Crave-worthy Green Beans with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

Green beans with bacon and caramelized onion equal an OMG-good dish, any day. This is one of my favorite recipes when I’m in need of a quick and easy green bean dish. Here’s how I make it.

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

• Prepare the pot. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add one teaspoon of salt.
• Trim the green beans before adding them into the pot.
• Cook until tender. Usually 5 to 6 minutes should be long enough.
• Transfer to a bowl with ice and water. Transfer right away to this bowl to stop it from cooking further (which will overcook it).
• Drain. Drain the green beans in a colander. The green beans should be a vibrant green at this point. If you overcooked it, it will be a dull green.
• Prepare the bacon. Use a large skillet to cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon slices from the skillet and chop each of them into small pieces and set aside.
• Prepare the onion. Peel the onion and cut into ½ inch wedges.
• Caramelize the onion. Using the same skillet that you cooked the bacon in, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Next, add the apple cider vinegar and brown sugar and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the onions are golden brown.
• Toss. Add the green beans in with the onion and toss to combine.
• Add the bacon. Stir in the chopped bacon pieces.
• Season. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Serve. Serve immediately.

3 of the Best Health Benefits of Green Beans

It should come as no surprise that green beans are incredibly good for you. Here are 3 of the best evidence-based health benefits that you can gain by including green beans in your diet:

• Incredibly nutrient-dense. Green beans are absolutely loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other micronutrients. They’re particularly rich in both vitamin A and vitamin C; two important antioxidants that help to protect against disease. (1)(2)
• Excellent source of fiber. Green beans are loaded with dietary fiber; a single one cup serving size of cooked green beans provides you with 4 grams of fiber. Dietary fiber helps to keep your gut healthy and may even help to protect against cardiovascular disease. (3)
• Promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. As mentioned above, green beans are rich in both vitamin A and vitamin C. Both of these antioxidants help to promote healthy skin, hair, and nails in two ways: by protecting against oxidative stress, and by increasing natural collagen production in the body. (4)

Can I Freeze These Green Beans?

You can definitely freeze both your cooked green beans and caramelized onions if you’re planning on making this recipe in bulk to freeze the leftovers.

You’ll first want to let the beans and onions cool completely when you’re done making the recipe. Then transfer into either freezer-safe containers or airtight bags and store for up to 3 months.

More Good Green Bean Recipes:

• Sauteed Green Bean Almondine
• Quick and Easy Garlic Roasted Green Beans
• Easy 3-Ingredient Grilled Green Beans Wrapped in Foil
• Tangy Green Bean Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

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