This Green Beans with Bacon Recipe is loaded with flavor! Tender green beans are tossed with browned butter, crispy bacon, and lemony almonds for an irresistible side dish that elevates any meal.

Elevate Your Meal with the Best Green Beans and Bacon!

While a classic creamy green bean casserole holds a special place as the ultimate comfort food, these green beans with bacon offer a refreshing and exciting twist. This recipe transforms a traditional favorite into a vibrant, flavorful, and effortlessly elegant side dish. It’s designed to impress without demanding hours in the kitchen, making it perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.

Imagine tender, crisp-tender green beans coated in a rich browned butter sauce, infused with the bright zest and tang of fresh lemon. Then, picture the delightful crunch of toasted almonds and the irresistible savory notes of perfectly crispy bacon, complemented by aromatic garlicky shallots. This combination is, without a doubt, total perfection on a plate. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why This Green Bean Recipe Stands Out

What makes this particular green bean recipe truly special? It’s all in the details and the fresh approach to classic ingredients. Unlike heavy, cream-based dishes, this recipe focuses on enhancing the natural freshness of green beans with bright, zesty flavors and complementary textures. The browned butter isn’t just melted butter; it’s a golden, nutty essence that provides a deep, complex base. The lemon almonds add an unexpected pop of citrus and a delightful crunch, while crispy bacon introduces a salty, smoky depth that everyone loves.

This dish also offers incredible versatility. Whether you’re looking for an impressive holiday side, a quick and healthy addition to your weeknight meal, or something to bring to a potluck, these green beans deliver. They pair beautifully with a wide range of main courses, from roasted chicken to grilled steak, making them a go-to recipe for any occasion. Plus, the simplicity of the preparation means less stress for the cook and more time to enjoy with loved ones.

Essential Ingredients for Unforgettable Flavor

Crafting this incredible side dish begins with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the layered flavors and appealing textures that make this recipe a standout. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

• Unsalted Butter: More than just a cooking fat, butter browns beautifully, developing a rich, nutty aroma and flavor (browned butter) that forms the exquisite base for our toasted almonds. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish.
• Sliced Almonds: These add a wonderful textural contrast and a delicate crunch. When toasted in browned butter, their flavor deepens, becoming even more inviting and satisfying.
• Lemon: Both the zest and fresh juice are indispensable. Lemon zest provides an intense, aromatic brightness, while the juice adds a crucial tangy counterpoint that cuts through the richness of the butter and bacon, ensuring the dish feels fresh and vibrant.
• Chicken Stock: A splash of quality chicken stock is used to gently steam the green beans, helping them become tender while infusing them with savory depth. It also helps deglaze the pan, picking up all the delicious browned bits.
• Bacon: The star of the show alongside the green beans! Crispy, savory bacon bits provide an irresistible salty crunch and a smoky flavor that permeates the entire dish. Crucially, its rendered drippings are used to cook the shallots and garlic, building foundational flavor.
• Shallots: Milder and more delicate than onions, shallots offer a subtle sweetness and aromatic depth that doesn’t overpower the other flavors. They become wonderfully fragrant when sautéed in bacon drippings.
• Garlic: A culinary essential, minced garlic adds a pungent, savory aroma and taste that harmonizes beautifully with the shallots, butter, and bacon, creating a truly comforting profile.
• Fresh Green Beans: The foundation of the dish. Opt for fresh, firm green beans that snap easily when bent. Their vibrant color and crisp-tender texture are key to the dish’s appeal. Avoid canned or frozen for the best results.
• Salt and Pepper: Simple yet essential seasonings. They bring out and balance the individual flavors of each ingredient, tying the entire dish together. Always taste and adjust as needed before serving.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Green Beans with Bacon

This recipe is designed for simplicity and maximum flavor. Follow these easy steps to create a show-stopping side dish:

