Get ready to elevate your green beans with a delicious twist! Picture perfectly seasoned green beans glazed with soy sauce and topped with crispy bacon and water chestnuts. Is your mouth watering yet? Trust me, this is one veggie side dish no one can turn down!
Serve this veggie side dish alongside our Steakhouse-Style Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib or our Simple Oven Roasted Turkey Breast!
Why Our Recipe
- Crispy bacon and water chestnuts add the perfect crunch to your green bean game.
- Simple to make and ready in under 20 minutes.
- Add in a little garlic and a soy sauce glaze for a flavor that’s restaurant-worthy.
Sometimes getting our family to eat vegetables is like pulling teeth—it’s not pretty and can feel like more work than it’s worth. The problem is usually the bland, boring taste. We all know veggies aren’t as sweet or tasty as fruits, and that’s where this delicious recipe comes to the rescue! Whether you’re looking for the perfect side dish for a fancy dinner or just want a tasty vegetable to serve with a family meal, sautéed green beans with bacon and water chestnuts are the answer!
Ingredient Notes
- Bacon: We like thick-cut bacon for this recipe, but you can use any type you prefer, including reduced sodium bacon.
- Green Beans: Fresh green beans from the produce section are best. You can also get them from local farmers or co-ops in your area. Make sure you trim off the ends. You can also use frozen green beans if you like yours a little softer.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves work best, though minced garlic from a jar is a good alternative.
- Water Chestnuts: You can typically find these in the canned vegetable aisle at your local grocery store.
- Soy Sauce: Any kind will work, including reduced-sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
Soft vs. Tender Crisp Green Beans
People usually have feelings about the texture of their green beans. If you want to get that bright, vibrant green color and still have a slight crunch on your green beans, what you are aiming for is called “tender-crisp.” This usually takes about 5–7 minutes of sautéing over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
If you prefer a softer texture, where the beans are more pliable and less crunchy, you’ll just want to cook them for a bit longer, sometimes up to double the time depending on the green bean. That’s when you get more of that army green color to them and they are nice and soft.
Preparing Green Beans
Fresh green beans need to be washed and trimmed before eating. Simply rinse them well in a strainer, then trim off the ends with a knife or snap the ends off with your fingers. For smaller bites, you can also cut or snap the green beans in half before cooking.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Reheat portions in the microwave on high in 30-second increments until heated through. You can also reheat in a pan with a little bit of olive oil or butter and sauté until heated.