Simple Green Beans with Bacon

Name: Simple Green Beans with Bacon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed; 4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

This is my go to side dish when I want something comforting, savory, and fresh all at once.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

10 minutes

Cook

15 minutes

Total

25 minutes

Serves

There is something special about the way salty, crispy bacon pairs with fresh green beans. It is one of those classic combinations that makes everyone at the table excited to eat their vegetables.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to make sure the bacon gets nice and crispy before you add the beans. If you have time, tossing in a little splash of lemon juice at the end really brightens up all those rich flavors.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the green beans for about 3 to 4 minutes until they are bright green and tender but still have a bit of a crunch.
2
Drain the beans and immediately place them in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking, then drain them again and set aside.
3
Place the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until it is brown and crispy.
4
Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon bits from the pan and set them on a paper towel, but leave about one tablespoon of the bacon fat in the skillet.
5
Add the butter to the skillet with the bacon fat, then stir in the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until it smells wonderful.
6
Add the green beans to the skillet and toss them well to coat in the garlic butter.
7
Cook for 2 minutes to heat everything through, then stir in the crispy bacon bits, salt, and pepper before serving.

💡 Tips

These beans taste best when served right away while hot. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and reheat them gently in a skillet.

#green beans #bacon #side dish #easy dinner #gluten free

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