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If you’re looking for a vibrant side dish that perfectly balances freshness, crunch, and a savory touch, this Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe is an absolute winner. The bright lemon zest and juice complement the tender green beans while toasted almonds add a wonderful nutty crunch, all brought together perfectly by the smoky bite of crispy bacon. It’s an elegant yet approachable dish that elevates simple green beans into something truly memorable and ready to become a favorite at your dinner table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays an essential role in creating that irresistible blend of flavors and textures. From the crispness of fresh green beans to the richness of butter and bacon fat, each component works in harmony to make this dish sing.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps toast the almonds to golden perfection.
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds: Provides a crunchy, nutty texture that contrasts beautifully with tender beans.
- 1 lemon: Both zest and juice add a fresh, bright zing that lifts the entire dish.
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon chicken stock: Keeps the beans moist and infused with subtle savory notes.
- 3 slices bacon (diced): Imparts smoky, salty flavor and a crispy texture that enhances every bite.
- 1/3 cup shallot (very thinly sliced): Adds a delicate sweetness and mild oniony flavor.
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic: Brings aromatic depth that complements the bacon and almonds.
- 1 pound green beans: The star of the dish—fresh, crisp, and ready to shine.
- Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning and balancing the flavors.
How to Make Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Start by zesting and juicing the lemon carefully to extract about 1/2 teaspoon of zest and 1 tablespoon of juice. Have these ready, along with your chicken stock, so the cooking flow stays smooth. Prepare your plates by lining one with wax paper for the almonds and another with paper towels for the bacon. This prep makes the rest of the steps seamless and keeps your kitchen organized.
Step 2: Make the Lemon Almond Mixture
In a large nonstick pan, melt your butter over medium heat until bubbly. Add the sliced almonds and keep them moving in the pan so they toast evenly and become golden and fragrant – this should take about 5 to 8 minutes. The nutty aroma will fill your kitchen and get you even more excited. Once toasted, stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of chicken stock. Keep stirring for another minute until the liquid thickens slightly. Then transfer this luscious mixture to your wax-paper-lined plate to cool but don’t let it lose that buttery nuttiness.
Step 3: Cook the Bacon
Using the same pan (no need to dirty another dish), add the diced bacon over medium heat. Cook it gently until it crisps up and the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on your paper towel-lined plate to drain, but leave all that flavorful bacon grease in the pan—it’s gold for this recipe! Lower the heat and add your thinly sliced shallots and minced garlic to the bacon fat, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté just for about a minute until fragrant; this brief cooking keeps their sweetness and freshness intact.
Step 4: Cook the Green Beans
Add your cleaned green beans to the pan and toss to coat in the bacon-infused shallot mixture. Pour in 1/2 cup of chicken stock and continue stirring to evenly distribute. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on the liquid—if it evaporates before the beans are tender, reduce the heat and splash in a little more stock to avoid drying out. When the beans are mostly tender, remove the lid and raise the heat to medium-high; cook until the remaining liquid evaporates, about 2 to 4 minutes. This step gives the beans a lovely glaze without sogginess.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Now for the best part! Remove the pan from heat and use your spatula to scrape the lemon almond mixture from the plate onto the green beans, including any butter that has solidified. Add the crispy bacon pieces and gently stir everything together to combine those delightful textures and flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately to enjoy the contrast of tender beans, crunchy almonds, and crispy bacon at their best.
How to Serve Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe
Garnishes
While this dish is fantastic on its own, a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan or a few more lemon zest curls right before serving adds a little extra zing and elegance. Freshly cracked black pepper over the top also highlights the savory notes beautifully.
Side Dishes
This Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe is a perfect companion to grilled chicken, roasted turkey, or a juicy steak. It balances out rich mains with brightness and crunch, making every bite satisfying without feeling heavy.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving this dish in a rustic wooden bowl or a vibrant ceramic dish to emphasize its bright colors. For a crowd-pleasing twist, plate it atop a bed of quinoa or farro to turn it into a fulfilling vegetarian-friendly meal (skip the bacon if desired). The visual contrast of green, golden almonds, and crispy bacon bits makes for stunning presentation at any gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe in an airtight container and refrigerate. They will stay fresh and flavorful for up to 3 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making for even tastier leftovers!
Freezing
This dish doesn’t freeze particularly well because of the texture changes in green beans and almonds. For best results, enjoy it fresh or store refrigerated rather than freezing.
