to get mushy.
- Prepare the beans by washing them and trimming the ends on a cutting board. You can do this in advance to save time.
- Don’t overcook the beans by boiling them or you’ll wind up with dull and mushy beans. Instead, sautee them first and then quickly steam them in the skillet for vibrant and perfectly tender-crisp green beans.
Recipe FAQs
To get perfectly cooked green beans, we use a two step cooking method. First, saute the green beans for 5 minutes, then add 1/2 cup water and cook for one minute more. Then, remove the pan from the heat, cover and let steam for 2-3 minutes. If you have thicker beans, they might require slightly more cooking time.
To save time, you can make green beans ahead of time and then blanch them to help preserve their bright green colour. When ready to serve, cook up the bacon, and then toss the green beans into the warm pan with the bacon bits and seasoning to reheat.
Green beans often become rubbery when they are undercooked. Set a timer when sauteeing and steaming your beans to ensure you don’t lose track of time. If they still feel rubbery when the time is up, steam them for another minute or so.
Storage Guidelines
Refrigerator: Store any leftover green beans in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
To reheat: Saute the seasoned green beans and bacon over medium heat for 5 minutes or until heated through.
What to Make with Green Beans
Fresh green beans with bacon are very versatile and can be served with almost any main dish! They go well with any type of roasted meat, fish, stuffed peppers, chicken breast, ribs or meatloaf.
Try them with any of the following:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- Apple and Brie Stuffed Chicken
- Christmas Beef Roast
- Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
- Baked Pesto Salmon
Recipe Variations
- Add nuts: Almonds and green beans are always a great combination. Toast slivered almonds over medium heat for about 5 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove to a small dish. Toss in with the cooked green beans and bacon.
- For an extra pop of flavor: Add a splash of lemon juice at the end right before serving.
- Add extra fresh veggies: Cook up some thinly sliced or diced fresh yellow onion or red pepper after preparing the bacon and add to the seasoned green beans in the final step.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle on some freshly grated parmesan cheese to make this dish extra fancy.
- To make vegetarian: Omit the bacon and saute the green beans in olive oil instead.
- To add spice: Add red pepper flakes to your seasoning mixture for a kick of spice.
More Tasty Side Dishes
- Christmas Wreath Salad
- Roasted Ranch Carrots
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic and Maple Syrup
- Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
- Kale Beet Salad
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Fresh French Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
Ingredients
- 5 slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces
- 1 pound fresh French green beans, washed and trimmed
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
- While the bacon is cooking, mix together the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Add green beans to the same skillet where the bacon was cooked. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of the seasoning mix and sauté for 5 minutes or so, tossing the beans around occasionally.
- Add in the water, and sauté for another minute. Cover, remove from heat and allow pan to sit for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain water from the pan. Toss the beans with remaining seasoning mix and cooked bacon pieces. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- I prefer using French green beans (the slender beans, also known as Haricot Verts) for this recipe over regular green beans, as I find they’re more tender, and less tough and stringy.
- Pick green beans that don’t have any spots, or wrinkles and avoid ones that are starting to get mushy.
- Prepare the beans by washing them and trimming the ends. You can do this in advance to save time.
- Don’t overcook the beans by boiling them or you’ll wind up with dull and mushy beans. Instead, sautee them first and then quickly steam them in the skillet for vibrant and perfectly tender-crisp green beans.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in December 2022 and was updated in December 2024 to include more helpful tips.