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Bacon & Citrus Green Beans with Crispy Garlic

weeknightvegetable-sidequick
10 minPrep20 minCook4Serves

Ingredients

  • 6 slicesbacon
  • 1 poundgreen beans
  • 4 clovesgarlic
  • 1lemon
  • 2 tablespoonolive oil
  • ·salt
  • ·black pepper

Prep

  1. 01

    Trim the stem ends off 1 pound green beans.

  2. 02

    Mince 4 cloves garlic.

Method

  1. 01

    Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel, let cool slightly, then break into bite-sized pieces.

  2. 02

    Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the skillet. Add olive oil and minced garlic; cook over medium heat for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

  3. 03

    Add green beans to the skillet, tossing to coat in the oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper.

  4. 04

    Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes until green beans are tender-crisp and lightly browned in places.

  5. 05

    Squeeze juice from the lemon into the skillet and stir. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

  6. 06

    Transfer to a serving dish and top with bacon pieces. Serve immediately.

Spice Tips

For a gentle heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when cooking the garlic. To deepen the savory note, finish with a crack of Aleppo pepper or smoked paprika. A small pinch of fresh thyme stirred in at the end adds herbal brightness without overwhelming the citrus.

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