Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

Tender fresh green beans tossed in melted butter, garlic, and brown sugar and topped with chopped bacon pieces. Perfectly sweet and salty and a classic side dish to any meal.

Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

why these brown sugar green beans are the best

If you grew up in a house where soggy, flavorless canned veggies were a staple at the dinner table, first of all… my condolences. I just want you to know, there is a better way! These brown sugar green beans with bacon are the gateway into a whole new world of texture and flavor. They are sweet and salty, soft but still firm, and capable of winning over even the most avid green bean haters. My kids race back to the kitchen for seconds (and sometimes thirds). Not to mention, they are BEAUTIFUL on your plate. And did I mention they only take minutes to whip up?

green beans
ingredients for brown sugar green beans

Ingredients for brown sugar green beans

This recipe is so simple, it can hardly be called a recipe. Here’s what you need:

  • 32 oz Bag of Fresh Green Beans
  • 6 pieces of chopped cooked bacon
  • 4 Tbsp of unsalted butter
  • 1/2 Cup of brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
  • salt to taste (I use 1/2 tsp)
brown sugar
garlic powder
chopped bacon

How to cook perfect fresh green beans

Before you get started, you’ll want to wash your fresh green beans under cool water. Next, take a pair of kitchen scissors and snip the ends off the green beans. If you have children this is a great task for them. They can even just snap the ends off- no scissors necessary.

Blanching

Blanching is the process of cooking fresh vegetables in boiling water for a few minutes. This helps preserve color and flavor and is an essential step in freezing fresh produce. It is usually followed by a quick ice bath to stop the cooking process so that the vegetables retain their firm texture.

Crisp and Firm

If you like your fresh green beans with a little snap to them, you’re going to want to give them a quick ice bath after blanching before you toss them in the brown sugar sauce. This stops the cooking process and keeps them nice and crisp. I usually just put a bowl of cold water with a few cups of ice next to the sink and toss them in for 30 seconds after draining. This is usually long enough to bring the temperature down. Then I put them back in the strainer to dry while I make the sauce.

Soft and Tender

If you like them a bit more on the tender side, simply omit the ice bath and leave them in the strainer to dry while you make your sauce. They will continue to soften even after they’ve been removed from the heat. The trick is to get them off the stove and out of the boiling water in exactly TWO minutes. Any longer and they will become mealy and soggy when ready to serve.

Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

Brown Sugar Green Bean Sauce

Once your green beans are blanched and drained and mostly dry, they are ready to be tossed in the sauce. To make the sauce, simply melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat and add the garlic, brown sugar, and salt to taste. Once all the brown sugar has melted, turn off the heat and add the green beans back to the pot. Toss them in the sauce for a few seconds until they are coated and transfer to a serving dish. Top with fresh chopped bacon.

Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon
Did you make it? Let me know by leaving a review below or tagging me with a pic on instagram @good.to.gather
Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

Callie Morgan
Tender fresh green beans tossed in melted butter, garlic, and brown sugar and topped with chopped bacon pieces. Perfectly sweet and salty and a classic side dish to any meal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Ice Water Bath 1 minute
Total Time 8 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 32 oz Fresh Green Beans
  • 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • First, wash your green beans under cool water and snip off the ends.
  • Then, Bring a large pot of water to a roaring boil. Add in the prepared green beans and let them cook for exactly two minutes- no longer.
    32 oz Fresh Green Beans
  • Drain the green beans and quickly toss them into an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Let them sit for 30 seconds and then drain them again and let them sit to dry while you make the sauce.
  • Once the sauce is ready, toss the green beans into the pot and toss until covered.
  • Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and top with the chopped bacon. Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Sauce

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
    4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • Once the butter is melted, add in the garlic, brown sugar, and salt to taste.
    1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, salt to taste
  • Stir until the brown sugar has melted.

Notes

STORAGE: You can store the green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days. However, they are best served fresh the day of cooking.
Keyword easy side dish, fresh vegetables, green beans

serve these with:

Old-fashioned roast chicken

Pan Fried Salmon with lemon cream

Creamy Scalloped potatoes with thyme

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating