Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (2024)

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This Green Beans and Bacon Recipe is filled with bacon, garlic, onions, brown sugar, and a splash of bourbon! Cooking green beans on the stovetop is a quick and easy way to make veggies for your meal, and they turn out perfectly in just 20 minutes. It’s the easiest green bean side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday!

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (2)

Table of Contents

What’s in this Bourbon Bacon Green Beans recipe?

This green beans recipe with bacon is my favorite for Thanksgiving! It’s so quick and easy to make in a skillet on the stovetop, and it’s just delicious.

  • Green Beans: For the best flavor and a nice crisp bite, use fresh green beans for this recipe. Clean and trim the ends before cooking.
  • Bacon: Chunky pieces of bacon add texture and delicious flavor.
  • Onion: Use sweet yellow onion, diced.
  • Garlic: Minced garlic adds savory, aromatic flavor. I used 1 clove, but you can add as much as you like.
  • Bourbon: A few tablespoons of bourbon adds a splash of rich flavor, with a hint of sweet vanilla.
  • Brown Sugar: This adds a deep, sweet flavor to the green beans. I recommend using dark brown sugar!
  • Water: This helps to steam the green beans as they cook in the skillet.
  • Spices: Use a little bit of salt and pepper to taste, and some red pepper flakes to add a little heat.

Pro Tip: Be sure to keep the bacon grease in the skillet after it finishes cooking because you’ll want to use it to cook the green beans, onion, and garlic!

Variations on Green Beans with Bacon

Cooking these bacon green beans in a skillet is so simple, and you can make a few quick swaps to make it work for you.

Add pre-cooked bacon crumbles at the end, instead of cooking your bacon at the start. You can use olive oil or butter instead of bacon grease. And chicken broth can be used instead of water to help steam the beans. You can also add caramelized onions for even more flavor–just sauté longer, or make them ahead of time.

If you’re looking for more add-in ideas, try adding feta crumbles or chopped and toasted nuts to serve.

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (3)

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (4)

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Should you cook bacon before adding to green beans?

Yes. Start by cooking the bacon, then set it aside. Cook the green beans in the same skillet, and add the bacon back in at the end.

How long does it take to cook green beans in a skillet?

This skillet green beans recipe will take 20 minutes start to finish. The beans should take a total of about 15 minutes to cook. Add a few extra minutes if you want softer green beans.

Can I skip the bourbon?

The bourbon adds a rich, deep sweetness with hints of vanilla and caramel that really complements the green beans and bacon. You can use whiskey instead, or skip it entirely, but I highly recommend using it.

How do you trim green beans?

When cooking fresh green beans, you’ll want to start by washing and trimming them. Use a paring knife or Chef’s knife to cut off the stems/tough ends. To make it quick, grab a bundle of beans, line up the stems, and chop.

Should I cover green beans while they cook on the stovetop?

You’ll only need to cover the skillet of green beans for about 2 minutes of cook time, right after adding the water–this will help them steam and soften a little bit. Other than that, cook them uncovered.

Can I make this recipe with frozen green beans?

Yes! I love using fresh green beans, but you can start with frozen. Thaw them ahead of time if you want it to cook fast. If cooking from frozen, you’ll just need to cook them longer.

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover green beans and bacon in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet on the stove until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze skillet green beans in an airtight, freezer-safe container or resealable bag. They will taste best if eaten within 4 months. Thaw them overnight in the freezer before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen (though they will take longer to warm through).

Serving Suggestions (Green Beans for Thanksgiving!)

This green beans recipe is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holidays! The mix of brown sugar, bacon, and bourbon create a cozy flavor that complements main dishes like honey baked ham, Thanksgiving turkey, beef tenderloin, and stuffed pork loin.

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5-Star Review

“I just found this recipe tonight and made these beans – a HUGE hit! They were marvelous and so simple to make. I plan to make them for Thanksgiving this year. I used bacon bits as was too lazy to fry up bacon and it worked just fine. The crushed red pepper cut down the sweetness nicely and was a great melding.” – Dinny

Recipe

Green Beans Recipe with Bacon

4.64 from 91 votes

Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (7)

Serves4

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Skillet Green Beans are an easy way to make some veggies for your meal. These bourbon green beans with bacon add some spice, flair, and beauty to any holiday table. It's the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish that's so full of flavor, you'll be blown away!

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Ingredients

  • 4 strips bacon diced and cooked until crispy
  • 1 medium sweet yellow onion diced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 pound green beans cleaned and ends trimmed
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Instructions

  • Cut bacon into ½” pieces, then place in 12-inch skillet and cook until crisp, but not burned. Remove from bacon grease (save grease) and set aside bacon to use as garnish.

    4 strips bacon

  • Add onion to bacon grease and sauté until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook just until garlic blooms (softens and releases it’s oil) approximately 15-30 seconds.

    1 medium sweet yellow onion, 1 clove garlic

  • Add green beans, black pepper, salt and red pepper flakes then cook until the beans begin to show brown spots, 6-8 minutes over medium heat.

