Green Beans with Bacon, Garlic, and Parmesan

Green beans with bacon, garlic, and Parmesan cheese is a flavorful, crowd-pleasing savory side dish that will complement any main course! Enjoy it year-round, pairing it with steaks, grilled meats, chicken, or seafood. It is also an excellent festive addition to holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword green beans with bacon

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 217kcal

Author Julia

Ingredients

12 ounces fresh green beans rinsed, ends trimmed
5 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 strips bacon cooked or raw
1 cup shredded parmesan
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Note: This recipe calls for pre-cooked bacon. I used raw bacon, cooking it on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or longer, until it reached the desired crispiness. Then, I drained the cooked bacon on paper towels on a plate.
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add green beans, and cook for 3-5 minutes. Drain.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped garlic and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Add the drained green beans to the skillet and cook for 2 more minutes.
Top with chopped cooked bacon and shredded cheese. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
Bake for 5 minutes, just until the cheese softens and melts slightly. Avoid overbaking to prevent the cheese from separating. Alternatively, broil briefly.

Notes

Green beans: Choose fresh, firm, blemish-free beans. Rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove dirt, then trim the stem ends before cooking.
How to serve it: Best enjoyed hot or at room temperature—avoid serving cold.
Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze within 24 hours. Reheat in the microwave (30-second intervals) or bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Additions: Add finely chopped onions and sauté them with the garlic before adding the green beans. You can add toasted pine nuts, almonds, or walnuts right before serving.
Substitutions:
- Veggies: You can use fresh green beans, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts.
- Bacon: Use pre-cooked bacon or swap for crisped prosciutto.
- Cheese: You can use freshly grated Parmesan, Gruyere, or Asiago.

Nutrition