By Becky Hardin
Published Sep 25, 2023
This Green Beans and Bacon Recipe is filled with bacon, garlic, onions, brown sugar, and a splash of bourbon! Cooking green beans on the stovetop is a quick and easy way to make veggies for your meal, and they turn out perfectly in just 20 minutes. It’s the easiest green bean side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday!
What’s in this Bourbon Bacon Green Beans recipe?
This green beans recipe with bacon is my favorite for Thanksgiving! It’s so quick and easy to make in a skillet on the stovetop, and it’s just delicious.
- Green Beans: For the best flavor and a nice crisp bite, use fresh green beans for this recipe. Clean and trim the ends before cooking.
- Bacon: Chunky pieces of bacon add texture and delicious flavor.
- Onion: Use sweet yellow onion, diced .
- Garlic: Minced garlic adds savory, aromatic flavor. I used 1 clove, but you can add as much as you like.
- Bourbon: A few tablespoons of bourbon adds a splash of rich flavor, with a hint of sweet vanilla.
- Brown Sugar: This adds a deep, sweet flavor to the green beans. I recommend using dark brown sugar!
- Water: This helps to steam the green beans as they cook in the skillet.
- Spices : Use a little bit of salt and pepper to taste, and some red pepper flakes to add a little heat.
Pro Tip: Be sure to keep the bacon grease in the skillet after it finishes cooking because you’ll want to use it to cook the green beans, onion, and garlic!
Variations on Green Beans with Bacon
Cooking these bacon green beans in a skillet is so simple, and you can make a few quick swaps to make it work for you.
Add pre-cooked bacon crumbles at the end, instead of cooking your bacon at the start. You can use olive oil or butter instead of bacon grease. And chicken broth can be used instead of water to help steam the beans. You can also add caramelized onions for even more flavor–just sauté longer, or make them ahead of time.
If you’re looking for more add-in ideas, try adding feta crumbles or chopped and toasted nuts to serve.
Yes. Start by cooking the bacon, then set it aside. Cook the green beans in the same skillet, and add the bacon back in at the end.
This skillet green beans recipe will take 20 minutes start to finish. The beans should take a total of about 15 minutes to cook. Add a few extra minutes if you want softer green beans.
The bourbon adds a rich, deep sweetness with hints of vanilla and caramel that really complements the green beans and bacon. You can use whiskey instead, or skip it entirely, but I highly recommend using it.
When cooking fresh green beans, you’ll want to start by washing and trimming them. Use a paring knife or Chef’s knife to cut off the stems/tough ends. To make it quick, grab a bundle of beans, line up the stems, and chop.
You’ll only need to cover the skillet of green beans for about 2 minutes of cook time, right after adding the water–this will help them steam and soften a little bit. Other than that, cook them uncovered.
Yes! I love using fresh green beans, but you can start with frozen. Thaw them ahead of time if you want it to cook fast. If cooking from frozen, you’ll just need to cook them longer.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover green beans and bacon in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet on the stove until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze skillet green beans in an airtight, freezer-safe container or resealable bag. They will taste best if eaten within 4 months. Thaw them overnight in the freezer before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen (though they will take longer to warm through).
Serving Suggestions (Green Beans for Thanksgiving!)
This green beans recipe is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving , Christmas, and holidays! The mix of brown sugar, bacon, and bourbon create a cozy flavor that complements main dishes like honey baked ham , Thanksgiving turkey , beef tenderloin , and stuffed pork loin .
5-Star Review
“I just found this recipe tonight and made these beans – a HUGE hit! They were marvelous and so simple to make. I plan to make them for Thanksgiving this year. I used bacon bits as was too lazy to fry up bacon and it worked just fine. The crushed red pepper cut down the sweetness nicely and was a great melding.” – Dinny
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 strips bacon diced and cooked until crispy
- ▢ 1 medium sweet yellow onion diced
- ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
- ▢ 1 pound green beans cleaned and ends trimmed
- ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- ▢ ¼ cup water
- ▢ 3 tablespoons bourbon
- ▢ 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
Video
Instructions
- Cut bacon into ½” pieces, then place in 12-inch skillet and cook until crisp, but not burned. Remove from bacon grease (save grease) and set aside bacon to use as garnish. 4 strips bacon
- Add onion to bacon grease and sauté until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook just until garlic blooms (softens and releases it’s oil) approximately 15-30 seconds. 1 medium sweet yellow onion, 1 clove garlic
- Add green beans, black pepper, salt and red pepper flakes then cook until the beans begin to show brown spots, 6-8 minutes over medium heat. 1 pound green beans, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- Add water, cover, and cook 2 minutes. Beans should still be bright green and crisp. ¼ cup water
- Add bourbon and brown sugar and cook 4-5 minutes, uncovered, until beans are barely crisp. Stir often. 3 tablespoons bourbon, 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- Taste the beans and add salt, if needed.
- Sprinkle beans with crisped bacon and serve.
- ENJOY!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Green Beans Recipes We Love
- Green Bean Casserole
- Creamed Green Beans
- Cheesy Baked Green Beans
- Green Beans Almondine
- Loaded Green Bean Casserole
- Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon diced and cooked until crispy
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 pound green beans cleaned and ends trimmed
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
Instructions
- Cut bacon into ½” pieces, then place in 12-inch skillet and cook until crisp, but not burned. Remove from bacon grease (save grease) and set aside bacon to use as garnish. 4 strips bacon
- Add onion to bacon grease and sauté until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook just until garlic blooms (softens and releases it’s oil) approximately 15-30 seconds. 1 medium sweet yellow onion, 1 clove garlic
- Add green beans, black pepper, salt and red pepper flakes then cook until the beans begin to show brown spots, 6-8 minutes over medium heat. 1 pound green beans, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- Add water, cover, and cook 2 minutes. Beans should still be bright green and crisp. ¼ cup water
- Add bourbon and brown sugar and cook 4-5 minutes, uncovered, until beans are barely crisp. Stir often. 3 tablespoons bourbon, 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- Taste the beans and add salt, if needed.
- Sprinkle beans with crisped bacon and serve.
- ENJOY!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
