Description
Southern kitchens buzz with comfort when classic Bacon and Green Beans grace dinner tables, blending smoky pork richness with garden-fresh vegetables. Savory Southern traditions come alive in this simple skillet dish that connects families through delicious, hearty flavors you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 5–6 slices bacon
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Liquid Ingredient:
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
Instructions
- Render bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp, approximately 5-7 minutes, transferring crispy pieces to a paper towel-lined plate while preserving the rendered fat.
- Introduce diced onions into the bacon drippings, sautéing until translucent and softened, stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic into the onion mixture, allowing aromatics to bloom and release fragrant notes for roughly 30-45 seconds.
- Add fresh green beans and chicken broth to the skillet, covering with a tight-fitting lid and reducing heat to low, allowing vegetables to steam and tenderize for 10-12 minutes.
- Enhance the dish’s flavor profile by seasoning with kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Optional: Swirl in cold butter to create a luxurious, silky finish and add depth to the vegetable preparation.
- Crumble reserved crispy bacon over the green beans, gently folding to distribute evenly, ensuring each serving includes savory bacon fragments.
- Transfer to a serving dish and present immediately while beans remain warm and bacon maintains its delightful crunch.
Notes
- Swap bacon for turkey bacon or tempeh to create a lighter, healthier version that still packs incredible flavor.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and monitoring salt quantities during seasoning.
- Enhance nutrition by adding sliced almonds or toasted pine nuts for extra crunch and protein boost.
- For vegetarian adaptation, replace bacon drippings with olive oil and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 146 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg