Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Your fresh green beans just got an upgrade! Bacon-wrapped green beans take the crisp, garden-fresh vegetable to another level. These little bundles make a fantastic side dish for almost anything, from pork chops to fried chicken. Like most bacon-wrapped recipes, these green beans look impressive, so you can even serve them for a dinner party or special occasion. But any ol’ Wednesday will do, too.

This dish is all about balance and contrast. Deep, smoky bacon complements the fresh, bright vegetables, and a slightly sweet soy sauce drizzled on top brings it all together. These bacon-wrapped green bean bundles make good use of vegetables straight from the garden or farmers market, so it’s a fantastic summer side dish recipe. But the bacon and sauce will make even off-season beans taste amazing.

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans Ingredients

• Fresh green beans: While you can use canned or frozen beans for many green bean recipes, these green beans wrapped with bacon require a crispy, crunchy, fresh vegetable. Look for French green beans, also called haricots verts; they are long and slim and work well for this recipe.
• Bacon: For wrapping and getting the right texture for these baked bundles, thin-cut bacon is better than thick-cut.
• Melted butter: Sweet and creamy, melted butter breaks down the sugar and holds the sauce ingredients together. Unsalted is the best butter for this recipe; the dish gets enough sodium from the garlic salt and the soy sauce.
• Brown sugar: The difference between light and dark brown sugar is subtle but can still make a difference. Dark brown sugar has a more robust molasses flavor, making its combination with soy sauce in this mixture more complex. That said, in a pinch, light brown sugar works just fine.
• Garlic salt: A touch of garlic salt expands the flavors of the sauce.
  
• Soy sauce: The best soy sauce adds umami and balances the butter, sugar and whisper of garlic salt.

Directions

Step 1: Blanch the green beans

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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the green beans in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, six to eight minutes. Drain the beans.

Editor’s Tip: When you blanch vegetables, timing is everything. Depending on their size and freshness, you may only need to blanch the green beans for a few minutes.

Step 2: Lightly fry the bacon

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Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until cooked but not crisp, about three minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Editor’s Tip: Because we want the bacon to be pliable enough to wrap around the greens, you don’t need to cook it all the way. You can also bake the bacon; three to five minutes in a 350° oven should keep it wrappable.

Step 3: Wrap the beans

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Lay the bacon strips on an ungreased baking sheet. Place about 12 beans on top of each bacon strip. Wrap the bacon around the beans and secure with a toothpick.

Editor’s Tip: After wrapping the beans, check that both ends of the bacon are securely tucked around the beans and speared by the toothpick. That way, your bacon-wrapped green bean bundles will stay together when served.

Step 4: Make the sauce

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In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, garlic salt and soy sauce. Brush the sauce over the bundles.

Step 5: Bake the bundles

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Bake the green bean bundles until the bacon is crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: If the bacon takes longer to crisp, set the baking sheet under the broiler for two to three minutes.

Recipe Variations

• Try asparagus: Asparagus is a good substitute for the green beans. Prepare them precisely the same way, with a quick blanch, and then get to wrapping!
• Use your air fryer: Like in our bacon-wrapped avocado recipe, bake the bacon-wrapped green beans in an air fryer for that perfect crisp.
• Add an onion: A slim strip of green onion in the wrap adds another facet to the flavor profile and blends beautifully with the other ingredients.

How to Store Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

In the unlikely event of leftovers, put your bacon-wrapped bundles in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.

How long do bacon-wrapped green beans last?

Tightly wrapped leftover bacon-wrapped green beans will last up to five days in the refrigerator.

How do you reheat bacon-wrapped green beans?

Rejuvenating the crispy bacon is challenging, but pop it back in a 350° oven to warm the green bean bundles for a few minutes, and finish them under the broiler for a minute or two. Or use an air fryer to reheat the beans for a few minutes. Microwaves tend to make this dish a little too mushy.

Can you make bacon-wrapped green beans ahead of time?

These bacon-wrapped green bean bundles are a great way to make entertaining easy. To prep your green beans wrapped in bacon, blanch the beans and wrap them with the lightly cooked bacon, securing the bundles with a toothpick. Once made, place your bundles in a baking dish, cover and refrigerate for up to three days. When you’re ready to cook, brush each bunch with the garlic-sugar butter and bake them in a preheated oven.

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans Tips

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Do you need to blanch green beans before wrapping them in bacon?

There are no hard and fast rules, but blanching is best. Blanching the green beans first keeps them tender but still crunchy. It also means less time in the oven and preserves the beans’ green color.

What’s the best kind of bacon to use for bacon-wrapped green beans?

There are so many types of bacon! Thin-cut bacon is easy to work with and cooks quickly, so the beans don’t become mushy or overcooked. As a bonus, it crisps up faster, creating a crunchy texture. Try applewood smoked bacon or anything with extra smoke on the label to add more depth of flavor.

What can you serve with bacon-wrapped green beans?

Pair these bundles with a centerpiece protein like a salt-encrusted prime rib or a holiday ham, and go wild with sides like garlic mashed potatoes and creamy cavatappi mac and cheese. Don’t forget dessert! Throw in a special occasion chocolate cake recipe for good measure.