This green bean recipe is a savory side dish made with onion, shallot, and bacon. It’s the perfect green beans side for Thanksgiving day!

old fashioned green beans with bacon

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we love a good Old Fashioned Green Beans with Bacon side dish. This one is a favorite made with bacon (the way my mom would make green beans), and shallots and onion. It’s easy, and big and little kids devour this dish every time we serve it.

Onion Shallot Bacon Green Bean Recipe

Always start with blanching the green beans. This way they’ll be crunchy, but not undercooked.

Caramelize the bacon, onions, and shallots to a golden perfection.

Right before it’s time to serve the main meal, add the chilled, blanched green beans to the bacon mixture. Add 1/2 cup of water and steam for about 3-5 minutes.

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So very caramel-y, flavorful, crunchy, and the perfect side dish.

green beans bacon shallots Ingredients for Thanksgiving Green Beans

Let’s get started with these ingredients:

  • Fresh green beans
  • Thick cut bacon
  • Butter
  • Shallots
  • Onion

Onion Shallot Bacon Green Bean Recipe

How do you make side dish green beans?

  1. In a large boiling pot of water, cook the beans until crisp-tender and bright green for 3-4 minutes.
  2. To blanch the beans, drain and rinse under cold water, pouring immediately into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
  3. Drain well. Pat dry with paper towels. You can prepare ahead of time by wrapping the beans in paper towels; enclosed in Ziploc bag and refrigerate.
  4. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain.
  5. Discard all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat in skillet and add butter, melting over medium heat. Add the shallots and onion and sauté until caramelized and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Turn the heat off and place a lid on top.
  6. Right before serving, add the beans and bacon with 1/2 cup of water, placing the lid back on. Sauté until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve!

green beans with bacon

Tips and substitutions:

Add pancetta in place of bacon.

Optional to omit butter and use only the bacon fat.

Add 1 tsp. of cayenne pepper to add a kick. 

More green bean recipes to try:

Roasted Lemon Salmon with Green Beans and Potatoes

Green Beans Blue Cheese Salad

Cashew Green Beans with Orange Zest

Green Bean Casserole

old fashioned green beans with bacon
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Old Fashioned Green Beans with Bacon

Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 10
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 ½ pounds green beans, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 8 bacon slices, thinly sliced crosswise
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ⅔ cup finely chopped shallots, about 4 large
  • ½ medium onion, finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a large boiling pot of water, cook the beans until crisp-tender and bright green for 3-4 minutes.
  • To blanch the beans, drain and rinse under cold water, pouring immediately into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
  • Drain well. Pat dry with paper towels. You can prepare ahead of time by wrapping the beans in paper towels; enclosed in Ziploc bag and refrigerate.
  • Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain.
  • Discard all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat in skillet and add butter, melting over medium heat. Add the shallots and onion and sauté until caramelized and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Turn the heat off and place a lid on top.
  • Right before serving, add the beans and bacon with 1/2 cup of water, placing the lid back on. Sauté until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve!
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer
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Thanksgiving side dish green beans