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Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are just as delicious as they sound! Crispy bacon wrapped around green bean bundles seasoned with brown sugar and spices.
Skip the green bean casserole this year! Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles are perfect for gracing your holiday table next to your Glazed Ham or Thanksgiving Turkey and it fits right in with the Sweet Potato Casserole.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
These gorgeous green bean bundles are sweet, savory and look beautiful on your holiday table. So ditch the casserole and make these instead!
They may look gourmet but this recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or making a quick weeknight side, it’s an elegant addition to any menu.
Ingredients
- Green Beans – You want to use fresh green beans for this recipe. French-style green beans can also be used but will require par-boiling. Do not use canned or frozen green beans.
- Bacon – Use thinly sliced bacon that has a uniform width. Do not use thick-cut bacon, as it will not have enough time in the oven to get crisp and will end up undercooked.
- Olive Oil – Add richness and flavor.
- Brown Sugar – For a sweet contrast to the smoky bacon.
- Garlic Powder, Kosher Salt, and Black Pepper
- Fresh Thyme
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
See recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Bake The Bacon – Line a baking sheet with foil and bake the bacon in the oven. You want it to be starting to brown, but still be pliable for wrapping around the green bean bundles.
- Blanch the Green Beans – Boil green beans for 2 minutes then transfer them to an ice bath to shock them and stop the cooking process.
- Assemble the Bundles – Place the green beans in bundles of 9-12 and wrap around the middle with a slice of bacon.
- Bake – Arrange the bundles on a greased sheet pan and top with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and brown sugar and a sprig of thyme. Bake at 400℉ for 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is nice and crispy and the beans are tender.
Recipe FAQs
Fresh green beans are recommended for their crisp texture and vibrant flavor. However, if you opt for frozen, ensure they’re thawed and patted dry before wrapping with bacon. Frozen vegetables are already cooked, so you’ll need to shorten the time so they don’t become mushy.
These bundles can be assembled up to a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Just sprinkle with the seasonings and bake right before serving. You can also parcook the bacon, and blanch the green beans a day ahead and hold the ingredients in the fridge. The next day, assemble and bake.
Yes, you can substitute turkey bacon for a healthier alternative. While it won’t be as crispy as traditional bacon, it still imparts a delightful flavor.
Storage
- Refrigeration: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To maintain their crispness, reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until warmed through.
Pro Tips
- Choose the right bacon: Opt for regular, thinly sliced bacon, as it wraps easily around the green beans and crisps up beautifully.
- Secure with toothpicks: If you’re having trouble getting the bacon to stay put, secure each bundle with toothpicks.
- Baking tray preparation: Line your baking tray with parchment paper to make clean-up a breeze.
Vegetable Side Dishes to Try Next
- Instant Pot Green Beans
- Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
- Sauteed Broccoli
- Simple Carrot Salad
- Cauliflower Gratin
Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds green beans trimmed
- 8 slices regular cut bacon
- canola or olive oil
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 Sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and place your bacon strips on the sheet. Cook for 10-14 minutes, until bacon is starting to brown and stiffen, but remains pliable.
- In a medium saucepan bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the green beans and cook for 2 minutes. Immediately remove them to the bowl of ice water to shock them to stop the cooking process. Dry with paper towels once beans are cooled.
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Line another baking sheet with foil.
- Gather green beans in bundles of 9-12 beans and wrap a slice of par-cooked bacon around the middle. Lay on the baking sheet, tucking the end of the slice of bacon underneath the bundle. Leave at least 2 inches of space between each bundle.
- Top each bundle with a drizzle of oil, sprinkle of salt and pepper, garlic powder, ½ teaspoon brown sugar and a sprig of thyme. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until bacon crisps up and green beans are tender crisp.
- Serve immediately.
