Think it's impossible to love green beans? Guess again! These green beans are made extra delish with brown sugar, onions, garlic, and plenty of bacon! Eating your veggies has never been this EASY or tasty and even the pickiest eaters will gobble them up! Perfect for busy weeknights or as a great holiday side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time2 hourshrs
Total Time2 hourshrs10 minutesmins
Course: Sides, Salads & Vegetables
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bacon green beans, fresh green beans with bacon, green beans and bacon, green beans brown sugar bacon, green beans with bacon, green beans with bacon and onions
Servings: 8
Calories: 274kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
½poundbaconcooked, chopped, and reserve the grease*
¼cupunsalted butter
1small to medium white oniondiced small
2 to 4clovesgarlicfinely minced
2cupsreduced sodium chicken broth
½cuplight brown sugarpacked
2tablespoonlow sodium soy sauceor gluten free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos to keep GF
2poundsfresh green beansends trimmed and halved or as desired**
Instructions
To a large high sided sauté pan or Dutch oven, add the bacon and cook over medium-high heat until the bacon is done; stir and flip intermittently. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon, place it on paper towels, and set aside. Keep the bacon grease in the pan.
To the pan, add the butter (if you want to reduce the amount of butter or eliminate it, that's fine, noting the flavor will suffer a bit), onion, garlic, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until onions have softened; stir frequently.
Add the chicken broth, brown sugar, soy sauce, green beans, and simmer over low heat, uncovered for about 2 hours, or until liquid is nearly gone. Notes - You can speed this process up by simmering over medium heat rather than low, and they'll be done in about 45 minutes. However the sauce may not thicken as nicely and the bacon flavor will not infuse as much into the green beans. If you're using canned green beans, simmer over low for 35 to 45 minutes.
After the the liquid is nearly gone, add the reserved bacon, stir to combine, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, just to warm through before serving. Leftover green beans with bacon will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the micro or in a skillet over low heat.
Notes
*I like a thicker cut, fatty, real pork bacon. You can use whatever flavor or type of you prefer from applewood, hickory, etc.I strongly recommend full-fat pork bacon instead of turkey or plant-based bacon for best flavor results. However, if you're trying to keep this side dish vegan, use a plant-based bacon, plant-based butter, and vegetable broth.I like to keep my bacon a little softer rather than real crispy for this recipe but it's personal preference. I also reserve a bit to sprinkle on top for presentation.** Fresh green beans are strongly recommended for best flavor and texture. However, four 14-ounce cans of canned green beans, drained and rinsed, may be substituted in an absolute pinch.