Sautéed green beans with bacon take fresh cooked green beans and tossed them with crispy bacon and Parmesan cheese for a buttery, smoky and delicious side dish.

From the recipe of Tara Ippolito

Sautéed green beans with bacon is proof that simple ingredients can make serious magic. The green beans stay bright, the bacon is crispy and the Parmesan cheese brings it all together. It’s fast, easy, and it seriously tastes like something you’d get at a steakhouse. And the best part is that you made it in one skillet right at home.

I’ve made green beans so many ways and this one is always the winner. The bacon gets super crispy, the beans stay tender-crisp and flavorful, and everything gets coated in that buttery, garlicky goodness. It’s quick, it tastes restaurant-quality, and once you try this it will be your go to green bean recipe forever.

How To Make It

Here are the instructions on how to make this delicious side dish along with some tips and notes. You can find the full ingredients list with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below.

First, add the bacon to a large cast iron skillet and cook it over medium high heat until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and grease from the pan leaving behind 1 tbs in the pan. Turn the heat off.

PRO TIP: Dicing bacon with a regular knife can be a real pain in the butt. Using a good pair of kitchen shears makes the process so much easier.

NOTE: If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, any large skillet will be ok to use here.

Now, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the green beans. Let them cook in the water for about 3 minutes. Strain them from the water and immediately place them into an ice bath to halt the cooking process.

PRO TIP: Have the ice bath ready to go before the green beans are done to prevent them from over cooking.

NOTE: The ice bath will keep the green beans crisp and bright in color.

Next, add butter to the skillet and warm that and the bacon grease over medium heat. Add the fresh garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the crispy bacon and green beans into the skillet.

Then, season the green beans with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add the Parmesan cheese and toss everything together. Let the green beans and bacon warm up in the pan for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. The Parmesan cheese should be slightly melted.

Finally, serve warm and enjoy!

What To Serve This With

This dish would be the perfect recipe to serve along side a Holiday Ham or turkey. You don’t need to wait for the holidays, though. Serve it with some Crockpot French Onion Meatloaf or Baked Caesar Chicken and it will be delicious.

Can I Use Canned Green Beans?

Yes, you can use canned green beans in this recipe but I don't really recommend it. They wont be as crisp as this recipe calls for them to be. But if you'd like to use them, just drain and rinse them well, then add them at the end so they warm through without getting mushy.

Can I Omit The Bacon?

Yes, you definitely can omit the bacon if you'd like to. Just add about 1 Tbs more of butter to make up for the lost bacon fat.

Storage

Let the green beans cool completely and place them into an air tight container. They will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Other Easy Side Dish Recipes

If you like super easy to make vegetable side dishes like this one, you have to try Honey Roasted Carrots, Creamy Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and Roasted Asparagus With Parmesan And Tomatoes.