Beans and Greens with Bacon

These easy white beans and greens are cooked with bacon and caramelized onions for maximum flavor. This is the perfect dish to use greens from your garden. Just a few simple ingredients are needed. Serve as a hearty side dish or even as a main course.

You might also like these green beans with bacon side dish.

This white beans and greens with bacon recipe is a very old post that I remembered and decided to update. Back then I used to make my husband plant kale and Swiss chard every year in his vegetable garden. And then he would complain that I didn’t use it much.

So I had heard about beans and greens and decided to make my own version and added bacon. It was so delicious to me but unfortunately beans are one of those foods that don’t agree with me so I don’t make it that often.

It’s a delicious combination of caramelized onions, garlic, tender white beans and any kind of mixed leafy greens you want to use. And it’s cooked in bacon grease with crumbled bacon added back in. So you can see how that would be a very tasty side dish! And it’s a great way to use greens from your garden!

Recipe ingredients I used.

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this wonderful side dish, most of which are basic pantry staples.I used white canned beans, bacon, yellow onion, fresh garlic cloves and mixed greens. I used the bacon grease in this dish instead of olive oil but if you prefer that you can that instead.

• beans – I used white great northern beans today in this dish but I usually use cannellini beans. Cannellini beans are also referred to as white kidney beans. Either kinds of canned beans work and you can also use navy beans. They are pretty interchangeable for this dish. You could probably try garbanzo beans but they are not as creamy but would still taste good with the kale, onions and bacon.
• greens – Originally used kale and Swiss chard leaves from my garden but my husband will no longer grow it for me. However assorted baby greens are readily available at most grocery stores. Also you can use collard greens, mustard greens, spinach, kale or really any type you want.
• bacon – I used medium sliced but you can use whatever bacon you want. You can also substitute with pancetta ham or prosciutto. However I do like the bacon grease from regular bacon to add extra flavor to the dish.
• onions and garlic – I recommend using fresh garlic and it’s prevalent in the dish. And you can use yellow, white or even vidalia onions if you have them. I notice they are popular around my area in the summer time.

How to make beans and greens with bacon.

Step 1: Get out a large skillet or saute pan and heat to medium heat. Add the bacon slices and cook until desired crispiness. My husband I have have different tastes in this area so cook it to your liking. When done, take the bacon out and place on paper towels to absorb the grease. But keep the grease in the pan for the next step.

Step 2: Add the sliced onions and saute for about 10 minutes until golden brown and caramelized. Below you can see what it looks like when they just start to caramelize. You want to go a few minutes more so they are more golden.

Step 3: Add in the greens and cook them until they just start to wilt. You may have to do this in batches as they really shrink down and you will have a lot to fit in the pan. You can also add a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth to help cook them. The heat worked just fine for me so I didn’t use any liquid.

Step 4: Season with salt and black pepper and mix. You can also add a bit of hot pepper flakes if you want to add a bit of spice. (We use my hubby’s homemade red pepper flakes on everything but I know most people do not.)

Step 5: Add in the crushed garlic and drained white beans. Saute for 3-5 minutes and then take off the stove. Crumble the cooked bacon and mix with the bean mixture then serve.

Store leftovers in an air tight container. (Please scroll down to view the printable recipe card.)

Serve this as a hearty side dish or even as a main dish with some crusty bread for an easy weeknight meal.

You can also make a soup with leftovers. Just use a flavorful chicken broth or vegetable stock and heat up the leftover beans and greens. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

You could also add some cooked pasta to make this more of a meal. Sprinkle with some grated parmesan cheese and you are done. Below you can see the finished dish.

Other delicious side dishes with bacon.

Who doesn’t like bacon. I think it makes just about anything good.I have many recipes with bacon that you can make this summer. Here are few of my favorite recipes that use bacon.

• tomato jam with caramelized onions
• avocado shrimp salad
• ranch and chicken broccoli salad
• fried radishes and turnip hash
• savory tomato French toast
• hot jalapeno creamy corn dip
• German fried potatoes

Well I hope you like this easy and most delicious white beans and greens with bacon side dish. This comfort food only 20 minutes to make (though cooking times may vary) and is the perfect summer dish for busy weeknights. Soon I’m going to make a beans and greens soup and I’ll link it here when I do. Enjoy!