Crack Green Beans

5 from 1 vote
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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.

An overhead image of crack green beans on a plate, with bacon bits on top.

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

An overhead image of the ingredients of crack green beans.
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  • 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

An overhead image of making the honey brown sugar sauce and baking the 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!

An close up image of green beans on a plate.

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

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

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.

Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?

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!

How do I store leftovers?

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

If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here.

An overhead image of crack green beans on a plate, with bacon bits on top.
5 from 1 vote

Crack Green Beans

This crack green beans recipe is made with tender green beans, cooked crispy bacon, and coated in brown sugar and soy sauce. It's filled with sweet, savory, and umami flavors for the perfect holiday side dish!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 4

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
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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.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75 cup | Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 1086mg | Potassium: 519mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 1389IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Bailey
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 399
Keyword: crack green beans
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9 Comments

  1. These look delicious but my husband canโ€™t have dairy. What could I use in place of the butter?

    1. No problem you can use a little bacon grease ! Otherwise a plant-based butter works great.

  2. Could I use frozen green beans? The ones from Costco

    1. 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.

  3. Ingredients list paprika and thyme but I donโ€™t see where these are added in the instructionsโ€ฆ