Green Beans with Bacon and Onions – use convenient, frozen green beans to make this great side dish for a family-friendly dinner.
When we move from warmer seasons into fall and winter, I always start to rely on food from my freezer more and more. Just because fresh produce isn’t as plentiful during the winter months, doesn’t mean we have to give up our veggies and fruits. When you shop your grocer’s frozen foods section, you can enjoy your favorites any day of the year!
Are you familiar with the Frozen Food Foundation? I didn’t know much about it until recently, but it’s a non-profit organization that is dedicated to fostering scientific research, public awareness, and industry education about the nutritional and safety attributes of frozen foods.
The FFF recently partnered with The University of California, Davis, to conduct a study that showed that frozen fruits and vegetables are generally nutritionally equal to, and sometimes even better than, the fresh counterparts. Frozen foods were analyzed under a variety of conditions and they found that by freezing, or using nature’s “pause button,” we can enjoy almost the identical level of nutrients from frozen foods as from fresh!
The cost of frozen fruits and veggies compared to their out of season counterparts makes them a good budgetary choice, too.
We all know that Americans (nearly 80% actually!) don’t consume enough fruit, but did you know that nearly 90% fail to meet dietary recommendations for vegetables! I had no idea the percentage was that high.
Fruits and veggies contain essential nutrients and their consumption can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Because of the increasing rate of chronic diseases across all age groups, eating a fruit and veggie rich diet is so important.
I purchase and use frozen fruits and vegetables regularly. One of our favorites recipes using frozen vegetables is this one for Green Beans with Bacon and Onions. It’s quick and easy to prepare and you probably have everything you need to make it in your kitchen right now!
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
Cook the green beans according to the package directions. Drain well.
In a small skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Drain and set aside.
While the beans and bacon are cooking and draining, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden brown.
Add the drained green beans, crumbled bacon, and red wine vinegar to the skillet with the browned onion. Toss well and serve immediately.
🧾 More Recipes You’ll Like
- Old Fashioned Southern Green Beans
- Green Beans Caesar
- Braised Green Beans
- Barbecued Green Beans
- Potato and Green Bean Salad
- Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes
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Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen cut green beans
- 3 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion sliced or chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Cook the green beans according to the package directions. Drain well.
- In a small skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Drain and set aside.
- While the beans and bacon are cooking and draining, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden brown.
- Add the drained green beans, crumbled bacon, and red wine vinegar to the skillet with the browned onion. Toss well and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
Green beans with bacon & onions is great but I skipped the olive oil & cooked the onions in the bacon greese. Very tasty.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
What a great looking dish! My grandmother always used to sneak in a little bacon (and bacon grease) to her green beans. It’s my favorite way to eat beans. I love that you threw in a little onions too…yum!
Mmm…green beans with bacon is the best! With 6 months of snow around here, I’m super thankful to have fresh-frozen fruits and veggies on hand in the off seasons.
Those look fabulous. Don’t you just love how frozen fruits and vegetables hold their freshness and nutrition? And, no snapping beans, shelling peas, etc! A win all the way around.
Miss P
I especially like the no snapping or shelling aspect :-)
THis is EXACTLY how I make my green beans too! GMTA! Or just cook alike :)
So good aren’t they, Nikki!?
This sounds like such a great side dish… but then again, pretty much anything with bacon is a win in my books. :) Bet this would be lovely with frozen green peas, too.
Absolutely Isabelle! Or with frozen yellow squash, or zucchini, or tiny lima beans, or…
Mmmm…green beans with bacon and onions is one of my favorite sides (okay, I’ll eat ’em like a meal) ever! And I always keep frozen veggies and fruit in my freezer, it’s nice to always have an option at your fingertips. :)
Right! I like knowing that my freezer is full of options when I’m not sure what to cook for dinner :-)
I love using frozen green beans! They never go bad in and are always tasty!
I agree! I think there’s always at least one bag of them in my freezer.
We here absolutely love green beans it’s our go to vegetable among other favorites. Love the caramelization of the onions here, Lana. It must have brought out so much flavor!
We love them, too, but after a couple of times a week they can get a bit boring. Adding a little bacon and onion is a great way to add some interest.
Anything with bacon and I’m on board!
Me too, Ashley! Bacon is definitely my weakness!