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Homestyle Cast Iron Skillet Green Beans

Everyone at the table will love this recipe for green beans with bacon and shallots. Always popular for Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner.

skillet with green beans with bacon and cooked onion

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

One-pan prep – You’ll cook the beans, onion, and bacon all in one easy-to-clean skillet.

Loaded with flavor – Plenty of salt and pepper with bacon makes the humble green crave-able.

Versatile! – Yummy enough for a holiday meal but easy enough for Thursday night dinner.

This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.

green beans, bacon, onion, chicken stock, and salt and pepper on marble counter
  • Bacon
  • Fresh green beans
  • Small onion
  • Chicken broth or stock. (Either kind is fine!)
  • Salt and pepper
  • A large cast-iron skillet with a lid.  (If you don’t have any cast iron, any heavy large skillet will do)
  • Paper towels
  • Serving dish

🍴Instructions

Step One

skillet with cooked bacon and cooked onion

Cook the bacon on low heat, until crisp and browned in a large heavy-bottomed skillet. Remove to a paper towel- don’t clean it out of course! Add the onion and cook until softened.

Step Two

green beans in skillet being stir-fried then seasoned

Add the green beans and stir, almost like you are stir-frying, until they turn a brighter green.

Add the salt, pepper, chicken broth, and cover the skillet for a few minutes to soften the green beans. How long you cook them at this stage is totally personal preference! I like mine crisp-tender, so I let them cook for about 3 minutes. If you like them soft, leave them a few minutes more.

Step three

Then add the bacon back in and serve right out of the hot skillet!

🥫 Storage instructions

Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips

  • Wash and trim the green beans ahead of time or while the bacon is cooking. You want them ready to go when the time comes.
  • Use the freshest beans you can!
  • You can add fresh garlic with the onions and a splash of lemon juice at the end for more fresh flavors.
  • If you don’t feel like dicing up the bacon, just cook it and crumble it up.

🔍 FAQs

Do I need to add oil or butter to the skillet?

Nope, the bacon makes sure they don’t need any oil or butter.

How long should I cook them in the skillet?

It’s totally up to you. Some people like them softer, some firmer. Taste and decide.

🍽 Serve it with

  • All the traditional Thanksgiving dinner dishes
  • White cheddar scalloped potatoes for a special occasion.  
  • Any main course that needs a veggie dish to make it more exciting. 

📘 Related Recipes

finished green bean side dish with crumbled bacon

📖 Here’s the recipe

close up of skillet full of green beans

Homestyle Green Beans In a Cast-Iron Skillet

Bacon and onion add lots of flavor to fresh beans in this easy recipe. Your skillet is the only pan you need for this simple but delicious side dish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Serving Size 1 pound

Ingredients 

  • 6 slices bacon diced
  • 1/4 cup onion minced
  • 1 pound fresh green beans washed and trimmed
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or stock
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Crisp the bacon. Cook the bacon on low heat, until crisp, in a large, heavy bottomed skillet. Remove to a paper towel to drain.  Do not clean out the skillet
  • Cook the onion. Add the onion and cook until translucent and slightly browned, on medium-low, for about 5 minutes.
  • Cook the beans. Add the green beans and stir fry on medium until bright green but still crisp.  Add the chicken broth and cover for 2-3 minutes until green beans are crisp-tender.  (If you prefer them softer, cook an additional 2-5 minutes.)
  • Season. Add the salt and pepper.   Check for seasonings and add more if needed.  Serve immediately.

Notes

Add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes with the onion if you like spicy food.  
Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 2364mg | Potassium: 1029mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 3136IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 5mg

Hope you enjoy this recipe!

picture of smiling female

By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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