Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon

Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon is a delicious way to cook fresh green beans and it’s a lighter, healthier side dish than the traditional casserole.

Easy sauteed green beans with bacon is the best way to to cook fresh green beans. It’s a simple recipe, but it gets up with lemon, Parmesan cheese and BACON! If you’re looking for an easy holiday side dish, you’ll love these delicious pan fried green beans!

We used to always have traditional green bean casserole on the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but honestly, I was never a huge fan. Yes, I admit it! So when I started hosting holiday dinners, I decided to shake things up a little, and the casserole was one of the first things to go.

I’m not usually one to mess with tradition, but if you honestly don’t care for a certain dish, go for it! Actually, the kids never liked the casserole either, and everyone else was fine with the change, so no hurt feelings anywhere.

Besides, I like to think that by serving lighter side dishes, I’ll have more room for dessert, which is probably my favorite part of the meal! And by cooking the green beans on the stove, you’ll have one less dish to bake.

How to saute fresh green beans

I usually buy a bag of fresh green beans from the store and prep them right before it’s time to cook them. They usually don’t take a lot of prep work other than a good rinsing, but sometimes, there are still a few stems attached, and of course, you want to get rid of those.

Can you pan fry fresh green beans?

Yes, you can definitely pan fry fresh green beans! I do this all the time, and I think it’s the best way to cook fresh green beans.

Can you saute green beans without blanching?

Of course! Even though some cooks like to blanch the beans first, I never do, and they’re always perfectly cooked! Plus, there’s one less pan to wash.

Just heat up some olive oil and butter, and saute the beans along with some cooked bacon and a little Parm. I usually cook enough bacon over the weekend so that we’ll have leftovers to chop up into the beans.

It only takes a few minutes before they’re ready to go. Some get a little softer, and some are a little brown and crispy, but they’re all good! I also season the green beans with a little sea salt and pepper for maximum flavor.

Right before serving, I like to add a little lemon juice, just for some extra freshness. And that’s all, folks!

Looking for more easy holiday side dish recipes?

• Sauteed Asparagus
• Stove Top Candied Yams
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Corn Casserole

Recipe for Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon

Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon

Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon made with fresh green beans sauteed until tender and topped with bacon and lemon juice is a light, healthy side dish perfect for holiday dinners or every day! 

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy sauteed green beans with bacon

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 90kcal

Author: Dee

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice I usually just squeeze some over the beans
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

• In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
  
• Add the green beans and bacon, and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently or until beans are slightly soft. Add more butter or olive oil, if necessary 
• Add salt and pepper, and the shredded Parmesan cheese.
• Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice right before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 17.6% | Vitamin C: 16.8% | Calcium: 11.1% | Iron: 6.9%

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