Description
Crack green beans bring southern comfort straight to dinner tables with mouthwatering flavor. Home cooks discover an addictive side dish that delivers crispy, savory goodness you’ll crave at every meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (0.95 liters) fresh or frozen green beans (trimmed)
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) unsalted butter
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or Worcestershire sauce for deeper flavor)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings:
- ½ cup (118 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for extra richness)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) freshly chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Render the bacon in a spacious cast-iron skillet over medium flame until golden and crisp. Extract the bacon pieces, preserving approximately two tablespoons of rendered fat within the pan.
- Incorporate butter into the residual bacon drippings, allowing it to melt smoothly. Introduce minced garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, and optional red pepper flakes. Gently toast the aromatics until fragrant and slightly translucent.
- Transfer fresh green beans into the seasoned skillet, ensuring each pod becomes lavishly coated with the herbed butter mixture. Sauté the vegetables, tossing periodically, until they transform into a vibrant emerald color with a delicate crunch – approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Drizzle soy sauce across the beans, creating a savory glaze. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious coating that clings to each green bean.
- Distribute the reserved crispy bacon fragments across the top of the beans. Finish with a delicate garnish of freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and herbaceous brightness. Transfer immediately to a serving dish while piping hot.
Notes
- Bacon Selection Matters: Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness, ensuring a robust taste profile in your green beans.
- Fat Management: Reserve bacon drippings strategically to enhance the dish’s depth without making it overly greasy.
- Texture Perfection: Cook green beans until they’re tender-crisp, avoiding mushy or overly hard vegetables for the best mouthfeel.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cheese off direct heat to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, creamy coating on the green beans.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap bacon for turkey bacon or coconut bacon to create vegetarian and lower-fat versions without compromising taste.
- Spice Control: Adjust red pepper flakes based on heat preference, allowing customization for different spice tolerances.
- Fresh Herb Boost: Use freshly chopped parsley instead of dried to add brightness and a vibrant color to the final dish.
- Seasoning Balance: Go easy on additional salt since bacon and soy sauce are naturally salty ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg