Description
A delicious side dish of tender green beans cooked in a creamy Parmesan sauce enriched with crispy bacon and garlic. This easy-to-make recipe combines fresh green beans with a luscious, cheesy cream sauce and savory bacon for a perfect balance of flavors, ideal for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 150g/5oz bacon, chopped (use streaky, not lean)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 500g/1lb green beans, trimmed and cut into ~5cm / 2″ pieces
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock/broth, low sodium
- 1 cup cream, heavy/thickened (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan, finely grated (best to grate your own)
- Black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Place the chopped bacon in a cold skillet, then turn the stove to high heat. Cook the bacon for 2 to 3 minutes until it is golden and crispy. Remove the bacon using a slotted spoon, leaving the fat behind in the skillet.
- Prepare Pan for Garlic: Discard excess bacon fat, leaving about 1 1/2 tablespoons in the pan. If there isn’t enough fat, add a small amount of butter or olive oil to compensate.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the finely minced garlic to the hot bacon fat and stir for about 10 to 15 seconds until it turns a light golden color, releasing its aroma.
- Add Green Beans: Add the trimmed and cut green beans to the skillet, stirring them to coat well with the garlic-infused bacon fat.
- Simmer Beans: Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock, stir to combine, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender-crisp, bright green, and nearly cooked through. There should be some liquid left, but it’s okay if it’s evaporated.
- Add Cream and Parmesan: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan, and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer again, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it gently simmer for 2 minutes to thicken. For a thicker sauce that clings to the beans, continue simmering for an additional minute.
- Season and Serve: Taste the dish and add salt if desired, although it often doesn’t need extra seasoning. Transfer the green beans with creamy Parmesan sauce to a serving bowl, sprinkle the cooked bacon on top, and optionally add extra Parmesan for garnish.
Notes
- Note 1: Use heavy or thickened cream for the richest, creamiest sauce.
- Note 2: Starting the bacon in a cold skillet helps the fat render out slowly and crisps it up nicely.
- Note 3: Covering the beans while simmering helps them cook evenly and retain their bright green color.
- Note 4: Adjust the thickness of the sauce by simmering it longer if you prefer it to cling more thickly to the beans.
