1-Getting started with green beans with bacon begins with gathering your ingredients and setting up your space. Wash and trim your green beans, dice the bacon, and mince the garlic to ensure everything moves smoothly. This setup is crucial for a recipe like green beans with bacon that comes together quickly.

2-To start, heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and cook the bacon until crisp, about 6-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and set it aside, leaving 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan. This step sets the foundation for the flavors in green beans with bacon. For tips on crisp bacon, you might enjoy this guide on how to cook bacon on the stovetop. If you’re looking for more skillet ideas, check out our creamy beef pasta recipe for inspiration.

3-Next, rinse the trimmed green beans and shake off most of the moisture, but keep them slightly damp. Return the skillet to medium-high heat, add the green beans, and toss them in the bacon fat. Cover and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the green beans are charred and almost tender, about 6 minutes.

4-Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until it’s lightly golden and fragrant. Return the cooked bacon to the skillet, toss everything together, and cook for another minute. Finally, remove from heat, add the cracked black pepper, toss, and season with salt if needed.