Best Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

Green beans with bacon and brown sugar are a twist on traditional green beans. The beans themselves are super tasty and flavorful because you sauté them in the bacon grease. But it doesn't stop there. After cooking these bacon green beans are topped with smoky, crumbled bacon, candied pecans, and a subtle brown sugar glaze to make sure everybody eat their veggies.

Why This Green Beans With Bacon Recipe Works!

What's not to love about green beans, bacon, and brown sugar! It's the most delicious combination of sweet, salty, and savory! You'll love these green beans and bacon because they're:

• Perfect for Holidays. They go great with all your favorite holiday side dishes like these mashed potatoes and easy stuffing on Thanksgiving.
• Simple and Delicious. The ingredients are simple and the flavor is big.
• Unique Flavors. This green bean recipe It is a refreshing change from the traditional green bean casseroles.
• Quick and Easy. The recipe takes under 30 minutes from start to finish making it perfect to add to meals when you need a delicious yet easy side dish.
• Versatile Side Dish. You're going to enjoy having this simple side dish to accompany all your dinner favorites such as pressure cooker ham, smoked turkey breast, instant pot chicken, or air fryer salmon.

About The Ingredients

The ingredient list is simple for these tasty little beans.  Everything you need for these southern green beans can be purchased at your local grocery store. Here are a few items to note:

• Fresh green beans: For the best texture and flavor you want to use fresh green beans. When choosing green beans, choose green beans that are long and stiff, about the width of a pencil and flexible. They should “snap” when broken. Avoid limp green beans or beans with a tough skin.
• Bacon: Use your favorite bacon. I prefer regular cut bacon, rather than thick cut, because I like my bacon crispy. When buying bacon, look for slices with long veins of lean pink meat and a relatively small amount of fat.
• Pecans: You can use pecan halves or chopped pecans. I prefer them chopped because they are easier to eat.
• Brown Sugar: Essential for the rich, deep molasses flavor it provides.

A complete list of ingredients and amounts for these bacon green beans can be located in the recipe card below.

Substitutions and Variations

• Pre-Cut Green Beans: You can find varieties of pre-washed and trimmed green beans at the grocery store if you want to save a few steps
• Amp Up the Heat: I love sweet and spicy. Add some red pepper flakes to the nuts while your cooking them. I like to start with a quarter teaspoon and then adjust.
• Swap the Beans for Brussels Sprouts: You can use this same recipe for Brussels sprouts and it is equally delicious!
• Change Up the Nuts: Walnuts, hazelnuts, and sliced almonds will all work nicely in place of the pecans.
• Omit the Sweet: If you like a more savory dish, leaven out the brown sugar and pecans. Instead cook some onion and garlic with olive oil and add minced garlic to the beans. The flavors or garlic and onion pair well with the bacon.
• Vegetarian: While we love the bacon flavor you can leave it out if you want to make a vegetarian version of these beans. I suggest cooking onions and garlic in olive oil to infuse the green beans with some flavor. You can even add a few dashes of liquid smoke or smoked paprika if you want to give them some hints of smokiness.

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

Let me give you the rundown. This dish is easy, but produces gourmet results! Here's a look at the recipe broken down into two main parts -- making the pecans and then cooking the green beans.

Step 1: Make the Candied Pecans

• Step 1: Add the pecans to your in a large skillet.
• Step 2: Add in the brown sugar and salt.
• Step 3: Add the water
• Step 4: Cook the pecan mixture over medium heat until the sugar is melted and the nuts are toasted.  Transfer the candied pecans to a plate to cool.

Step 2 - Cook Bacon & Prep the Green Beans

• Step 5: Cut your bacon into half-inch pieces.

Pro Tip: Freeze the bacon for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting. This makes it easier to cut the bacon without it sliding around or stretching on your cutting board. Do NOT freeze completely or it will be very difficult to cut.

• Step 6: Cook the bacon in the same skillet until it's crisp. Remove the bacon using a slotted spoon and transfer it to a paper towel lined plate. Leave the bacon grease in the pan and set it aside.
• Step 7: Snip the ends of your green beans.

Pro Tip: How to snip ends fast ! Grab about 15 to 20 beans and place them on the cutting board. Line them up lengthwise. Make sure all the ends of the beans are touching the edge of your knife. Cut off the ends with a knife. Quickly flip the beans the other way, and then push them towards your knife blade and line them up again. Slice off the opposite ends. Repeat until all beans are trimmed.

• Step 8: Blanch the green beans in boiling water for two minutes and then drain.

Step 3 - Making The Green Beans and Bacon

• Step 9: Add the blanched green beans, salt, and black pepper to your pan with the bacon grease. Cook for about five minutes or until green beans are crisp tender.
• Step 10: Add brown sugar to the beans and gently toss until the sugar dissolves and the beans are coated.
• Step 11: Add in the candied nuts and cooked crispy bacon. Cook to heat and coat everything with the brown sugar glaze.
• Step 12: Transfer to a serving platter. Serve immediately.

Expert Tips

• Freeze the bacon for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting. This makes it easier to cut the bacon without it sliding around or stretching on your cutting board. Just be sure you don't forget about them and freeze it all the way.
• Quickly trim your green beans. Grab about 15 to 20 beans and place them on the cutting board, living them up. Make sure all the ends of the beans are touching the edge of your knife. Cut off the ends with a knife. Quickly flip the beans the other way, and then push them towards your knife blade and line them up again. Slice off the opposite ends. Repeat until all beans are trimmed.
• Cooking the green beans. You can easily adjust the length of time you cook the green beans in the bacon grease. Cook them less for a slightly crunchier green bean texture. I don't recommend cooking them too much longer as you don't want them overcooked and limp.

FAQs

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