If you are looking for the best green bean recipe for the holidays, you have to make this crack green bean recipe with fresh green beans. They are such a delicious side dish and so easy to make, even the pickiest eater will love these!
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You'll love these crack green beans
It's easy to make. With a few ingredients and minimal prep, this will be a new favorite if you are looking for a fool-proof, easy side dish perfect for any family dinner.
They're so delicious. This delicious recipe that'll turn all the green bean haters into lovers, and for good reason! It's the perfect side dish that's savory and the slightest bit of sweet, you will love this crack green bean casserole.
What do crack green beans taste like?
Crack green beans, or southern smothered green beans, are the perfect blend of sweet and savory. They're rich from the butter and bacon, yet sweet with the addition of brown sugar, but perfectly salty and savory with the soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
It is a great addition to any dinner table, from Thanksgiving dinner to Christmas dinner to just a potluck dinner, once you make these, you will bring these everywhere!
You may also like: Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
Fresh Green Beans. I prefer making this recipe with fresh green beans rather than canned green beans. I like the flavor and the crunch of the fresh beans versus canned green beans.
Bacon. You'll need cooked and chopped bacon for this recipe, it adds such a delicious salty flavor and truly makes for such a great dish. Plus, who doesn't love a little bit of crispy bacon?
Butter. You'll need melted butter to mix with the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. I use salted butter and don't add any salt to this recipe.
Brown Sugar. Light brown sugar works perfectly for this recipe! It combines with the butter to form a savory glaze.
Soy Sauce. I love the saltiness that the soy sauce brings to this recipe and it makes for the perfect savory sauce.
Garlic Powder. Garlic powder is essential to this recipe.
Onion Powder. As is onion powder! Both the garlic and the onion add such necessary savory flavors.
How to make crack green beans
This crack green beans recipe is so easy to make! The cooking process is minimal and in no time you create the most heavenly side dish.
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- In a frying pan, cook your bacon over medium heat.
- Once cooked, transfer to a plate covered with a paper towel.
- While the bacon is cooling, drain your frying pan using a paper towel, or pour the grease into a glass bowl/cup.
- In the same frying pan, melt your butter and mix together the remaining ingredients (brown sugar, soy sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder.)
- Once the butter is melted, remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a baking dish, place your prepared green beans. I recommend using a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- Pour the butter mixture over the green beans and mix thoroughly to make sure all the green beans are covered.
- Top with your cooked pieces of bacon.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.
- After 30-35 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and place the baking dish back in the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5-7 minutes.
You may also like: Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes
Substitutes and variations
Bacon. If you don't have regular bacon, you can substitute turkey bacon, slices of ham, or omit the cooked bacon altogether!
Soy Sauce. If you are trying. to make this gluten-free, you can use coconut aminos or you can use Worcestershire sauce.
Canned Green Beans. If you want to use canned green beans, simply add drained green beans to a casserole dish and cook, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes.
Tips for making these ahead of time
If you want to make this green bean dish ahead of time, you totally can! Here are some tips if you want to make these ahead for holiday meals.
- Don't bake the green beans! If you have oven capacity, simply prep the green beans ahead of time, cover them with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Remove the plastic wrap once they need to be baked, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 35 minutes.
You may also like: Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Storing and reheating crack green beans
Store any leftover crack green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat simply place in a microwave-safe container, cover and microwave for 30 second increments, until heated.
FAQs
What is the best flavor to add to green beans?
There are so many great flavors to add to green beans! Garlic, onion, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, or black pepper.
Can you make crack green beans with canned green beans?
Yes, you can! Simply reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes and no need to cover it with aluminum foil.
Amazon home finds
If you don't have a casserole dish, you'll definitely want a 9x13 one! It'll be your go-to dish for baking.
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Crack Green Bean Recipe with Fresh Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb Green Beans
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 4 strips Bacon cooked + cut
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- In a frying pan, cook your bacon over medium heat.
- Once cooked, transfer to a plate covered with a paper towel.
- While the bacon is cooling, drain your frying pan using a paper towel, or pour the grease into a glass bowl/cup.
- In the same frying pan, melt your butter and mix together the remaining ingredients (brown sugar, soy sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder.)
- Once the butter is melted, remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a baking dish, place your prepared green beans. I recommend using a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- Pour the butter mixture over the green beans and mix thoroughly to make sure all the green beans are covered.
- Top with your cooked pieces of bacon.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.
- After 30-35 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and place the baking dish back in the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5-7 minutes.
Notes
Substitutes and variations
Bacon. If you don't have regular bacon, you can substitute turkey bacon, slices of ham, or omit the cooked bacon altogether! Soy Sauce. If you are trying. to make this gluten-free, you can use coconut aminos or you can use Worcestershire sauce. Canned Green Beans. If you want to use canned green beans, simply add drained green beans to a casserole dish and cook, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes.Tips for making these ahead of time
If you want to make this green bean dish ahead of time, you totally can! Here are some tips if you want to make these ahead for holiday meals.- Don't bake the green beans! If you have oven capacity, simply prep the green beans ahead of time, cover them with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Remove the plastic wrap once they need to be baked, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 35 minutes.
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