    1 pound green beans, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste

  • Add water, cover, and cook 2 minutes. Beans should still be bright green and crisp.

    ¼ cup water

  • Add bourbon and brown sugar and cook 4-5 minutes, uncovered, until beans are barely crisp. Stir often.

    3 tablespoons bourbon, 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

  • Taste the beans and add salt, if needed.

  • Sprinkle beans with crisped bacon and serve.

  • ENJOY!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 199kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 19g (6%) Protein: 5g (10%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) Cholesterol: 14mg (5%) Sodium: 738mg (32%) Potassium: 334mg (10%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 13g (14%) Vitamin A: 785IU (16%) Vitamin C: 16.1mg (20%) Calcium: 56mg (6%) Iron: 1.4mg (8%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (9)

Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (10)

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Green Beans with Bacon Recipe (Thanksgiving Side Dish) (2024)

FAQs

How many green beans per person for Thanksgiving? ›

These baby green beans are easy and fast. We eat them once a week at least, all through the year. For planning purposes figure about 3 ounces per person raw weight.

How many lbs of green beans for 8 people? ›

Yield: 2 pounds of beans will serve 8 as a side dish (½ cup per serving). Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They are great tossed into salads or grain bowls. More beans: This recipe works perfectly for edamame, sugar snap peas, and haricots verts.

How many people eat green bean casserole for Thanksgiving? ›

5. Green Bean Casseroles are served at 20 million Thanksgiving dinners every year.

How many green beans for 50 people? ›

For 50, ¼ cup servings, you need 4.5 pounds of fresh, untrimmed green beans. un l chilled. crisp/tender, then drain, season and enjoy! Batch cook green beans in a commercial steamer for 3-5 minutes.

How much beans do I need for 20 people? ›

Bean Counting

You'll need 20 servings or 10 cups of beans. This means you'll need to cook about two pounds of dry beans this weekend or buy 6 15-oz. cans of beans.

What is a serving size of green beans? ›

One serving is 1 cup of green beans and is about 44 calories, per the USDA.

Should you cook bacon before adding to beans? ›

Directions
  1. Boil the beans in 9 cups of the water and then let sit for one hour. ...
  2. Cook the bacon to your desired texture (it can be soft or crisp, whatever you prefer) and drain except for 1/4 cup grease. ...
  3. Add the onions and celery to the reserved grease and bacon and saute until soft, do not drain.

How many people will 2lbs of beans feed? ›

A 2-pound bag of dry pinto beans is about 24 servings (½ cup) after cooking.

How much is 4 cups of green beans? ›

Notes: ✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Why is green bean casserole the best Thanksgiving dish? ›

Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time.

What is the largest green bean casserole? ›

Green Giant, the frozen and canned food brand, has shattered the Guinness World Record for largest green bean casserole. The massive dish weighed in at 1,009 pounds and was made with an estimated 1,069 cans of Green Giant green beans, 485 cans of mushroom soup, 65 quarts of milk, and 95 pounds of French onions.

Is green bean casserole better with canned or fresh? ›

Green beans from a can have already been cooked to death right in the can and harbor plenty of sodium that could make your casserole too salty. Frozen French-cut green beans are a better option. They hold their texture better than canned, and you can cook them straight from their frozen state.

How many lbs of green beans for 20 people? ›

“When alternative sides are plentiful, assume guests will eat a little less of each and one pound will serve four people,” Hartigan says. “And if vegetarians outnumber carnivores at your table, assume your green beans will go fast and assume that one pound will serve two people.”

How many green beans to feed 100 people? ›

Information in the table below indicates 17 1/2 pounds of frozen green beans can be used for 100 1/2-cup servings in this recipe.

How many servings is 1 lb of beans? ›

One pound dry beans = six cups cooked beans, drained One pound of dry beans makes about 9 servings of baked beans or 12 servings of bean soup. At the grocery store, what should I look for in dry beans?

How many people does 1lb of beans feed? ›

One 15-ounce can of beans equals 1½ cups of cooked beans. One cup dry beans = three cups cooked beans, drained. One pound dry beans = six cups cooked beans, drained One pound of dry beans makes about 9 servings of baked beans or 12 servings of bean soup.

How much food do I need for Thanksgiving for 12 people? ›

I recommend 4 appetizers or bites per person. Most resources out there will recommend between 1 and 2 pounds of turkey per person. I think it's safe to plan for 1 1/2 pounds per person.

How many pounds of vegetables per person for Thanksgiving? ›

Veggie Sides

Sweet potatoes, string beans, corn, roasted veggies, Brussels Sprouts, and the list goes on and on. Most Thanksgiving tables have 2-3 different vegetables served. When planning out how much to make, figure 1/2 cup (1/4 lb) of each per person.

How many green bean plants per person? ›

Green Beans

Pole beans produce longer but take longer to start bearing. For fresh eating, plant 10 (bush)/person or 5 (pole)/person. For preserving, plant 100 (bush) plants or 50 (pole) for 50 pounds of green beans. Planting a mix of bush and pole will maximize your harvest season.

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