Description

This Crack Green Beans recipe is a flavorful side dish combining tender green beans with a sweet and savory glaze made from brown sugar, butter, garlic, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, topped with crispy chopped beef bacon. Baked to perfection, it offers a delightful balance of sweet, salty, and savory notes with a slight kick from red pepper flakes, making it an excellent accompaniment for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Green Beans and Bacon

5 cans cut green beans, drained
8 slices Beef Bacon, cooked and chopped

Glaze

⅔ cup Light Brown Sugar
¾ cup Unsalted Butter, melted
1 ½ tsp Fresh Garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
¼ tsp Kosher Salt, or to taste

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Instructions

Prepare Oven and Bacon: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a large 9×13 inch baking dish. Cook 8 slices of beef bacon until crispy in a skillet, then remove and chop into bite-sized pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet for the glaze.
Create Glaze Base: In the skillet with the reserved bacon fat, sauté 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic over medium-low heat for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Finish the Glaze: Add ¾ cup melted unsalted butter to the skillet. Stir in ⅔ cup light brown sugar until dissolved completely. Mix in 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Whisk until smooth and taste; add ¼ teaspoon kosher salt if needed.
Combine and Bake: Drain the five cans of cut green beans and place them evenly in the prepared baking dish. Pour the warm glaze over the green beans and toss well to coat completely. Sprinkle the chopped crispy beef bacon over the glazed beans and toss gently to combine. Spread the mixture in a single, even layer.
Bake and Serve: Bake the beans in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until tender-crisp and the glaze is caramelized. Stir once about halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking. Remove from the oven, allow to rest for 5 minutes, then stir gently before serving.

Notes

Beef bacon can be substituted with turkey bacon or pork bacon if preferred.
Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted according to spice preference.
For a lower sodium option, use reduced-sodium soy sauce and adjust salt accordingly.
Ensure garlic is sautéed gently to avoid burning which imparts bitterness.
Make sure to drain green beans well to prevent watery glaze.