Easy Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon Bits, Peppers and Onion

Take simple Green Beans with Bacon and Onion to the next level with this easy weeknight side dish! The bell peppers and Crispy Fried onions make it!

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These Sauteed Green Beans with crispy bacon bits, French Fried Onions, and bell pepper are an easy side dish that's perfect for a busy weeknight!

Ready in just 20 minutes, this simple side dish takes tender green beans to the next level, with a flavorful spice blend, lager beer, and of course, plenty of bacon flavor from quick and easy bacon bits! Serve these green beans with pork chops, chicken, oven baked brats, or steak for a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love!

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make this quick and easy side dish:

• Butter. You can use salted or unsalted.
• Thinly sliced bell pepper (about 1 large bell pepper, or 6 mini sweet peppers). I love to keep the mini sweet peppers on hand, since they are so easy to throw into recipes, and last pretty long in the fridge!
• A medium yellow onion, diced.
• Fresh garlic cloves.
• Bacon bits. I use the real bacon bits from Aldi! Make sure to use "real" bacon bits, rather than imitation bacon bits, which have a crunchier texture, and won't work great for this recipe.
• Fresh Green beans. Be sure to trim off any tough ends, if needed.
• Salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
• Lager Beer. I use Yuengling.
• French fried Crispy onions, for topping. These add a great flavor and texture to the finished dish, kind of like Green Bean Casserole!

Missing some ingredients? Check out my Substitutions and Additions list below for some great swaps and additions!

How to make Green beans with bacon and onion

This simple recipe for easy green beans is a great side dish for when you need dinner on the table fast, without sacrificing flavor! Here's how to make them:

Cooking Process

1. In a large skillet or saute pan, heat butter over medium heat until melted. 
2. Add peppers and onions, and cook until softened.  
3. Add minced garlic and bacon bits.
4. Add trimmed green beans, seasonings and beer. Toss to coat. 
5. Cover with a lid and cook until green beans are tender and liquid is mostly evaporated. 
6. Stir in crispy onions, and garnish top with additional crispy onions. (See recipe card below for full instructions and ingredients list).

What kind of green beans should I use?

I prefer to use fresh green beans for this recipe, but you could also use frozen green beans or Haricot Verts. If using frozen green beans, be sure to reduce the cooking time to retain the beans' texture for the finished dish.

Substitutions and Additions

This tasty Green Bean side dish is easily adapted to work with your personal preferences, as well as with what you have on hand in your refrigerator and pantry. Here are some great swaps and additions you can use to make this recipe your own!

• Swap the beer for chicken broth or veggie broth.
• If you're like me and save your bacon drippings, you can use leftover bacon fat (or bacon grease) in place of butter.
• Blanch the green beans in boiling water for a few minutes, remove with a slotted spoon to an ice bath, and drain well before cooking to keep them bright green and reduce overall cooking time, if desired (not required).
• Swap the bacon bits for cooked bacon! Just be sure to remove any excess rendered fat. You could use regular or thick-cut bacon for this recipe.
• Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the very end for a bit of brightness.
• Swap the bacon for turkey bacon or pancetta.
• Use pearl onions in place of the diced onion, or swap in diced white or red onion.
• No fresh garlic? Use jarred minced garlic!
• Swap the butter for olive oil.
• Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese over the top with the crispy onions just before serving for a nutty, cheesy flavor!
• Use frozen green beans or Haricot Verts in place of the fresh green beans. Just be sure to reduce the cooking time. You want them to be crisp-tender, so they will take significantly less time to cook once added to the pan.

Storing and Reheating

Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm through in a large skillet with a lid on medium low until heated through.

What to serve with the green beans

These green beans are one of my favorite side dishes to serve with simple weeknight dinners! They go great with baked chicken, pan fried pork chops, or even grilled steak! Serve them with your favorite protein and some buttery new potatoes or mashed potatoes, and you've got one satisfying dinner! They would also make a great Thanksgiving dinner side to go along with your Turkey!

More great side dishes!

If you love this Sauteed Green Beans recipe, you'll love these tasty sides, too!

• Zesty Sauteed Broccolini with Lemon and Garlic.
• Easy Weeknight Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini and Yellow Squash.
• Super flavorful Browned Butter Boursin Mashed Potatoes.
• Easy and homemade Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole.
• The Ultimate Easy Warm Bacon Dressed Potato Salad.

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