1. Prepare Lemon & Setup: Begin by zesting and juicing your lemon to obtain 1/2 teaspoon of zest and 1 tablespoon of juice. It’s helpful to have these, along with your chicken stock, measured out and ready. Line one plate with wax paper (for the almonds) and another with paper towels (for the bacon) to streamline the process.
2. Brown Butter & Toast Almonds: In a large nonstick pan, melt 2 tablespoons of diced unsalted butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and begins to foam, add the sliced almonds. Cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, for about 5-8 minutes, or until the almonds are golden brown and wonderfully fragrant. The butter should also turn a beautiful amber color and smell nutty. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of chicken stock. Continue stirring for about 1 minute until the liquid slightly thickens and coats the almonds. Immediately transfer this fragrant mixture onto your wax-paper-lined plate and set aside.
3. Cook Bacon to Crispy Perfection: Using the same pan (no need to clean it, as the butter remnants add flavor!), add your diced bacon. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is beautifully browned and perfectly crispy, and its fat has fully rendered. Remove the crispy bacon using a slotted spoon, transferring it to the paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Leave all the savory bacon grease in the pan – this is where the next layer of flavor comes from!
4. Sauté Shallots & Garlic: Reduce the heat in the pan to low. Add the thinly sliced shallots and minced garlic to the bacon drippings, along with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the shallots are softened and the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
5. Cook Green Beans to Tender Crisp: Add the fresh green beans to the pan and toss them with tongs to coat evenly in the aromatic shallot-garlic-bacon fat mixture. Pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Stir once more to combine. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are mostly tender but still have a slight crispness (al dente). If the liquid evaporates before the beans are tender enough, simply add another splash of chicken stock and continue cooking.
6. Finish & Serve with Flair: Remove the lid from the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high and continue to cook for another 2-4 minutes, allowing any remaining liquid to evaporate completely. This step helps to intensify the flavors. Remove the pan from the heat. Scrape the reserved lemon-almond-browned butter mixture from the wax-paper-lined plate directly onto the green beans, ensuring any hardened butter is added too. Add the crispy bacon back into the pan. Gently stir everything to combine, ensuring the beans are coated with all the delicious toppings. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately while warm and fresh!

Tips for a Flawless Green Bean Dish Every Time

Achieving perfection with this green bean and bacon recipe is simple with a few key techniques:

• Toast Almonds Slowly for Rich Flavor: Browning butter and toasting almonds requires patience. Use medium-low to medium heat and stir constantly. High heat can quickly burn the butter and nuts, resulting in a bitter taste rather than the desired nutty richness. Take your time to achieve that perfect golden hue and fragrant aroma.
• Invest in Quality Stock for Depth: The chicken stock plays a surprisingly significant role in flavoring the green beans. A good quality chicken stock, like Swanson’s® or a homemade variety, will impart a deeper, more robust savory flavor compared to water or a lower-quality broth.
• Ensure Beans Are Thoroughly Dry: Before adding green beans to the hot pan, make sure they are completely dry. Excess moisture can lower the pan’s temperature, leading to steaming instead of a slight sauté, and can prevent the beans from absorbing the delicious flavors effectively. Pat them dry with paper towels if needed after washing.
• Always Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Flavor profiles vary from person to person. Before serving, always taste the finished dish. You might find it needs a little extra salt, a dash more pepper, or perhaps another squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten it up. Don’t be shy about adjusting seasonings to your preference.

Delicious Variations & Additions

While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also wonderfully adaptable! Feel free to experiment with these ideas to suit your taste:

• Herbaceous Twist: Stir in fresh chopped parsley, chives, or thyme at the end for an extra layer of aroma and flavor.
• Spicy Kick: A pinch of red pepper flakes added with the shallots and garlic can introduce a subtle heat that complements the savory bacon.
• Nut Swaps: If you don’t have almonds, pecans or walnuts can also be toasted in browned butter for a similar crunch and nutty flavor.
• Cheese Please: A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the warm green beans just before serving adds a salty, umami depth.
• Sweetness Balance: A tiny drizzle of maple syrup or honey can be added with the lemon juice and zest to provide a hint of sweetness, balancing the savory elements.

Pin
Print

Rated 5 out of 5 stars from 2 votes

Green Beans with Bacon

By
Chelsea Lords

Nothing tops green beans with bacon! Cooked to perfection with browned butter, a hint of lemon, and crunchy almonds.

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
15 minutes

Total Time:
30 minutes

Servings:
6 as a side

Video Tutorial

Equipment

• Large nonstick pan
• Wax paper or parchment paper
• Tongs or spatula

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter diced into small pieces
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1 lemon (for 1/2 tsp zest and 1 tbsp juice)
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon chicken stock divided
• 3 slices bacon diced
• 1/3 cup shallot very thinly sliced (about 3 small shallots)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 pound fresh green beans (washed and trimmed)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare Lemon & Setup: Zest your lemon to get about 1/2 teaspoon of zest, then juice it for 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Set both aside along with your chicken stock. Prepare two plates: line one with wax paper (for almonds) and another with paper towels (for bacon). This prep makes cooking much smoother.

