Green Beans with Bacon and Onion

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Green beans are steamed with onions and then tossed in a vinegarette dressing and sprinkled with crispy pieces of bacon.
Green beans with bacon on a white plate

Green beans with bacon and onions are made with steamed green beans and onions then tossed in a vinaigrette crispy bacon crumbles. It’s a family favorite that is the perfect side dish for any occasion.

This recipe was originally posted in July 2017, it’s been updated for content and photos.

Green beans and onions with bacon on a white plate

This easy green bean recipe is similar to southern green beans which are cooked with bacon in bacon grease. I lightened it up by cooking bacon in the oven and using an olive oil-based vinaigrette to flavor the beans. It’s just as flavorful as the traditional version.

If you are looking for a vegetarian green bean recipe, try our green beans with almonds recipe.

Recipe highlights

  • A simple side dish that everyone will love, even picky eaters, because Bacon! Makes everything taste better.
  • It’s a healthier way to enjoy green beans and bacon; the green beans are tossed in a vinaigrette made with olive oil, not bacon drippings.

Here is what you will need

Equipment

How to make healthy green beans and bacon

Prepare the ingredients: Chop the onions, clean and trim the fresh beans. Mix up the vinaigrette.

Cook the bacon; I like to cook strips of bacon in the oven in a cast iron skillet, or in a roasting pan, but you can cook it any way that you like to cook your bacon.

Green beans and onions in a pan not cooked

Step 1. Steam the green beans

Add a little water, just enough to cover the bottom of a medium saucepan. Add the trimmed whole green beans and chopped onion. Cover the pan and cook the green beans over medium-high heat until the water starts to boil. Reduce to medium heat, and cook until beans are tender; about 15 minutes.

green beans onions in pan cooked

Step 2. Drain the green beans

Remove the pan from the stove and drain the beans.

green beans in a pan with dressing being added

Step 3. Add the vinaigrette

Pour the vinaigrette over the green beans.

green beans onions in a pan with baking being added

Step 4. Add bacon

Once the bacon is cooked drain it from the bacon fat and place it on a paper towel. Once it cools off, crumble it and add it to the green bean mixture in the pan.

Note: Don’t overcook the beans. They should be crisp-tender or tender and not mushy.

Ingredient Notes

The complete list of ingredients to make this recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.

Green beans – the best beans to use in this recipe are fresh, trimmed, and cut green beans. If they are not available, frozen green beans can be substituted. 

If frozen green beans are used to make this recipe, cook them according to the directions on the package. Once the frozen beans are almost cooked, add the onions and let them steam for a few minutes with the beans.

Onion – Any type of onion can be used to make this recipe. My preference is a yellow onion or a white onion. Sometimes I will use red onion to add a little extra color to the dish.

Vinegar – I use apple cider vinegar to make this recipe, it is slightly sweeter than red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar.

Green beans in a sauce pan with a wooden spoon

Make Ahead Instructions

This recipe is an easy recipe to prepare up to 3 days ahead of time, here is how:

Cook the bacon, clean and trim the green beans, do not cook them. Store all of the ingredients separately in the refrigerator. 

Just before serving, steam the green beans and onions, mix up the dressing, and put it all together. 

a close up of green beans with bacon and onions in a bowl

Recipe variations

Try making different variations of green beans and bacon, here are some suggestions:

Green beans bacon and potatoes – Stir in 1/2 cup diced, cooked potatoes to the pan with the bacon.

Green beans bacon and tomatoes – Add 1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes to the pan. Stir until they are heated through.

Add fresh herbs – Sprinkle the green beans with chopped fresh herbs.

Green beans shallots and bacon – Replace the onions with chopped shallots.

Spicy green beans – Add up to a teaspoon to taste of red pepper flakes.

How to store leftovers

Store leftover green beans and bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy them cold or heat them up on top of the stove or in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions 

These tasty green beans and bacon with grilled chickenmeatloaf, chicken murphy, pork chops or steak.  

Green Beans on a white platter with a spooon

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Green beans with bacon on a white plate

Green Beans and Bacon

Green beans are steamed with onions and then tossed in a vinegarette dressing and sprinkled with crispy pieces of bacon.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Click on serving size to scale this recipe

Course: Side Dish Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: green beans and bacon, green beans with bacon
Servings: 4
Calories: 135kcal
Author: Anne
Scale this Recipe 4

Ingredients

  • 2 slices of bacon cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1 pound green beans trimmed
  • 1 small onion sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup water approximately

Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Instructions

  • Add just enough water to cover the bottom of a medium saucepan and add the green beans and onions.
  • Steam the beans and onions over medium-low heat for approximately 15 minutes until the beans are crisp-tender. 
  • Drain the water from the beans and onions.
  • Mix the dressing ingredients together and pour it over the beans.
  • Sprinkle the beans and onions with bacon crumbles and serve

Notes

Store leftover green beans and onions in the refrigerator for up to four days. Freezing is recommended.
See serving suggestions and recipe variations in the post above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 | Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 100mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

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4 Comments

  1. What a great way to jazz up summer green beans! These look so flavorful and the bacon is a perfect addition.

  2. Green beans are our favorite vegetable – and you made them even better by adding bacon!