Quick and easy one pot green beans with bacon recipe, made with simple ingredients in one pot on stovetop. A 30 minute side dish, loaded with garlic and Italian flavors.
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This is one of the many ways in which my family cooks beans. It may be seen as old fashioned, but it is really filling and makes a great side dish. It's just as good as my Oven Roasted Green Beans (One Pan) and Sauteed Green Beans (One Pot) and even these Green Beans and Potatoes (One Pot).
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Key ingredients
- Oil- I suggest using a high-end virgin olive oil.
- Butter- Use unsalted butter for best results.
- Green beans- Fresh beans will yield the best texture and flavor.
- Onions- You will just need your classic yellow onions for this recipe.
- Garlic- Fresh makes the aroma and flavor really pop.
- Bacon- Find some with a good ratio of meat to fat.
- Spices- This includes salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Variations
- Sweet and salty flavor- Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar or even honey or maple syrup.
- Add shallots instead of onions - I think even a little amount adds a lot of flavor.
- Add vinegar or lemon juice- Do this at the very end. This gives a subtle tangy flavor.
- Toss almonds as a topping- This gives a little crunch. Any other nut can be used too. Make sure they are chopped into small pieces so you can enjoy them in each bite.
- Mix in mushrooms- Makes this side even more filling. Make sure they are cut into small pieces. Be sure to saute them to remove excess water. You could even throw in some leftover Easy Garlic Mushrooms (One Pot).
- Make wrapped bundles- These make a lovely presentation. Strips of bacon are wrapped around individual green beans or bundles of them and then baked until cooked through. It has a similar feel to these Bacon Wrapped Dates (One Pan) or these Bacon Wrapped Smokies (One Pan).
- For a spicy kick- Add some red chili flakes.
- Instead of regular bacon- Use turkey bacon or veggie bacon. However, they are not as greasy and more oil or butter would be required.
- Make it creamy- Add in ½ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup chicken broth, and some parmesan for a more saucy option.
- Cook them on the grill- For a bit of different flavor and texture overall. Make sure to use a perforated skillet or griddle pan. I love vegetables cooked this way, including Grilled Corn on the Cob.
- Add sweetness- You can add some brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey for a sweeter taste.
- Try a different protein- Such as chicken, beef, shrimp, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Have fun with it. You may even want to try my Oven Roasted Chicken and Vegetables (One Pan) sometime.
How to make easy one pot green beans with bacon recipe?
1. Heat oil and butter- In nonstick pot.
2. Cook- Bacon, garlic, and onion.
3. Remove from pot- And keep aside.
4. Add green beans- And saute for a few minutes.
5. Add- Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, cooked bacon.
6. Mix until combined- Then garnish and serve.
What to serve with them?
These pair wonderfully with hearty mains and roasted meats such as these:
- Chicken- Like my Instant Pot Whole Chicken (Rotisserie Chicken), Honey Garlic Chicken (One Pot), Lemon Pepper Chicken (One Pan), or even Grilled Chicken Breast (One Pan).
- Beef- Such as Garlic Butter Steak Bites, Perfect Roast Beef (One Pot), Instant Pot Roast Recipe, or this Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast.
- Turkey- Including this Roast Turkey Breast (One Pan) and this Easy Thanksgiving Turkey (One Pan).
- Ham and pork- I also like it paired with Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin and this Easy Slow Cooker Ham.
Tips and techniques
- Adjust the amount of Italian seasoning- Based on your preference.
- Adjust the amount of bacon- Based on your preference.
- Don't throw away the bacon grease- Because it can add so much flavor to the final dish, when you saute the beans in it.
- Do not use garlic powder- Because fresh garlic has a more powerful fragrance and flavor.
- Use unsalted butter- Because that prevents this recipe from becoming too salty.
- If you don't want to cook bacon- Saute the beans with onion and garlic first and then mix it together with cooked bacon bits. You can just buy those from the grocery store.
- Be sure to wash beans- To avoid bacteria, dirt, and germs before cooking.
- I like to cut beans to about 2 inches in length- Because it seems to be a good size for the mouth, especially as they shrink a bit after cooking.
- Use a non-stick pan- So that your food doesn't stick to the pan and make it harder to clean up.
Recipe FAQs
You cannot mix raw bacon with cooked beans but if the beans are also uncooked, you can cook the bacon and beans together.
Fresh is always best and my first recommendation, followed by frozen. Please remember that if your frozen beans are already steamed, they will cook quicker. Don't use canned beans because they are too watery and the overall dish can become soggy while cooking. I tried that one Thanksgiving and it was a disaster.
No. For a recipe like this, I'd skip blanching. It's quicker, creates fewer dishes, and the beans can absorb the smoky bacon flavor as they cook.
Storage
- Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freeze- This is not recommended, because the texture of the bacon and green beans is just not the same. Everything is softer and bacon has no crunch.
- Reheat- In the microwave until warmed through.
- Make ahead- This can be made 1 day in advance. However, I still like it served fresh on the day I am serving because the texture of bacon is better and crispy this way.
More one pot bacon recipes
- Bacon Ranch Chicken (One Pot)
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (One Pot)
- Bacon Pasta (One Pot)
- Fried Cabbage with Bacon (One Pot)
- Easy Bacon Fried Rice (One Pot)
Recipe
Easy One Pot Green Beans with Bacon
Video
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 tablespoon Butter Unsalted
- ¼ cup Onion Finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Finely minced
- 6-8 slices Bacon Roughly chopped
- 1 pound Green beans Fresh, Washed, Cut into 2 inch pieces, Ends trimmed
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
Instructions
- Heat oil and butter in a nonstick pot or pan over medium high heat.
- Add onion, garlic and bacon and saute until bacon is crisp. You can also add the garlic when bacon is almost cooked to prevent it from over-browning.
- Remove from pan and keep aside.
- In the same grease, add green beans, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and saute for 8-10 minutes or until beans are tender.
- Mix in the bacon mixture and enjoy!
Notes
- My first recommendation is to use fresh green beans but you can also use frozen ones, if that's all you have on hand. Do not use canned green beans at all!
- Try other herbs and spices for a different flavor profile.
- Use unsalted butter to prevent this dish from becoming too salty.
- Use nonstick pot or pan to prevent sticking and burning.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Tastes best when served fresh but leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Justine Howell says
Love this new twist on green beans!! Even the kids thought it was great.
Nellie Tracy says
If you ask me, bacon is the solution to making all vegetables better! Love this recipe!!
Tara says
Anything with bacon in it is always a hit in my house!