Description
This Quick and Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans recipe combines fresh green beans with savory bacon, sweet brown sugar, and aromatic spices for a comforting and flavorful side dish. Perfect for busy weeknights, it uses simple ingredients and a straightforward skillet method to deliver tender green beans with a hint of sweetness and smoky bacon goodness in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (optional, for added flavor)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside, leaving the bacon grease in the skillet.
- Sauté Onion: Add the diced onion to the skillet with the bacon grease. Cook until the onion is translucent and soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in the brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper with the onions. Cook for another 2 minutes until the mixture is fragrant.
- Cook Green Beans: Add the green beans to the skillet and toss to coat them in the onion and sugar mixture.
- Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth if using, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the green beans cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Combine and Heat Through: Once the green beans are cooked to your desired tenderness, return the cooked bacon to the skillet. Stir well to combine and heat through for about 2 minutes.
- Season and Serve: Season with salt to taste and serve hot.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Trim green bean ends thoroughly for best texture.
- Adjust cooking time slightly depending on desired crispness of green beans.
- Brown sugar can be reduced for less sweetness or substituted with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: Southern green beans, bacon green beans, quick side dish, easy green beans recipe, southern cooking, skillet green beans, bacon side dish
