Green beans with bacon is a classic side dish that goes with anything!
This recipe includes cherry tomatoes and toasted sunflower seeds for a colorful and crunchy twist!
Everyone will eat their veggies when bacon is part of the picture. Plus, it’s a perfect dish for keto diets!
Green Beans with Bacon
- This quick and easy casserole is a delicious side to turkey, chicken, pork, or beef!
- One-pot dishes save time and cleanup and can go from the stovetop to the table in minutes!
- Green beans with bacon can be served hot or cold, which makes it perfect for making ahead or taking to a picnic or party!
Ingredients and Variations
Green Beans: Fresh is best for this recipe! Rinse and trim them before using. Canned or frozen green beans will also work, but they won’t be as crisp.
Bacon: The fat in uncooked bacon adds tons of flavor and is used instead of oil. Put leftover bacon drippings in a jar and keep it in the refrigerator to add smoky flavor to recipes. Maple or applewood smoked bacon will add a punch of flavor if you have it.
Tomatoes: Bright red cherry tomatoes add a pop of color to green beans with bacon. Any fresh diced tomatoes will also work, and so will a can of diced (drained) tomatoes, or even chopped sundried tomatoes can be used.
Variations: Finely diced potatoes, sliced mushrooms, or sauteed onions will add more flavor and bulk to this dish. Other nuts to try are slivered almonds or chopped walnuts. A sprinkle of parmesan cheese or some feta crumbles on top will add some tangy flavor!
How to Make Green Beans With Bacon
- Cook bacon until crispy and transfer to a paper towel to drain.
- Cook green beans with garlic in bacon drippings (as per the recipe card below).
- Toast sunflower seeds if using.
- Toss cooked green beans with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and serve warm or cold.
Tips and Tricks
- This dish can be made up to a day in advance and will even taste better as the flavors have more time to blend.
- If you have pre-cooked bacon, cook the green beans in a tablespoon of butter in Step 4.
- If using sunflower seeds (or other nuts) toast them in a dry sauté pan. This keeps them extra crunchy and intensifies their flavor.
Leftover Green Beans?
- Keep leftover green beans with bacon in a covered container for up to 3 days and enjoy them cold or reheat portions in the microwave.
- This recipe also freezes well! Place cooled portions in zippered bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stove with a little water.
Have you tried this Green Beans With Bacon recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!
Green Beans with Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds green beans washed, ends trimmed
- 6 slices bacon raw, chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds (optional)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved (or grape tomatoes)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To a large skillet on medium heat, add chopped bacon and cook until crispy, 3-5 minutes.
- Remove bacon and place on a paper towel lined plate.
- Discard (or save for another use) all but approximately 1 Tablespoon of bacon drippings.
- Add green beans to the pan and cook over medium heat until they are lightly browned, stirring occasionally (about 7-8 minutes). Add garlic and bacon. Toss and cook for 1 minute.
- Meanwhile, in a dry small skillet on medium heat, toast sunflower seeds until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan to cool or the seeds may burn (and turn bitter).
- In a large bowl, toss together cooked beans, bacon, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Serve warm or cold.
Notes
- Fresh green beans are best, but frozen or canned beans will work.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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The bacon is a nice added flavor and crunchy texture.
Yes, we love bacon with the green beans!