Bacon Garlic Green Beans uses fresh green beans cooked together with smoked bacon and fresh garlic. A southern style side dish!
A summer fresh side dish
If you grew up in the south, you probably got used to picking and snapping off the ends of green beans. It was a part of many people's childhoods! Your mom or grandma would hand you a basket of beans and tell you to get to work. These bacon garlic green beans takes those fresh veggies of summer and amps it up a notch with the help of beautiful bacon grease!
Frequently asked questions:
Some folks think the ends of green beans are tough. Personally, I think it's different depending on the green bean varietal. So trimming the ends is entirely up to the eater. Usually a quickly little snip of the ends can easily be done with a knife instead of going through all the beans and snapping the ends off. Also, if you by pre-packaged bagged fresh green beans, sometimes they already come "snipped." Just check your packaging.
Of course you can! Ham, ham hocks or jowls can be used instead of bacon.
Fresh is best here but you could absolutely use frozen green beans in this recipe. Just thaw slightly before cooking. They don't need to be completely thawed because they will cook up quickly once they get in the pan.
Yes you can. Again, fresh really is best here and you don't get that "bite" like your do with fresh. However, if you insist, then just make sure to drain the beans really well. They won't need to cook as long as the fresh.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- bacon
- fresh green beans
- salt
- butter
- garlic
HOW TO MAKE BACON GARLIC GREEN BEANS:
Cook bacon until crispy, reserve 1 tablespoon bacon grease and drain the rest. Crumble bacon.
Bring a large pot of water to boil, add green beans (water should be just above the beans) and ½ teaspoon salt. Gently boil for 5 minutes, drain the beans.
Heat reserved bacon grease and butter in a large skillet on medium heat. Add minced garlic. Cook it while stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds.
Add crumbled bacon and cooked green beans.
Saute on medium heat for about 1 minute to combine all ingredients.
Remove from heat. Taste and add more salt (and pepper) if needed.
CRAVING MORE? GIVE THESE RECIPES A TRY!
BACON GARLIC GREEN BEANS
Ingredients
- 6 bacon strips
- 1 pound fresh green beans rinsed, ends trimmed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crispy, reserve 1 tablespoon bacon grease and drain the rest. Crumble bacon.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, add green beans (water should be just above the beans) and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes, drain the beans.
- Heat reserved bacon grease and butter in a large skillet on medium heat.
- Add minced garlic. Cook it while stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds.
- Add crumbled bacon and green beans.
- Saute on medium heat for about 1 minute to combine all ingredients.
- Remove from heat. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
Notes
- You don't absolutely have to trim the ends off of the green beans. However, if you want, you can certainly snap or trim the ends off of the fresh green beans.
- Fresh green beans are best but you could absolutely use frozen green beans in this recipe. Just thaw slightly before cooking. They don't need to be completely thawed because they will cook up quickly once they get in the pan.
- Canned green beans can be used. Just drain the beans really well. They won't need to cook as long as the fresh.
- Ham, ham hocks or jowls can be used instead of bacon.
Nutrition
Originally posted: July 2017
Updated & republished: June 2021
These were delicious..just wondering how good they would be if
I make them a day ahead?
They would lose a bit of their crispness but you could certainly do it. 🙂
I’m making these for Thanksgiving! I think I might add some sautéed mushrooms!
Yes! Great addition!
I like the recipe's with low carbs. Of course I like all the recipes. I'm going to try many of the recipes. I just found you're site today. Thank You
Thanks so much Shirley! Hope you love everything that you might try!
Could you use green beans out of the can?
I made this the other night for my family and they were very good. However, I did cook my beans just a little bit longer. I will say that the next time I cook this I will not use as much garlic.
They look so amazing!
Of course veggies need bacon! 😉 We do love our fresh green beans with bacon too. My mom sometimes throws in red new potatoes too and then it's all the sides in one. Just throw some meat on the grill and dinner is served! Now I'm craving green beans!
I made green beans tonight with garlic, shallots and bacon grease instead of butter, minus the bacon. Wish I had thought of putting bacon with mine. Thanks for the low carb recipe!
Brandie they look really good!!! I was going to go out for dinner tonite I just might stay home and make these
Ha! Good idea!
Definitely gonna try this at home thanks 😀
Yummy. I've been doing green beans similar to these for many years and am known for my beans!
How long do you cook your green beans?
Yum!
I agree with you that anything is better with bacon on it! My only concern here is that you only cook the beans for 5 minutes, while I always cook them much longer. Will they taste crunchy?
Hi Virginia! Fresh green beans don't take long to cook when they're in boiling water. I like mine with just a bit of crunch to them. But if you like it super soft, just boil for longer 🙂
Oh my gosh Brandie, these look AMAZING!!!!
Thanks so much Stacy!! Hope you love them!