Reheating
Reheat gently over low heat on the stove, stirring frequently to prevent the almonds from burning and the beans from drying out. Adding a splash of chicken stock or a tiny knob of butter during reheating helps maintain moisture and flavor. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make the almonds soggy and the bacon rubbery.
FAQs
Can I use frozen green beans for this recipe?
Fresh green beans are best for this Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe because they retain a nice snap and color. However, if using frozen, thaw and drain them thoroughly before cooking to avoid excess moisture diluting the flavors.
Is there a vegetarian version of this dish?
Absolutely! You can omit the bacon and substitute chicken stock with vegetable broth. Consider adding a dash of smoked paprika or liquid smoke to mimic the smoky flavor of bacon, plus extra almonds for crunch.
Can I substitute almonds for another nut?
Yes, sliced or slivered pistachios or pecans can provide a lovely texture and nutty flavor as well. Just toast them gently to bring out their oils and aroma, similar to the almonds.
How important is it to use butter in this recipe?
Butter is essential for toasting the almonds and contributes to the rich mouthfeel and flavor of the dish. While oil can be used in a pinch, butter provides an irreplaceable depth and helps create that beautiful sauce coating the beans.
Can I prepare parts of this recipe in advance?
You can toast the almonds with lemon zest and juice ahead of time and store them covered at room temperature for a few hours. It saves time on the day of serving and still lets you enjoy the fresh, bright flavors when combined with warm beans and bacon.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly joyful about making and sharing the Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe – it turns humble green beans into a dish that’s full of life, flavor, and texture. Whether for a casual weeknight dinner or a festive gathering, it’s guaranteed to bring smiles and comfort to your table. Give it a try and watch this gem become a beloved staple in your cooking repertoire.
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Lemon Almond Green Beans with Crispy Bacon Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This vibrant Green Beans recipe combines tender-cooked green beans with crispy bacon, toasted almonds infused with lemon zest and juice, and a flavorful shallot-garlic sauté. The dish is cooked on the stovetop to create a perfectly balanced side that’s both fresh and hearty, ideal for complementing a variety of main courses.
Ingredients
For Lemon Almonds
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced into small pieces
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 1 lemon (for 1/2 teaspoon zest and 1 tablespoon juice)
- 1 tablespoon chicken stock
For Green Beans and Bacon
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3 slices bacon, diced
- 1/3 cup shallot, very thinly sliced (about 3 small shallots)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 pound green beans, trimmed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Zest and juice the lemon to yield 1/2 teaspoon zest and 1 tablespoon juice. Set aside lemon zest, lemon juice, and chicken stock. Line one plate with wax paper and another plate with paper towels for later use.
- Make Lemon Almonds: In a large nonstick pan, melt 2 tablespoons diced butter over medium heat. Add the sliced almonds and cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until the almonds are golden and fragrant, about 5–8 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon chicken stock. Continue stirring until the liquid thickens, approximately 1 minute. Transfer the almond mixture onto the wax-paper-lined plate and set aside.
- Cook Bacon: Return the empty pan to the stovetop over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until browned and fat is rendered. Remove the cooked bacon with a slotted spoon onto the paper towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon grease in the pan. Reduce heat to low.
- Sauté Shallots and Garlic: Add the thinly sliced shallots, minced garlic, and a small pinch of salt and pepper to the bacon grease. Increase heat to medium-high and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Green Beans: Add the green beans to the pan and stir using tongs to coat evenly with the shallot-garlic mixture. Pour in 1/2 cup chicken stock and stir again.
- Cook Green Beans: Cover the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the beans are mostly tender, approximately 7–10 minutes. If the liquid evaporates before the beans are tender, reduce heat and add a splash more chicken stock as needed.
- Reduce Liquid: Remove the lid and cook over medium-high heat until all liquid evaporates, about 2–4 minutes.
- Finish the Dish: Remove the pan from heat. Using the spatula, scrape the lemon almond mixture from the wax-paper-lined plate onto the green beans, including any hardened butter. Add the cooked bacon and gently stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh green beans, trimmed with ends snapped or cut off for best texture.
- If unsure about chicken stock, low sodium or homemade stock enhances flavor and controls salt.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and substitute chicken stock with vegetable stock.
- To make ahead, prepare all components but combine just before serving to maintain almond crunch and bacon crispness.
