Looking for a quick and delicious way to get your family to eat more vegetables? This Crack Green Bean Recipe is a great dish that is exactly what you need. It’s also a unique green bean recipe.Â
I’ve included directions on how to cook this recipe using canned beans and fresh green beans. Either approach still creates a really tasty dish. However, if you are short on time, I highly recommend saving yourself some time with the canned green beans.
Admittedly, this is not the healthiest recipe. However, it is a gateway recipe that will help your kids eat more vegetables (eventually). Because let’s be honest, what child or adult isn’t going to like green beans with bacon and brown sugar?
In the meantime, it sure is a delicious side dish that is a great addition to any family dinner, dinner party, or a potluck dinner! In my family, we tend to cook this all year round, especially during the holidays. Crack Green Beans go particularly well with Easter Ham, Christmas dinner, even Thanksgiving turkey.
What are crack green beans?
Crack green beans is a bacon and green bean dish that is so delicious that you will quickly become addicted to taking another bite (and another…). Besides its Cracked Green Beans name, this dish is also known as Arkansas Green Beans or Smothered Green Beans. No matter what name you use, it is a people pleaser due to its sweet and savory notes.
How to wash and trim green beans?
Simply wash your green beans. Then remove about ¼ of an inch from each end of the green beans. Please note, while it is important to remove bean stems (the part of the green bean that was attached to the plant) since the stems tend to be bitter, removing the other end is mainly done for aesthetic purposes. Keep the end if you don’t care. You can save a few minutes of work!
Should you break or cut fresh green beans?
Either way works. The ends of fresh green beans are easy enough to break off with your hands. However, if you have a pair of kitchen shears or scissors feel free to use them.
Can you use frozen green beans in this casserole?
Yes, you can use frozen green beans in this dish (although fresh or canned green beans is recommended). If you do prefer to go the frozen green bean route, I highly recommend that you defrost the green beans first so that they are about room temperature. This will help ensure that all ingredients cook evenly.
Crack Green Bean Recipe
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Ingredients for Crack Green Beans
- 5 8 oz. cans of drained green beans or 2 ½ lbs of fresh green beans
- 12 ounces package of bacon, cooked crisply
- ½ stick of butter (about ¼ of a cup of butter)
- â…” of brown sugar
- â…› of cup of soy sauce (either regular or light sodium)
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- ⅓ cup of French’s Crispy Fried Onions (for the topper)
Instructions for Your Green Bean Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- If using fresh green beans, steam your green beans by boiling about one inch of water in a saucepan that has a steamer basket. Add your green beans, cover them, and cook the green beans until tender-crisp (or in about 6 minutes). If you don’t have a veggie steamer, check out this OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer. I bought one a few months ago love it! If you’re using canned green beans skip the steaming and instead drain your beans and place them into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Cook the bacon so that it is crispy. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the green beans.
- Melt the ½ stick of butter and place the melted better into a medium-sized bowl.Â
- Add the brown sugar, soy sauces, and garlic powder to your melted butter. Whisk the mixture until it’s well combined.
- Pour the mixture onto the top of the green beans and bacon.Â
- Place the crack green beans dish into the oven and cook for 35 mins.
- Remove from the oven and gently mix the green beans so that everything is well coated and the bacon is evenly distributed throughout the dish.Â
- Top with the crispy fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes.Â
- Remove from the oven and let the beans cool for approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite main dish.
And that’s it! It is a super simple dish to make. Feel free to leave a comment on what you think about the recipe. I bet that the pickiest eater in your family will not only enjoy it but will go for seconds too!
Crack Green Bean Recipe With Bacon and Fried Onions
Ingredients
- 5 8 oz. cans of drained green beans or 2 ½ lbs of fresh green beans
- 12 ounces package of bacon cooked crisply
- ½ stick of butter about ¼ of a cup of butter
- â…” of brown sugar
- â…› of cup of soy sauce either regular or light sodium
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- ⅓ cup of French’s Crispy Fried Onions for the topper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- If using fresh green beans, steam your green beans by boiling about one inch of water in a saucepan that has a steamer basket. Add your green beans, cover them, and cook the green beans until tender-crisp (or in about 6 minutes). If you don't have a veggie steamer, check out this OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer. I bought one a few months ago love it! If you're using canned green beans skip the steaming and instead drain your beans and place them into a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Cook the bacon so that it is crispy. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the green beans.
- Melt the ½ stick of butter and place the melted better into a medium-sized bowl.Â
- Add the brown sugar, soy sauces, and garlic powder to your melted butter. Whisk the mixture until it's well combined.
- Pour the mixture onto the top of the green beans and bacon.Â
- Place the crack green beans dish into the oven and cook for 35 mins.
- Remove from the oven and gently mix the green beans so that everything is well coated and the bacon is evenly distributed throughout the dish.Â
- Top with the crispy fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes.Â
- Remove from the oven and let the beans cool for approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite main dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Do crack green beans store and freeze well?
Yes, crack green bean stores and freezes very well. Similar to green bean casserole, this green bean recipe lasts about 5 days in the fridge. To store in the freezer, place the leftovers in an airtight and food safe container before putting it in the freezer. It should easily last about 9 to 10 months. When you are ready to eat it again, take it out of the freezer and cover it with aluminum foil. Then pop it into a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes (or until it is warm throughout).
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Best Green Bean Recipes
Green beans are a big hit with your family and looking for more green bean based recipes? Check out our Crispy Green Bean Fries Recipe. It even comes with a spicy dipping sauce that you can dip your fries in. It is a delicious way to get your picky kids (and spouse?) to eat more vegetables.
Of all the green bean side dishes out there, these easy green beans are probably my favorite.
What to Cook With Your Green Bean Casserole
Check out some inspiration for a main dish:
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Italian Style Smothered Pork Roast
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Have questions about this recipe? Leave them in the comments below. Until next time: Stay salty, and sweet 😉
