Thanksgiving is all about balance — rich roasts, buttery potatoes, sweet cranberry sauce — and every holiday table needs a vibrant green side to bring it all together. These sautéed green beans with caramelized mushrooms and crispy bacon are exactly that dish.

Tender-crisp green beans are tossed with garlic and olive oil, then layered with deeply savory mushrooms and smoky bacon for warmth and depth. The flavors are classic, comforting, and familiar — but just elevated enough to feel special for the holiday.

This is the kind of side dish that earns a permanent place in your Thanksgiving rotation. It pairs beautifully with turkey and gravy, adds color to the table, and offers that perfect savory bite between forkfuls of stuffing and mashed potatoes.

The beauty of this dish is that it feels special without adding stress to an already full cooking schedule. The components are simple, the flavors are familiar, and it comes together quickly — making it the perfect side to prepare while the turkey rests and the gravy simmers.

Below you’ll find the exact ingredients and step-by-step instructions to recreate this savory, Thanksgiving-ready green bean dish for your holiday table.

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

1 bag string beans, washed and trim stems

1 shallot, sliced

1 container cremini mushrooms, washed and sliced

5-6 slices of cooked bacon, chopped

Oil

1/2 teaspoon dried or fresh thyme

1/2 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning (I used Vik’s Garlic Fix Spice Blend from The Spice & Tea Exchange)

Directions

In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, add oil. Let the pan heat up a little and then add shallots. Stir until fragrant or firm about 1-2 minutes. Add in string beans and mushrooms and continue to stir. Add thyme and all-purpose seasoning to mixture. After the veggies are coated in seasoning, add in cooked bacon and stir. Adjust seasonings accordingly. Take pan off heat and serve in a bowl. Enjoy!