Cooking Frozen Green Beans with Bacon, Onion, and Garlic
A simple and flavorful side dish made by sautéing frozen green beans in bacon grease, then adding crispy bacon, minced 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.