Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are easy enough for a weeknight meal and pretty enough to prepare for guests!
Tender green beans are wrapped in smoky bacon with a hint of brown sugar and roasted (or air fried) until golden.
Green Beans Made Special
- Every dinner needs a veggie side, but bacon-wrapped green beans can also be served as an appetizer!
- As they roast, the beans and bacon caramelize adding lots of flavor.
- You can use frozen green beans in this recipe, they will need to be thawed first.
- We love these because they can be prepared ahead of time and roasted before serving.
Ingredients
We love to serve green beans with almost any meal from a Classic Green Bean Casserole to these bacon-wrapped green beans.
GREEN BEANS: Choose fresh or frozen long green beans as they’re easier to wrap. Frozen green beans should be thawed.
BACON: Choose regular cut bacon. Thick cut bacon needs longer to cook which will cause the beans to overcook. Pre-cooked bacon can be used.
VARIATIONS: Add some asparagus to the beans or a few slices of red pepper for a festive dish. Try different flavors of bacon like maple or smoked pepper!
How to Make Green Beans with Bacon
- Slightly cook bacon (we air fryer or pan fry for about 3-4 minutes) & reserve drippings.
- Boil green beans for a few minutes (per the recipe below) and then place in ice water.
- Wrap bacon around bundles of green beans & sprinkle with brown sugar.
- Roast in the oven or the air fryer. Garnish with sliced almonds, if desired.
Blanching the Beans
Blanching means boiling vegetables quickly and then putting them into ice water to stop the cooking.
Blanching green beans helps them keep their bright green color, preserves their ‘snap’ texture, and improves their flavor.
PRO TIP: A little trick I learned at our local culinary school is to add a little pinch of baking soda to the boiling water. This keeps them a bright green color and works for almost any green veggie.
Recipe Tips
- Pre-cook the bacon so that a lot of the fat is removed. This will help it crisp without overcooking the beans.
- These can be oven roasted or cooked in the air fryer.
- Pre-cooked bacon can be used in place.
- Blanch (boil and then ice bath) the green beans for the best texture. Be sure to dry them well before wrapping.
- Prep ahead and bake at the last minute.
More Veggies and Bacon
Did you make these Green Bean Bundles? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Tender crisp green beans wrapped in bacon and brushed with a simple brown sugar glaze are easy enough for a weeknight meal and elegant enough for the holiday table!
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Cook bacon on the stovetop until slightly cooked (not crispy), about 3-4 minutes. Reserve any drippings.
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Trim and wash green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add baking soda. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes until tender-crisp. Remove from boiling water and place in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
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Dab beans dry and toss with reserved bacon drippings (about 2 teaspoons) or olive oil if you don’t have drippings, garlic powder, and salt & pepper to taste.
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Cut each slice of bacon in half and wrap around about 6-8 green beans, secure with a toothpick, and place on a parchment-lined pan.
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Combine brown sugar with 1 tablespoon of water and lightly brush over each bundle.
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Roast 20-22 minutes or until bacon is crisp and beans are lightly roasted.
- Pre-cook the bacon so that a lot of the fat is removed. This will help it crisp without overcooking the beans.
- These can be oven roasted or cooked in the air fryer at 380°F for about 11-13 minutes.
- Pre-cooked bacon can be used in place of raw bacon.
- Blanch (boil and then ice bath) the green beans for the best texture. Be sure to dry them well before wrapping.
- Prep ahead and bake at the last minute.
- Reheat in the oven at 375°F on a parchment-lined pan until heated through.
Serving: 1bundle, Calories: 67, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 122mg, Potassium: 141mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 390IU, Vitamin C: 6.9mg, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 0.6mg
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American