2. Brown Butter & Toast Almonds: In a large, nonstick pan, melt 2 tablespoons of diced unsalted butter over medium heat. As the butter melts, it will foam, then gradually turn golden brown and smell nutty – this is browned butter. Add the sliced almonds and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until they are golden and fragrant. Immediately add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of chicken stock. Continue stirring for about 1 minute until the liquid thickens slightly and coats the almonds. Transfer this mixture to the wax-paper-lined plate and set aside.

3. Cook Crispy Bacon: Return the same pan to the stovetop (do not clean it, the leftover butter and almond flavor are good!). Add the diced bacon and cook over medium heat until the bacon is crispy and browned, and its fat has rendered. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on the paper-towel-lined plate to drain, leaving all the bacon grease in the pan. Reduce the heat to low.

4. Sauté Shallots & Garlic: To the bacon drippings in the pan, add the thinly sliced shallots and minced garlic, along with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the shallots are softened and the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.

5. Cook Green Beans: Add the fresh green beans to the pan and toss them with tongs to coat them in the flavorful drippings. Pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Stir again. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until the beans are mostly tender-crisp. If the liquid evaporates before the beans reach desired tenderness, add another splash of chicken stock. Remove the lid and continue to cook over medium-high heat for another 2-4 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated.

6. Finish & Serve: Remove the pan from the heat. Scrape the reserved browned butter-lemon-almond mixture from the wax-paper-lined plate onto the green beans, ensuring any hardened butter is included. Add the crispy bacon. Gently stir everything together to combine all the delicious components. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Note 1 – Green Beans Preparation: Always wash fresh green beans thoroughly. Trim off the stem ends (and any tough tail ends) if necessary. For convenience, you can buy pre-washed and pre-trimmed green beans. It’s crucial that the beans are fully dry before you start cooking to ensure proper sautéing and flavor absorption.

Storage & Reheating: These green beans are truly best served fresh, straight from the stovetop, when the bacon is at its crispiest. If you have any leftovers, let them cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm gently on low heat in a skillet on the stovetop, stirring until warmed through. Be careful not to overcook during reheating to maintain their tender-crisp texture.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 197 kcal | Carbohydrates: 12 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 15 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Cholesterol: 18 mg | Sodium: 112 mg | Potassium: 339 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 648 IU | Vitamin C: 11 mg | Calcium: 68 mg | Iron: 2 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation. Individual results may vary based on exact ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use frozen green beans for this recipe?

While fresh green beans are highly recommended for their crisp texture and vibrant flavor, you can use frozen green beans in a pinch. If using frozen, thaw them first and pat them very dry to remove excess moisture. Keep in mind that their texture might be slightly softer than fresh beans.

What can I substitute for almonds?

If you don’t have almonds or prefer another nut, pecans or walnuts are excellent substitutes. Toast them in the browned butter just as you would the almonds for a similar nutty flavor and crunch. For a nut-free option, consider toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds for texture.

Is there a vegetarian option for this recipe?

Absolutely! To make this recipe vegetarian, omit the bacon. Instead of bacon drippings, use an additional tablespoon of butter or olive oil to sauté the shallots and garlic. You can also add a smoky flavor with a dash of smoked paprika or liquid smoke for a similar savory depth.

How can I make my bacon extra crispy?

For truly crispy bacon, ensure it’s diced into small, even pieces before cooking. Start with a cold pan and cook over medium heat, allowing the fat to render slowly. Don’t overcrowd the pan, as this can steam the bacon instead of crisping it. Once cooked, transfer immediately to a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease.

Can I prepare any components ahead of time?

Yes, you can! The bacon can be cooked and crisped a day or two in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The lemon zest and juice can also be prepped. However, the browned butter almonds are best made fresh to ensure optimal crispness and flavor. The green beans themselves are quick-cooking, so they are best prepared right before serving.

Conclusion: A Simple Side with Sophisticated Flavor

This Green Beans with Bacon recipe is more than just a side dish; it’s a culinary experience that combines simplicity with sophisticated flavors. With the irresistible combination of tender green beans, savory crispy bacon, nutty browned butter, and bright lemon almonds, this dish is guaranteed to become a new family favorite. It’s easy to prepare, visually appealing, and delivers a burst of flavor that complements a wide array of main courses. Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast or preparing a weeknight dinner, these green beans offer a delightful and wholesome addition to your table. Give it a try, and prepare to be amazed by how such simple ingredients can create such an extraordinary taste!