Green Beans with Bacon & Shallots

Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots is salty and crunchy with an out-of-this-world tasty twist. This classic side dish is done in under 15 minutes!

If you're going to eat green beans, they should be cooked with bacon (unless you're a vegetarian, obvi).

That's the lil' kitchen rule, and We'm stickin' to it!

Have you ever had green beans with bacon? Oh the word, it's the BEST (and We argue: only) way to enjoy these fresh, vibrant, beautiful veggies.

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❤️ What makes this recipe so special

This green beans side dish is:

Quick and simple: done in simply 15 minutes!
Uses simple-to-find ingredients or ones you may already have at home.
Has great texture with the crunchy bacon and crisp green beans.
Makes a great side for the holidays or any time of the year.

SO good!

And this recipe pairs well with main courses like Pressure-cooker Stuffed Pork Loin Roast, Air Fryer Meatloaf, and Pan-Seared Salmon with Almond Basil Pesto.

🥓 Ingredient notes

Green Beans – Start with fresh green beans. If you can't find fresh green beans, you can definitely use frozen green beans. Frozen vegetables are picked at their ripest in season and flash frozen. So frozen is the next best option to fresh.

Unsalted Butter – You'll also want to use a high quality butter. We use Tillamook Unsalted Butter when We can, because it's local (Oregon). And, it's made with 81% fat, which adds a rich, silky buttery flavor.

Shallots – add an elegant undertone of acidic, slightly sweet flavor. While shallots are a member of the allium family, they add aromatics similar to garlic. They are milder than standard onions, however, so that's why We love them in this dish.

Bacon – Finally, you need some truly good bacon. Choose a bacon that has a decent amount of fat. Avoid turkey bacon – it simply won't sauté the same way or give this dish the bacon-y goodness it's meant to have.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

1-2. Start by melting butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Add the shallots and sauté for 1-2 minutes, simply until softened.

4. Then add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 3-4 minutes.

5. Add the green beans, and toss to coat with the other ingredients.

6. Cook for 3-5 minutes, constantly moving around the ingredients to evenly cook. Once the green beans have cooked to your preferred doneness, turn off the heat. Plate, and serve immediately.

👩🏽‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

Can We use canned or frozen green beans?

Using fresh green beans will give you the most vibrant flavors, but if you can't find fresh ones, you can definitely use frozen green beans. Frozen vegetables are picked at their ripest in season and flash frozen. So frozen is the next best option to fresh.

How do know if the green beans are fresh?

A quick way to check for freshness it to bend one of them. Fresh beans will end produce a clean snap. If they bend but don't snap, they aren't as fresh. Also, look for ones that are bright green in color.

Can We slice shallots ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep shallots ahead of time. They should stay good for about a week in the fridge.

🔪 Kitchen tools and equipment

To make this Green Beans with Bacon recipe, you'll need:

Skillet or sauté pan – to crisp the bacon, and cook the green beans and shallots.

Spoon/Spatula – use a wooden spoon or heatproof silicone spatula to sauté the ingredients in the pan.

🍽 What to serve with green beans with bacon

This tasty side dish is great for holidays. It's a beautiful addition to the Thanksgiving table, Christmas, and Easter. It's also a fantastic simple side dish to serve with almost any dinner.

Some other main dishes that go well with green beans:

More side dish recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Green Beans with Bacon

By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Total Time: 15 mins Servings: 6 people A savory, tasty, simple side dish for weeknight meals and holiday meals alike!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons minced shallots
6-8 slices bacon, chopped into small pieces
1 pound green beans

Instructions

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add the shallots, and sauté for 1-2 minutes, simply until softened.
Add the bacon and cook to desired crispness, about 3-4 minutes
Add the green beans, toss together until coated and cook for 3-5 minutes until green beans are softened. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.

Notes

Storage: Green beans with bacon will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also make the bacon the day before and add to the beans when you make the full recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 85 kcal, Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g, Trans Fat: 0.2 g, Cholesterol: 16 mg, Sodium: 7 mg, Potassium: 172 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: 697 IU, Vitamin C: 9 mg, Calcium: 31 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.