Green Beans

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Nothing tops green beans with bacon! Cooked to perfection with browned butter, a hint of lemon, and crunchy almonds.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Vegetarian

Keyword: green beans

Servings: as a side

Author: Chelsea Lords

Cost: $8.21

Equipment

Large pan nonstick
Wax paper

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter diced to small pieces
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 lemon
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon chicken stock divided
3 slices bacon diced
1/3 cup shallot very thinly sliced, 3 small shallots
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound green beans see note 1
Salt and pepper

US - Metric

Instructions

Zest and juice lemon to get 1/2 teaspoon zest and 1 tablespoon juice. Set out lemon zest, juice, and chicken stock before starting. Line a plate with wax paper and another plate with paper towels. Set aside.
Melt 2 tablespoons diced butter in large nonstick pan. Once melted, add sliced almonds and cook evenly until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly with a (heatproof) spatula for about 5–8 minutes. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon chicken stock. Continue stirring until liquid thickens, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture onto wax-paper-lined plate and set aside.
Return empty pan to stovetop and add diced bacon. Cook over medium heat, until bacon fat is rendered and bacon is browned. Leave bacon grease behind and remove bacon with a slotted spoon to paper-towel-lined plate. Leave all bacon grease in pan and reduce heat to low. Add thinly sliced shallots and garlic plus a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add in green beans and stir to coat with tongs. Add 1/2 cup chicken stock. Stir again. Cover pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beans are mostly tender, about 7–10 minutes (if liquid has evaporated and beans aren’t tender, reduce heat and add a splash more chicken stock). Remove lid and cook over medium-high heat until all liquid has evaporated, another 2–4 minutes.
Remove from heat and, using the spatula, scrape everything from the wax-paper-lined plate onto the beans (including any butter that has hardened). Add the bacon and gently stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Note 1: Wash and trim if necessary. Alternatively, buy pre-washed green beans for convenience. Make sure beans are fully dry before starting.

Storage: These green beans are best right off the stovetop! If you have leftovers, let them cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on low heat on the stovetop, stirring until warmed through.

Nutrition