The taste of green bean casserole, without all the baking and heavy cream! This green beans and mushrooms recipe takes the flavors of a holiday classic, and puts it into a healthy and lightened-up dish!
I don’t know about you, but green beans always make an appearance during the holidays in my family. They are just so easy to make and even if you aren’t a huge vegetable lover, green beans usually make the cut.
Growing up we didn’t do too many green bean casseroles. I think we went on a short stint with them, but we usually always sautéed fresh green beans. My mom doesn’t eat meat, so our green beans usually consisted of some garlic, balsamic vinegar, and maybe a few spices.
And while I love a simple sautéed green bean recipe, this year I wanted to step it up. Queue the addition of mushrooms, bacon, and crispy pan-fried onions. Yes, please!
For these sautéed green beans and mushrooms with bacon, I wanted to take a little bit of the flavors of green bean casserole but put them into an easier, quicker, and healthier dish. You only need 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and 30 minutes to make them. And as a bonus, they are made on the stove, so that frees up your oven for everything else!
But no matter what time of year it is, this dish is pretty stellar. You can totally serve it alongside dinner any night of the week and the whole family will approve.
Why we love these green beans and mushrooms with bacon
- gives the flavors of green bean casserole but is much easier to make
- comes together in about 30 minutes and is made in one pan – yay for less cleanup!
- easy and delicious side dish for any meal or the holidays
- easy to double or triple for a crowd!
Are green beans healthy?
Green beans make a great healthy choice. They contain vitamin K, manganese, folate, calcium, and potassium, and also have a good amount of fiber. Bonus, they are an inexpensive and easy veggie to find.
Ingredients
- bacon
- onion
- green beans
- fresh garlic
- mushrooms
- full-fat coconut milk
- salt and pepper
How to make green beans and mushrooms with bacon
- Cook the bacon. In a large skillet or pan over medium heat, add bacon and sprinkle with pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through until crispy. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and let cool.
- Fry the onions. Drain a little of the bacon grease, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons behind. Add individual slices of onions to the pan, making sure not the overcrowd, and fry for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through. You may have to do them in 2-3 batches. If needed, turn down the heat some to make sure they don’t burn. You want them crispy and golden brown. Remove from pan and let cool.
- Cook green beans. Add green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper to the pan. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally, until slightly softened. Turn down the heat to medium-low and add mushrooms, coconut milk, salt, and pepper, and sauté for another 3-4 minutes. Once done, add to a large bowl or plate and top with crumbled bacon and fried onions.
- Enjoy!
What to serve with green beans and mushrooms
- alongside any protein – turkey, beef, chicken, or fish would all be good
- rice or potatoes
- Thanksgiving dinner – turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and whatever else you enjoy at your holiday celebration!
Storage and reheating
- fridge – if you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- freezer – allow them to cool completely. Place in a storage bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- reheating – you can reheat them on the stovetop or microwave until warmed through. The bacon and onions might be not as crispy, but the flavors will still be there!
Substitutions
- bacon – you can use pork bacon or turkey bacon depending on your preference.
- onion – white or yellow onion works best for this recipe.
- green beans – string beans or french green beans will work.
- garlic – dried garlic will work instead. use 1/2 teaspoon.
- mushrooms – any kind of mushrooms with work. I used cremini mushrooms (baby bella), but white button mushrooms will also work.
- full-fat coconut milk – you can use lite coconut milk instead but the recipe won’t be as rich. Heavy cream will work too, but the recipe will no longer be dairy-free.
More healthy side dishes
- rosemary roasted radishes
- homemade cranberry sauce
- tahini whipped sweet potatoes
- balsamic roasted mushrooms
- cinnamon roasted delicata squash
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Green Beans and Mushrooms with Bacon
ingredients
- 4 pieces bacon
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced into rings (100 grams)
- 1 1/2 pounds green beans, washed and trimmed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 heaping cup sliced mushrooms (100 grams)
- 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Cook the bacon. In a large skillet or pan over medium heat, add bacon and sprinkle with pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through until crispy. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and let cool.
- Fry the onions. Drain a little of the bacon grease, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons behind. Add individual slices of onions to the pan, making sure not the overcrowd, and fry for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through. You may have to do them in 2-3 batches. If needed, turn down the heat some to make sure they don't burn. You want them crispy and golden brown. Remove from pan and let cool.
- Cook green beans. Add green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper to the pan. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally, until slightly softened. Turn down the heat to medium-low and add mushrooms, coconut milk, salt, and pepper, and sauté for another 3-4 minutes. Once done, add bacon and mix to combine. Top with onions.
- Enjoy!
Tiffany says
This recipe is a great replacement for traditional green bean casserole for Thanksgiving! Flavor is great – and clean! This is on my list to make every year now. Thanks so much!
Kelly says
So glad you enjoyed it Tiffany and thanks for trying it!
Lynn says
This look delicious! But 11 grams of net carbs – am I interpreting this correctly?!
Kelly says
Hey Lynn! Yes, that is correct – the carbs are just from the greens beans, onion, and mushrooms! They don’t have much since they are veggies.
Candace says
This recipe is AWESOME! I was looking for something comforting yet a little different one evening after I got home from teaching. Holy smokes! This is one of the best green bean recipes I’ve ever eaten!
Kelly says
Aw yeah, so happy to hear that Candace! Thank you for trying it!
Dan says
Love green beans can eat them anytime
Kelly says
Us too! Such an easy veggie to make during the week too!
Joefine says
This list is amazing! Pinning and bookmarking for later and will definitely be sharing with my nutrition friends who are limiting carbs. Thank you!
Kelly says
Awesome, let me know how they go when you make them!