Hi everyone! My recipe for you today is Green Beans and Bacon. Bright, fresh green beans combined with butter, bacon, garlic and breadcrumbs – yeah, that’s right…green beans just went up a notch!
As we all know, bacon makes everything better – then I’ve added some buttery garlic crunch. So there you have it, my newest favourite side dish, green beans and bacon.
Ingredients for Green Beans and Bacon
- fresh green beans
- bacon
- butter
- garlic
- panko breadcrumbs
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
What are panko breadcrumbs?
They are light, crisp Japanese breadcrumbs that are crunchy straight from the package.
In Australia you will find them in the Asian foods section of most large supermarkets.
How to make green beans and bacon
- Trim your green beans, I then cut them in half but this is optional – see Image 1.
- Roughly chop the bacon – see Image 2.
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- Image 1.
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- Image 2.
- Simmer the beans in a large pot of water until just tender – see Image 3 (plus steam!). Once cooked, drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a frypan and cook bacon until crisp – see Image 4.
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- Image 3.
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- Image 4.
- Once bacon is crisp, add butter to frypan and allow to melt – see Image 5.
- Then add garlic and panko breadcrumbs, and stir to combine – see Image 6.
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- Image 5.
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- Image 6.
- Continue to fry until breadcrumbs start to crisp and become brown – see Image 7.
- Add beans to frypan, stirring to combine and reheat – see Image 8.
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- Image 7.
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- Image 8.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
My top tips for cooking green beans with bacon
- I like to boil my beans, but you could also steam or microwave them – whichever you like.
- My suggestion is to salt the dish at the end, just before serving. Some bacon is saltier than others, so I like to add any salt after the bacon has been added.
- Once the beans have been trimmed, I then chop mine in half. Just personal preference! You could cut them smaller, or leave them whole too.
This dish also makes a quick but impressive dinner party side, not just your average green beans!
More side dishes you may like
Lemon Beans – another quick and simple side dish with fresh green beans.
Garlic Butter Mushrooms – plump, juicy mushrooms sauteed in butter and garlic.
Pan Fried Asparagus – tender-crisp asparagus spears with crunchy garlic crumbs.
Enjoy!
Lee-Ann
Green Beans and Bacon
Green Beans and Bacon - bright, fresh green beans combined with butter, bacon, garlic and panko breadcrumbs. Take your green beans up a notch!
Ingredients
- 500 g fresh green beans 18oz - trimmed and halved
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 bacon rashers roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves crushed/minced
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
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Simmer the beans (500g/18oz) in a large pot of water until just tender. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
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Meanwhile, heat olive oil (2 tsp) in a frypan and cook bacon (2 rashers) until crisp.
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Once bacon is crisp, add butter (2 tbsp) to frypan and allow to melt. Then add garlic (2 cloves) and panko breadcrumbs (½ cup), then stir to combine.
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Continue to fry until breadcrumbs start to crisp and become brown.
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Add beans to frypan, stirring to combine and reheat.
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Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
I like to boil my beans, but you could also steam or microwave them - whichever you like.
My suggestion is to salt the dish at the end, just before serving. Some bacon is saltier than others, so I like to add any salt after the bacon has been added.
Once the beans have been trimmed, I then chop mine in half. Just personal preference! You could cut them smaller, or leave them whole too.
*Please note that the amount of calories per serve is provided as a guide only, as ingredients and cooking methods can vary greatly*
