Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

These green beans with bacon and onions perfect as a holidays meal or just a simple weeknight side dish. Fresh green beans are made with sweet onions, garlic, and bacon to create a delicious recipe that is ready with minimal prep time and only requires a few minutes of cooking. So, grab your skillet and lets get cooking!

Green beans are a must-have at our holiday dinners! The fresh vegetable flavor combines with that classic caramelized onions and black pepper flavor for a flavor that takes you back to simpler days. To me, this recipe reminds me of my love for filling up my loved ones while we all sit together during the holidays. It's one of those recipes that simply feels like home.

This old fashioned green beans with bacon and onions is the perfect side for my Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, my Chicken and Peppers Recipe, and of course my Orange Rosemary Turkey. Air Fryer Thin Pork Chops are another one of my main dishes I would recommend pairing with this these old fashioned green beans and bacon. 

If you are loving this recipe and looking for other ways to incorporate green beans into your meals then look no further than my Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Simple Ingredients:  A few common ingredients go a long way for this bacon onion green beans dish. Keep the sides easy so you can focus on the main dish.
• Ready in Minutes:  These will be ready in less than 30 minutes. That means more time at the table and less time standing over the stove. 
• Budget Friendly: We all know how expensive a trip to the grocery store can be nowadays. These ingredients won't break the banks but still bring all the great green beans bacon onion flavor.
• Healthy & Nutritious: Green beans are known for having great fiber and antioxidants content. Perfect for keeping an eye on your health and green on your plate.

Key Ingredients

Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.

• Green Beans: This common vegetable is loaded with vitamins. Make sure to cut off the tips before they go in the pan. 
• Onion: I used sweet onions for this recipe. You can use the onion of your choosing. 
• Bacon: I liked cured bacon because it helps improve texture and could help slow bacteria growth. 
• Seasonings: This recipe keeps it simple. All you need is garlic powder, pepper, and salt to taste.
• Olive Oil:  I prefer Costabile Olive Oil for its quality and purity. Use Code: 15GoldenGK for 15% off.

Flavor Variations

• Use Canned Green Beans: If you are in a pinch, just pull a can of green beans off the shelf and adjust the cook time. Canned green beans with bacon and onions are always a hit!
• Southern Style Green Beans: Adjust the recipe by use ¼ cup of sugar and ½ cup of vinegar. 
• Spice them Up: Paprika or any other one of your favorite spices added in will help create an even deeper flavor profile.
• Substitute the Bacon: You can use other thin cuts of pork like prosciutto or Canadian bacon. 

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

Step 1. In a large skillet, over medium heat, sauté the bacon until cooked. Then remove the bacon and set it aside. Make sure to leave the bacon grease in the pan.

Step 2. Next, add the green beans, onions, garlic powder, and pepper. Allow it all to cook while staring every couple of minutes until the green beans finish cooking and are fork tender. Once they are done, reduce to low heat. Add the cooked bacon back in, stir and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Blanch Your Green Beans: Cook green beans as normal. When they are done, put them into a bowl of ice water. This will stop them from overcooking and help with a perfect consistency when they go back in the pan with the bacon.
• Make Ahead of Time: This recipe can be easily made the day before a big dinner. It reheats great and will help save time for other parts of your dinner. 
• Use an Air Fryer: It feels like the air fryer in my house gets used every day lately and that is for good reason. It helps give vegetables the perfect crisp. I also enjoy skipping the extra oil in the air fryer. 
• Get Creative with Vegetables: Mushrooms, bell peppers, and carrots are all colorful ways to elevate this dish. More colors means more chances for getting all your necessary vitamins.

Green Bean and Bacon Recipe FAQs

Easy Desserts to Pair