Green Beans with Bacon ⋆ 100 Days of Real Food

These green beans with bacon are a flavorful and tasty side dish perfect for any occasion! The crispy bacon adds the most delicious flavor. This 25-minute vegetable side dish is great paired with chicken, steak, pork, or even pasta. Serve it for Christmas, Thanksgiving, holidays, or regular weeknight dinners!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe

These green beans with bacon are quick and easy to make.
This recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Great for potlucks and parties.
The bacon adds such a great flavor that even picky eaters like this recipe!
This recipe can be easily made ahead of time and reheated.
Great for holidays, entertaining, and meal prep.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free and naturally sweetened with honey.
Check out these Collard Greens with Bacon for another healthy side dish recipe!

Ingredients & Substitutes

These are the ingredients and substitutes for these green beans with bacon. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the entire recipe.

First, use fresh greens for the best flavor. Trim the ends.

Use no sugar added bacon. We love ButcherBox, Applegate, and Trader Joe's No Sugar Bacon.

Coconut aminos is very similar to soy sauce, but contains no soy and no gluten.

Honey naturally sweetens this dish. Feel free to use maple syrup instead.

Minced garlic adds a delicious garlicky flavor.

For a little spice, add in some red pepper flakes. For a more mild flavor, omit.

Season with salt and pepper.

Taste & Texture

Green beans with bacon have a delicious and savory taste with a tender and crispy texture.

The green beans are tender and the sauce is sweet, savory, and sticky.

Overall, these bacon green beans are savory, hearty, and a little salty!

How to Make

Step 1

First, cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on a paper towel. Once cooled, crumble the bacon into small pieces and set aside.

Step 2

In a small bowl, whisk together coconut aminos, honey, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.

Step 3

In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the green beans and season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry the green beans for about 5 to 7 minutes or until they are tender-crisp.

Step 4

Pour the coconut aminos mixture over the green beans and stir to coat them evenly. Continue cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the green beans.

Step 5

Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top of the green beans. Toss gently to incorporate the bacon.

Step 6

Finally, transfer the green beans with crispy bacon to a serving dish. Serve!

Expert Tips for Success

Here are a few expert tips and tricks for making green beans with bacon.

Use fresh green beans. This provides a much better texture than previously frozen green beans.

Do not overcook the green beans. They should have a little bite to them and not be mushy.

For a spicy option, add more red pepper flakes in small quantities. A little bit goes a long way!

For a milder flavor, omit the red pepper flakes.

Flavor Variations & Add-Ins

These green beans with bacon can be customized to your liking. Here are a few ideas for flavor variations.

Add in diced ham in addition to the bacon.

Add in shredded cheese, such as cheddar cheese or Parmesan cheese.

For a crunchy texture, top with sliced almonds or walnuts.

For a little extra nutrients, add in some sesame seeds or sunflower seeds.

To add sweetness, add in some dried cranberries or raisins.

How to Serve & Store

These green beans and bacon are best served hot and fresh.

However, they can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, simply add leftovers to a skillet over low medium heat for a few minutes or until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the shredded green beans called?

The shredded green beans are called "julienne" or "French-cut" green beans. They are cut into thin strips that are about the width of a matchstick.

Do you cook bacon before adding to green beans?

Yes, first cook the bacon.

What can you put on green beans to make them taste better?

Green beans taste better when paired with bacon, ham, cheese, or a sauce.

Do fresh green beans need to be soaked before cooking?

Fresh green beans do not need to be soaked before cooking.

Equipment Needed

Large Nonstick Skillet: This nonstick skillet is large enough for this chicken broccoli alfredo recipe.

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