Cooking Frozen Green Beans with Bacon, Onion, and Garlic
Cooking frozen green beans with bacon, onion, and garlic is quick, easy, and delicious. Perfect for busy weeknights or as a crowd-pleaser during the holidays, this dish is so good that you might find yourself sneaking extra bites straight from the skillet! If you’re looking for a simple, flavorful side dish, this stovetop recipe is what you need.
This recipe makes about four servings (¾ cup each), but it’s easy to double for larger gatherings like Thanksgiving or Christmas. With minimal prep and just a handful of ingredients, you’ll have a side dish that’s big on flavor but doesn’t overcomplicate your cooking.
If you like green beans with bacon, check out my New Potatoes with Green Beans and Bacon recipe. It’s another simple, flavorful dish that combines the richness of bacon with tender green beans for a perfect side dish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple is Delicious: This dish proves you don’t need a long list of ingredients for incredible flavor. Bacon, onion, and garlic are all you need to elevate frozen green beans.
- One-Skillet Wonder: Everything cooks in the same pan, making this recipe easy and low-mess.
- Stovetop Simplicity: No oven required! This stovetop recipe is quick to make and keeps the kitchen cool.
- Bacon Makes Everything Better: The bacon adds a crispy texture and smoky flavor, while the grease infuses the green beans for a rich, savory taste.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: This recipe is great for weeknight dinners or holiday feasts. Double the ingredients for larger gatherings like Thanksgiving or Christmas, and it’s guaranteed to be a hit.
Kitchen Tools (affiliate links): large cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- Green Beans: Frozen green beans are the star of this recipe—easy to use and flavorful.
- Bacon: Adds smoky, savory flavor to the dish. Cut into small pieces for even cooking.
- Dried Minced Onion: A convenient option that provides the sweetness and flavor of fresh onion without the prep.
- Dried Minced Garlic: Simple and flavorful, it brings depth to the dish.
- Salt and Pepper: The perfect seasonings to enhance the overall flavors.
- Bacon Grease: Use the grease left over from cooking the bacon to coat and cook the green beans for a rich, flavorful finish.
Step-by-Step Cooking Frozen Green Beans
Step 1: Heat the Skillet
- Place a cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
- Cut the bacon into small pieces (about 1″) using kitchen scissors and add them directly to the hot skillet. Cook the bacon for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined dish. Carefully drain the skillet, leaving 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease behind.
Step 3: Cook the Green Beans
- Add the frozen green beans to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Toss to coat them evenly, then cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Step 4: Add Onion and Garlic
- Sprinkle the dried minced onion and garlic over the green beans. Stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Be cautious not to let the garlic burn.
Step 5: Combine and Season
- Return the cooked bacon to the skillet and stir everything together. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6: Serve
- Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust Bacon Grease as Needed: If you’re cooking only 5 pieces of bacon, you may not need to drain any grease from the pan before adding the green beans. The amount of grease depends on how fatty your bacon is, so adjust accordingly.
- Use the Right Skillet Size: Make sure to use a large enough skillet so the green beans have room to cook evenly. Overcrowding the pan can cause uneven cooking and steaming instead of sautéing.
- Taste as You Go: Check the green beans for tenderness as they cook. You want them soft but not mushy.
Cooking Frozen Green Beans with Bacon, Onion, and Garlic
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet No.10 Field Skillet 11 ⅝
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag frozen green beans
- 5 pieces bacon, cut into 1" slices
- 1 teaspoon garlic (dried, minced)
- 1 teaspoon onion (dried, minced)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place a cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Cut the bacon into small pieces (about 1″) using kitchen scissors and add them directly to the hot skillet. Cook the bacon for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined dish. Carefully drain the skillet, leaving 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease behind.
- Add the frozen green beans to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Toss to coat them evenly, then cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
- Sprinkle the dried minced onion and garlic over the green beans. Stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Be cautious not to let the garlic burn.
- Return the cooked bacon to the skillet and stir everything together. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust Bacon Grease as Needed: If you’re cooking only 5 pieces of bacon, you may not need to drain any grease from the pan before adding the green beans. The amount of grease depends on how fatty your bacon is, so adjust accordingly.
- Use the Right Skillet Size: Make sure to use a large enough skillet so the green beans have room to cook evenly. Overcrowding the pan can cause uneven cooking and steaming instead of sautéing.
- Taste as You Go: Check the green beans for tenderness as they cook. You want them soft but not mushy.
About Sarah
Wife. Mother. From-Scratch Cook. Homemaker.
I’m Sarah, the creator of Rocky Hedge Farm, where I share my love for simple living, homemade meals, and creating a cozy home. As a wife and mother, I’m passionate about slowing down, cooking from scratch, and finding joy in the everyday moments of life. From DIY projects and family-friendly recipes, I hope to inspire others to embrace a life rooted in simplicity and warmth.
