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Home Recipe Index Sides & Salads Vegetables

Skillet Green Beans

5 /5
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Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 10/25/23Updated: 10/25/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Elevate your side dish game with this mouthwatering Skillet Green Beans recipe. These crisp-tender green beans are sautéed and then steamed to perfection with the vibrant flavors of red bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Top it off with some crumbly bacon and you’ll be coming back for seconds!

Skillet green beans with red bell pepper and onions on a platter. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Skillet Green Beans
  • Recipes That Go Well With Skillet Green Beans
  • FAQs
  • Skillet Green Beans

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It only has 5 main ingredients. Simple side dishes like our Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or our Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are always a hit because of their simplicity.
  • The flavor is unmatched. Other skillet green bean recipes lack flavor and texture. Not ours! You will also love our Bacon Wrapped Green Beans and our Garlicky Green Beans.
  • It’s a healthy side dish. We love to make vegetables delicious.
  • It’s cooked in one pan. We know you don’t need extra dishes! Similar to our Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies, this recipe only requires one dish.
A hand holding a fork with a bite of green beans on it.

Ingredients

Green beans are the main event in this recipe.

But without the help of a few other players, they wouldn’t taste nearly as good. Here is what you need to take Skillet Green Beans to the next level.

Labeled ingredients for skillet green beans.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Bacon – Cook it until it’s crisp. The crispiness adds texture to this dish when it’s sprinkled on top.
  • Bell Pepper – An orange bell pepper could be a substitution. A colorful bell pepper makes this dish more appealing to the senses.

How to Make Skillet Green Beans

Cook the Bacon

Preheat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add 4 pieces of bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon but leave the grease.

4 pieces of cooked bacon in a skillet.

Sauté the onions and garlic

Add the onions and garlic to the bacon grease and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir the whole time so the garlic doesn’t burn. This gives these aromatics a jumpstart on releasing their flavors.

Diced onion and minced garlic in a skillet with bacon grease.

Add in the Remaining Ingredients

Add in the green beans and give them a toss, so they get coated by the bacon grease, onion, and garlic.

Then toss in the bell pepper, chicken stock, and give it all a stir. Season with the salt and pepper at this point.

A spatula stirring green beans in a skillet.
Diced red bell pepper on top of skillet green beans.

Cook the Green Beans

Once the vegetable mixture starts to simmer, cover them with a lid but leave a small crack so steam can escape.

Cook until vegetables are fork tender. Usually takes about 15-20 minutes (but sometimes longer depending on your green beans). Check regularly.

Sprinkle the cooked bacon on top and enjoy!

Cooked green beans in a skillet with bacon sprinkled over the top.

Recipes That Go Well With Skillet Green Beans

Italian Baked Chicken Thighs on a white platter.

Air Fryer Italian Chicken Thighs

pan seared pork chop on a white plate with mashed potatoes and broccoli

5-Ingredient Pan Seared Pork Chops

Mini chicken burger on a bun with cheese with sweet potato fries and grapes on the side.

Mini Chicken Burgers

Balsamic shredded beef on top of polenta on a white plate with fresh chopped parsley on top.

Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef

FAQs

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, if you are using a large skillet, doubling the recipe should be no problem. Increase the cooking time as needed.

Can I make Skillet Green Beans ahead of time?

This recipe is best fresh. The green beans don’t hold their shape as well when cooled and reheated.

Do I have to use bacon?

No, you can omit the bacon. Use oil or butter to sauté the vegetables instead. You’ll also need to add a little more salt.

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Skillet green beans with red bell pepper and onions on a platter.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review

Skillet Green Beans

Have a picky eater in your house? Try these crowd-pleasing green beans. A touch of bacon grease and a combo of fresh veggies makes a delicious side dish!

Yield: 4 servings 1x
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 35 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 pound green beans, trimmed
  • 1 cup chicken broth, plus more if needed
  • 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Preheat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until it’s crispy. Remove bacon but leave the grease behind. 
  2. To the hot bacon grease, add the garlic and onions and cook for about 1-2 minutes, stirring the whole time. 
  3. Add in the green beans and toss until they are combined with the onion mixture. 
  4. To the skillet, add the chicken broth, chopped red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Bring it to a simmer. 
  5. Turn the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid, leaving the lid cracked to allow steam to escape.
  6. Cook until the beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp. They should be fork tender. Usually takes about 15-20 minutes (but sometimes longer depending on your green beans). Check regularly.
  7. Sprinkle the cooked and crumbled bacon over the top before serving. Taste and add more salt and pepper, as desired.

Notes/Tips

  • Fresh green beans are the only type that will work for this recipe. 
  • If chicken stock evaporates before beans are done, just add more. 
  • If not using bacon, you can sauté the veggies in oil or butter. Just add a little more salt at the end. 
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: American Method: Skillet

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. Carla says

    Posted on 2/14/23 at 2:23 pm

    These are absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  2. nunu` says

    Posted on 3/24/22 at 3:08 am

    How would you adjust this for frozen green beans?

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 3/24/22 at 1:48 pm

      I haven’t tested it with frozen green beans, so I’m not sure. Sorry!

      Reply
  3. Robin price says

    Posted on 12/22/18 at 5:37 am

    These are my favorite green beans ever.

    Reply

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