These Fresh Green Beans with Bacon are very tasty because they are cooked in a rich broth with smokey bacon, savory onions, and fragrant garlic. They are easy to make ahead of time, so they’ll be a great side dish for any meal, whether it’s a holiday dinner or a weeknight meal.
Fresh green beans with bacon are a classic side dish that is served at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinner with this recipe. We make these Green Beans Almondine during the week (with lemon juice and almonds in a large skillet) but this is our favorite recipe for special events.
It all started when my dads sister, Aunt Cindy, shared the recipe with my husbands sister, Cheri. Now it is a whole family favorite that Cheri brings for every holiday dinner table. I just love when family traditions make their way from one side of the family to the other.
I also like to make this for our Family Football Sundays when I am smoking ribs or brisket. They taste like the green beans you get at a southern BBQ joint. They go well with grilled chicken or pork tenderloin, too.
When cooking for a crowd, it can be tricky to know exactly how much fresh green beans to make per person. You want to make sure everyone gets enough without having piles of leftovers This guide will walk you through how to determine the perfect portion of fresh green beans per person.
Key Factors in Calculating Portions
There are a few key things to consider when figuring out portion sizes for fresh green beans:
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Serving style – Are the beans a side dish or main course? Side dishes warrant smaller portions
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Meal components – If the beans are part of a larger meal, balance portions with other items.
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Cooking method – Roasting beans reduces volume so you may need more raw.
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Appetites – Are you feeding hungry teenagers or dainty eaters? Adjust accordingly.
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Leftovers – Some leftover beans aren’t a bad thing but you don’t want pounds extra.
Recommended Portion Sizes
Taking these factors into account, here are some general fresh green bean portion guidelines per person:
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As a side dish, plan on 1/2 pound or about 1 cup cooked beans.
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As part of a main course, allow 3/4 to 1 pound or 1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked.
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For a holiday buffet, stick to 1/3 to 1/2 pound since there are other food options.
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For appetizers, allow 1/4 pound or about 1/2 cup per person.
Again, the specifics depend on your menu and audience. Adjust amounts as needed.
Purchasing Tips for Fresh Green Beans
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If serving beans as a side, buying 1 1/2 pounds per 4 people is a safe bet.
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Plan on approximately 1 pound per person for a main dish starring green beans.
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Buy a little extra – around 10% over your estimate – to allow for prep waste and leftovers.
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Size variations in beans means smaller portions if very large pods.
With these handy guidelines, you can confidently calculate how much fresh green beans to purchase and prepare for your next dinner party or potluck. Proper portions ensure everyone enjoys the perfect amount of this tasty veggie.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know how much green beans to buy?
For a side dish, plan on purchasing around 1/2 pound of fresh green beans per person. Buy 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per person if green beans are the main dish.
How many green beans equals a pound?
Since sizes vary, green bean counts per pound range from 24-50 beans depending on length and diameter. Generally 40 medium beans equals around 1 pound.
Should I prepare extra green beans?
Making 10% more than your guest count allows for prep waste and leftovers without too many extras. It’s better to have a few extra beans than run out.
How do I estimate portions for a buffet?
For buffet-style serving with other dishes, allow around 1/3 to 1/2 pound of green beans per person depending on appetite. Keep portions on the smaller side.
How much should I cook for appetizers?
For green beans as an appetizer, plan on around 1/4 pound or 1/2 cup per person. Appetizer portions are smaller since it’s not the main meal.
What if I’m serving hungry teenagers?
Teenagers and big eaters may consume larger portions. Consider adding 10-20% more if serving extra hungry groups to ensure sufficient quantities.
Carefully calculating how much fresh green beans to prepare ensures your crowd gets perfect portions. Now put your green bean know-how into practice for your next gathering!
For a crowd
The first thing you need to do when making fresh green beans for a lot of people is to choose how many recipes to make. 1 pound of green beans serves 6 people. If it is a holiday meal with lots of other sides, it will probably serve 8.
Next, choose an appropriately sized pot. If you want to mix more than one recipe at once, you’ll need a very large pot. A little too big is better than too small.
You can make these ahead of time and then serve them to a large group. It doesn’t matter how many people you’re serving. Read below in the FAQ section for two different prep ahead options.
My sister-in-law has come up with a tried-and-true way to make sure that 6–10 pounds of green beans are ready just in time for dinner. She cooks the bacon and onions the day before. After putting the sweet potatoes or scalloped potatoes in the oven, she puts the pot on the stove and adds the water. She boils them and then steams them the way it says to. When the rest of dinner is ready, she covers them and takes them off the heat. The whole process takes about 45 – 60 minutes since it is such a large amount.
More delicious recipes
- Before you add the onion and garlic, make sure the bacon is really cooked through. The bacon will never get crispy if it’s not cooked long enough, but it will burn if it’s cooked too long while the onion and garlic are cooking.
- Don’t over-steam them or they will get mushy. If they are too done, you can’t take them back. You can turn the burner back on and steam them some more.
- Always check the green beans for seasoning before serving. Often they need a touch more salt and/or pepper.
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