Country Style Green Beans W Bacon Onions and Balsamic Vinegar
Elevate your side dish game with these Country-Style Green Beans with Bacon, Onions, and Balsamic Vinegar—a hearty, flavor-packed recipe that brings rustic charm to your table. Tender green beans are infused with smoky, savory notes from thick-cut bacon and sweet caramelized onions, while a touch of balsamic vinegar adds tangy depth and sophistication. A hint of garlic and optional red pepper flakes enhance the dish's complexity, making it an irresistible combination of sweet, smoky, and zesty flavors. Perfect for holidays, weeknight dinners, or potlucks, this easy green bean recipe is ready in just 35 minutes and pairs beautifully with roasted meats or hearty casseroles. Serve warm and watch as this crowd-pleasing side becomes the star of your meal!
Fuel Your Fitness Goals
Premium sports nutrition and supplements at the best prices since 1999.
Over 25 years of sports nutrition excellence
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 medium (finely chopped) yellow onion
- 3 cloves (minced) garlic
- 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 0.5 cup water or chicken broth
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon (optional) red pepper flakes
Instructions
Rinse the green beans under cold water, then trim the ends and cut them in half if they are long.
In a large skillet or sauté pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Once cooled, crumble it into small pieces and set aside.
Drain most of the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft and starts to caramelize, about 5-6 minutes.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
Stir in the green beans, water (or chicken broth), salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cover the skillet and let the green beans steam over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender but still slightly crisp.
Uncover the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Drizzle in the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then stir to coat the green beans evenly.
Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce slightly and the flavors to meld.
Turn off the heat, then sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top of the green beans. Stir gently to combine.
Serve the green beans hot as a side dish and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
175 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 10.2 g | 13% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.3 g | 16% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 25 mg | 8% | |
| Sodium | 652 mg | 28% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 12.3 g | 4% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.7 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.7 g | ||
| Protein | 9.8 g | 20% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 57 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 1.6 mg | 9% | |
| Potassium | 387 mg | 8% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
