Southern Green Beans with Bacon

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These Southern Green Beans with Bacon are tender and perfectly seasoned, making them the ultimate side dish recipe!

Serve up this Southern Green Beans recipe with some other holiday meals like Thanksgiving Stuffing, Dry Brine Roasted Turkey, and Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole!

Once you try this easy green bean recipe, you’ll never go back to boring green beans again!

Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this classic Southern side dish. First up, we have the thick-cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon is meatier, giving a smokier, fattier flavor to the dish. Next up, we have fresh green beans. We’re using fresh green beans for this recipe, but you can use canned green beans if that’s all you have. Then, for the ultimate flavor combo – butter and almonds. We’re browning the butter and almonds, which adds so much flavor to these tender green beans!

Ingredients Needed

Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need in order to whip up Green Beans with Bacon. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the printable recipe card below.

Thick-cut bacon
Green beans – Fresh green beans.
Chicken broth
Garlic powder
Butter
Almonds – Sliced almonds.

ingredients on wooden surface with bacon and green beans.

How To Make Bacon Green Beans

With simple ingredients and easy steps, this easy recipe will become one of your new favorite side dishes!

COOK BACON

Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven or large pot until crisp, then drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Cut into pieces.

SIMMER

Reserve the bacon grease and add the beans, water, broth, garlic powder, seasoning, salt, and pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until the beans are tender. Drain the beans into a strainer and return the pot to the stovetop.

cooking fresh green beans in broth with seasoning.

ADD BUTTER AND ALMONDS

Add the butter and almonds to the pot and cook over medium heat, swirling the pot, until the butter becomes golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma.

sautéing butter and almonds in black pan.

STIR AND SERVE

Stir the beans and crispy bacon into the butter and heat through, making sure to coat everything with the butter. Serve warm alongside your main dish. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Feel free to swap out different types of nuts for the almonds, like walnuts or pecans!
Want more spice? Add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the green beans!
Sauté some onion with the butter for even more flavorful green beans!

black skillet with green beans, bacon and almonds.

Make Ahead and Storage

To make the cooking process easier, you can make these Green Beans with Bacon ahead of time. Cook the recipe like normal and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to serve, heat everything up in a large pot on the stove until warm.

Another way you could make this recipe ahead is to cut the green beans and sauté the bacon a day before. Then, when you’re ready to serve, cook the rest of the recipe and serve hot.

If you have any leftover green beans, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

white serving dish with green beans and bacon.

Common Questions

What type of green beans should I use for these Southern Green Beans?

You can use any type of fresh beans you like! Some great options are string beans and pole beans! Alternatively, you can use a can of green beans, but I HIGHLY recommend using fresh as it adds to the flavor of the dish.

Can I use a different meat besides bacon in these Bacon Green Beans?

Absolutely! Feel free to use thick-cut ham and dice it into pieces. Then, sauté it like you would bacon for that depth of flavor.

Can I make this recipe in a crock pot?

I recommend making this recipe as instructed. However, I do have a Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole if you want to use a crock pot instead!

More Green Bean Recipes

If you love this simple side dish, you’ll love these other side dish recipes…

Spoonful of bacon and almond green beans with butter.

This perfect side dish is perfect for everything from special occasions like Thanksgiving dinner to a simple Sunday dinner! If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below!

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Last updated on November 28, 2023 12:00 pm

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These Southern Green Beans with Bacon and Almonds are a side dish recipe that's a staple at any holiday dinner! Full of flavor and super easy to make, my whole family loves these!

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