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You’ll enjoy every flavorful bite of delicious crack green beans! Green beans are baked until tender in a sweet and savory sauce, then topped with crispy bacon bits. This easy Southern style side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Why Make Crack Green Beans
If you’re not into green beans, this recipe will definitely change your mind. It’s such a simple recipe, yet the flavors pack a punch. It’s perfect for gatherings but easy enough for a simple family dinner, just like my green bean casserole.
- Perfect balance of flavors. The brown sugar and honey sauce is packed with sweet, salty, and umami flavors.
- Ready in an hour. This green bean recipe comes together quickly once the bacon is made and you’ll only need a few simple ingredients.
- Crowdpleaser. Smothered green beans bring together flavors that even the kids will enjoy. Trust me, everyone will be coming back for seconds!
Ingredient Notes
- Green beans. Cut and trim the ends of fresh green beans. You can also use frozen green beans or canned green beans, but you might need to adjust the cooking time.
- Bacon. Use any bacon that you prefer, I like hickory smoked bacon. Turkey bacon would be a healthier substitute. Chop bacon slices into small pieces.
- Butter. I recommend using unsalted butter because the soy sauce and bacon are already salty.
- Brown sugar. Light brown sugar will work to sweeten the sauce.
- Honey. You can also use maple syrup.
- Soy sauce. Use low sodium soy sauce. Swap it with tamari for a gluten-free version.
- Spices. Use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried thyme to add flavor to the sauce.
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
Steps To Make Southern Crack Green Beans
Step One. In a medium or small bowl, combine the melted butter, light brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder and stir to combine.
Step Two. Add the green beans to a 9×9 baking dish (or similar in size). Pour the sauce over the beans and mix. Add the bacon bits in and mix. Bake the green beans in the oven for 45 minutes or until they are softened to your preferred texture. Be sure to toss once or twice for 20-30 minutes.
Step Three. Serve warm with some of the sauce reserves poured over, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use a spatula to coat the green beans evenly with sauce. If needed, remove them halfway through baking to coat them with more sauce.
- Broil for the last 3-5 minutes for crispier bacon and a caramelized sauce.
- Use the leftover sauce in the baking dish for serving.
What to Serve with Green Beans
Crack green beans go well with so many dishes! I like serving it with Parmesan Chicken Thighs, Lemon Pepper Salmon, Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole, or Chicken Cobbler.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can prepare the sauce and cook the bacon ahead of time, then store them separately in the fridge for 1-2 days ahead.
Yes, you can combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the beans reach your desired tenderness. Add bacon at the end to keep it crispy!
Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat it gently in the oven or stovetop.
Other Holiday side dishes To Try
Side Dishes
Healthy Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Side Dishes
Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Side Dishes
Charred Broccoli
Side Dishes
Honey Sriracha Brussel Sprouts
Crack Green Beans
Equipment
- 1 9×9 baking dish
Ingredients
- 24 oz fresh green beans
- 8 slices bacon
- 2 Tbsp butter melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Start by cooking the bacon until crispy. Chop the bacon into bits and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375° Next in a medium or small bowl combine the melted butter, light brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, thyme and onion powder.
- Add the green beans to a 9×9 baking dish (or similar in size). Pour the soy sauce mixture over beans and mix. Add the bacon bits in and mix.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the green beans are softened to your preferred texture. Be sure to toss once or twice at 20 – 30 minutes.
- Serve warm with some of the sauce reserves poured over and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a spatula to coat the green beans evenly with sauce. If needed, remove them halfway through baking to coat them with more sauce.
- Broil for the last 3-5 minutes for crispier bacon and a caramelized sauce.
- Set aside some of the sauce for serving.
You guys will love this!
These look delicious but my husband can’t have dairy. What could I use in place of the butter?
No problem you can use a little bacon grease ! Otherwise a plant-based butter works great.
What temperature do use to bake?
375! enjoy
Do I cook covered or uncovered?
Could I use frozen green beans? The ones from Costco
Yes! I would thaw them first and then cook for a little less time, I haven’t tried it this way so keep a close eye on them.
Ingredients list paprika and thyme but I don’t see where these are added in the instructions…
In step 2.
These were a HUGE hit at Thanksgiving. I was so happy to find a replacement for the bacon wrapped green bean bundles I’ve been doing for the last decade. I had people snagging this instead of dessert later in the evening!