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in Dinner· Our Blog· Recipes· Sweet Eats

Leftover Holiday Garlicky Bacon-Kissed Green Beans

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Leftover Holiday Green Beans made with bacon and garlic

So, here’s what happened and why I had leftover holiday green beans:

I served simple, fresh green beans with a little butter for Thanksgiving.  The reason I didn’t fancy them up is because the “star” of the vegetable side dishes is always my sister’s, Gail’s, Spinach Casserole.  With all the other side dishes (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing), I didn’t want to have another vegetable casserole, but did want to have an alternative vegetable just in case someone didn’t like Gail’s Spinach Casserole (I shudder to think!  Even the little kids in our family love Gail’s Spinach Casserole).

So, they were par-boiled ahead of time and placed in a covered disposable aluminum pan for fast reheating in the oven along with the other side dishes.  Twenty minutes into reheating, the green beans were steaming steam!  Serious steam.  When I opened the lid to check on them, steam was pouring out. So, I took them out of the oven and set them aside while the rest of the side dishes were baking and reheating in the oven.

Leftover Holiday Green Bean made extra delicious with bacon and garlic!

And, later, much later, I forgot to reheat them!  In the flurry that happens when everything comes together at the last minute and everyone is helping to get everything on the table, these green beans were scooped up and spooned into a serving bowl and off they went, to the table.  And, they were cold.

So, a few people ate a few of them, but the rest of the green beans remained untouched and Charlie and I ended up with enough leftover green beans to feed an army.

The next day I gussied them up with bacon, bacon grease, slivered garlic and Leftover Holiday Green Beans were on our dinner plates for the next 3 nights!  But, because they were fresh green beans to start with, then reheated in bacon grease and garlic, they were delicious!  I mean, after all, who doesn’t like bacon?  I had a friend of mine, who is a vegetarian, actually tell me she was a “bacon-tarian” because while she is a practicing vegetarian, she throws caution aside whenever bacon is under her nose!

I can relate.  Bacon’s a serious addition!

Leftover Holiday Green Beans - with bacon and garlic

If, by chance, you don’t have leftover green beans to start with, place your fresh green beans in a large non-stick skillet, fitted with a lid, add about a cup of water and let them steam for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender-crisp.  Then, remove them from the skillet, add the bacon and fry the bacon until crisp.  Remove the bacon to a paper towel to drain and add the garlic to the skillet. Saute’ over medium heat for a few minutes and add the green beans back to the skillet and continue sauteing’ until done.  Crumble the reserved bacon and scatter over green beans and serve.

And, if by chance you have leftover green beans from your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, here’s how to gussie them up as Leftover Holiday Green Beans:

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Leftover Holiday Garlicky Bacon-Kissed Green Beans

Leftover Holiday Green Beans made with bacon and garlic
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Fresh green beans, leftover from another meal, made even more delicious with bacon and garlic!

  • Author: Carole from Toot Sweet 4 Two
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds leftover pre-cooked fresh green beans
  • 3 slices bacon
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp.
  2. Remove to paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  3. Add sliced garlic to bacon grease in the skillet and saute’ over medium heat for a minute stirring constantly (do not burn!).
  4. Add pre-cooked green beans to garlic and bacon grease and stir to coat.
  5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, stir and taste; correct seasoning, if necessary.
  6. Continue to cook for a few minutes more, stirring occasionally, until beans are hot.
  7. Crumble bacon and sprinkle over beans and stir to combine.
  8. Remove beans to serving dish and serve immediately.

Notes

No leftover green beans? Place fresh green beans in a large, non-stick skillet fitted with a lid. Add a cup of water and heat over medium heat, covered, until tender crisp (about 6 to 8 minutes). Lift lid and stir occasionally. Remove cooked green beans from skillet and reserve. Add bacon to skillet and follow previous recipe.

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Are you in love with my “Fork It Over” serving fork?  I’ve had this one, made by the Mud Pie Company, for several years.  You can get a similar on Amazon:

Fork It Over fork by Mud Pie

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Disclaimer:  I was not compensated to write this post, but this post does contain affiliate links to the products listed above, which will take you directly to these products on Amazon.  Toot Sweet 4 Two is an Amazon affiliate and receives a small commission if a product is purchased through these links.  If you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission of approximately 5% on the sale.    If you don’t want me to receive any commission, you could just open a new browser window and search for the product on your own.  But, if you do use the links to purchase products, THANK YOU!  This does not change the cost to you; thanks for helping to keep content on this site free!

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Need more side dish inspiration?  Check out these earlier posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s archives:

Thanksgiving Side Dish - Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole

Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole

Thanksgiving Side Dish - Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving Side Dish - Aunt Barbara's Cheese Potatoes

Aunt Barbara’s Cheese Potatoes

Tootles,

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Filed Under: Dinner, Our Blog, Recipes, Sweet Eats Tagged With: bacon, beans, garlic, side dishes, vegetables

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About

I’m Carole, wife to Charlie (25+ years), mom to a boy named Coco, writer, storyteller, home chef, and recipe developer, budding photographer, occasional crafter who loves family and friends, parties and tablescapes, and all things blog. Join me as I COOK, CREATE, INSPIRE.

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