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green beans, potatoes and bacon medley on white plate.
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5 from 5 votes

Green Beans and Potatoes With Bacon (35 Minutes)

This twist on the southern-style green beans and potato recipe combines seasoned roasted potatoes, vibrant green beans, and crispy bacon for a deliciously satisfying side dish.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings (change as needed): 4
Author: Cheryl Avrich
US Measures - Metric

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound baby white or red potatoes, cut in quarters (or halves if very small) (or susbstitute with Yukon gold potatoes)
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dry rub seasoning, Note 1 (or more to taste)
  • 5 slices of bacon, Note 2
  • 3/4 pound fresh green beans, Note 3
  • 2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar, Note 4
  • 1/4 teaspoon each, salt and black pepper (or more if needed)
US Measures - Metric

Instructions

  • HEAT OVEN TO 425F/218C. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with oil.
  • PREPARE POTATOES AND BACON: Toss cut potatoes with oil and dry rub. Place potatoes in single layer on one half of prepared pan. On the other side, lay strips of bacon in single layer.
  • BAKE POTATOES AND BACON: Place pan in center rack of oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Flip over bacon. Toss potatoes. Return to oven for another 5 minutes or until bacon is crispy. Transfer crisp bacon to paper towel to drain. Put potatoes back in oven if you want more browned and tender potatoes (while you make green beans). You will use leftover bacon fat left in pan in the final step.
  • MICROWAVE GREEN BEANS: While potatoes and bacon are in oven, prepare green beans. Trim off ends and cut in half or thirds. Rinse well and place trimmed green beans in microwave-safe dish. Microwave on High heat, covered, for 4-6 minutes for regular string beans (less time for thin beans). Check if tender (cook longer if needed). Drain beans (there will be a little water accumulated in dish).
  • ASSEMBLE: Cut or crush crisp bacon into small bits. Place cooked green beans, roasted potatoes (with 2-3 teaspoons bacon fat left in pan) and bacon pieces in a large bowl. Drizzle on white balsamic vinegar and toss everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add extra toppings or garnish if desired (see variations Note 5 below). Serve warm (preferred) or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. Dry rub alternatives: BBQ rub, Montreal steak seasoning, Italian seasoning, herbes de Provence, taco seasoning or cajun seasoning. If you want to make your own, sprinkle potatoes with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  2. Bacon substitutes: pancetta, ham, sausage, turkey bacon, plant-based vegan 'bacon'. If you leave out the bacon and still want a smoky flavor, add a 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika. 
  3. Green bean (string bean) options: Most kinds will work including the slim French green beans or haricot vert. Just reduce the cook time if they are thinner. I prefer using fresh green beans, but frozen green beans will work too. Follow package directions for the microwave.
  4. White balsamic vinegar substitutes: regular balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar. You can also use a little Italian dressing instead.
  5. Variations:
    • Heat: add some spice with red pepper flakes or chili crisps
    • Toppings/Garnish: sprinkle the final dish with crispy fried onions (you can buy this in a can), chopped dates for sweetness, pomegranate seeds, chopped roasted red peppers, or lemon zest.
    • Cooking method: You can roast the beans along with the potatoes and bacon if you don't mind the beans turning a dull green.
  6. Make ahead
    • Make the full recipe a couple of hours or a day ahead and reheat it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or in a 350F/177C oven for about 10 minutes until heated through.
    • If making the dish ahead and you want the beans to stay a bright green, microwave them first, then plunge them into ice water to shock them. Drain, pat dry with a paper towel and put them aside (or in the fridge for a day or two), and warm them in the microwave for a minute or two before adding to the rest of the dish. There is no need to do this if you are microwaving the beans just before serving. 
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
 
Nutrition values are estimates using regular bacon and no extra toppings.
Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 616IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg