What You’ll Need
- Fresh green beans. Trim the stem ends and group the beans into small bundles of roughly the same size.
- Bacon. Cut eight slices in half crosswise. Regular-cut bacon wraps easily and crisps more readily than thick-cut bacon.
- Brown sugar. Sprinkle it over the wrapped bundles so it melts into the butter as they bake.
- Butter. Melt it first so you can drizzle it evenly over the bundles.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Divide the trimmed beans into 16 small bundles and wrap each one with a half slice of bacon. Set the bundles seam-side down in a lightly greased baking dish or on a rimmed sheet pan. Leave a little space between them so the bacon can brown.
Drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake at 375°F for 30 to 40 minutes, until the beans are tender and the bacon is browned and crisp. Transfer the bundles to a platter and spoon a little of the pan glaze over them just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to blanch the green beans?
Thin green beans can go straight into the bundles. If yours are thick, boil them for 2 to 3 minutes first, then drain and pat them dry before wrapping.
Can I wrap the bundles ahead of time?
Yes. Arrange the wrapped bundles in the pan, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. Add the melted butter and brown sugar just before the pan goes into the oven.
What to Serve with Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Serve them with roast chicken, turkey, or pork tenderloin. The sweet, salty glaze also goes well with mashed potatoes.
4-Ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans Recipe Card
Tender green bean bundles wrapped in crisp bacon and baked with butter and brown sugar.
- Prep time — About 15 minutes
- Bake time — 30 to 40 minutes
- Yield — 16 small bundles
- Servings — 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 8 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or rimmed sheet pan. If the beans are thick, blanch them in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Divide the beans into 16 small bundles. Wrap each bundle with a half slice of bacon and place it seam-side down in the prepared pan.
- Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the bundles, then sprinkle the brown sugar over the tops.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the beans are tender and the bacon is browned and crisp. For extra browning, use a broiler-safe metal pan and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely.
- Transfer the bundles to a serving platter. Spoon a little of the pan glaze over them and serve hot.