A perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors, this recipe for Green Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon is a perfect green bean side dish to compliment any main course event. If you love a sweet and salty flavor combination. I think you’ll agree that this is the best canned green beans side dish recipe you’ll find.
Brown sugar green beans with bacon makes a great Holiday side dish, and so does this recipe for Scalloped Potatoes, No Cheese. It’s perfectly creamy and perfectly traditional.
Why This Recipe For Green Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon Is Special
This recipe for Green Beans With Brown Sugar and Bacon is hands down another one of our favorite side dishes to serve year round for a family meal side dish, and a tradition at our Thanksgiving table for over 40 years.
It’s a Southern Style green bean recipe combining sweet, salty and savory flavor. The balance of brown sugar, bacon and butter balance the ingredients for a crowd pleasing side. It’s simply a great holiday side dish.
It’s a simple recipe and it’s a crowd pleasing recipe.
- This recipe uses canned green beans. Just simply drain off the liquid = easy peasy.
- This is an old fashioned green bean side dish that will feed a crowd. Calling for 6 cans of green beans, this easily serves 8 people.
- Aside from frying the bacon, it’s somewhat of a dump and bake style recipe. Combining all of the ingredients and it’s off to the oven.
- Prep time is quick. It’s ready for the oven in around 15 minutes.
- The end flavor is an irresistible sweet and salty combo.
- A perfect side dish for any season and any holiday.
- There’s bacon involved … nuff said there.
Table of contents
- Why This Recipe For Green Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon Is Special
- Ingredients Needed
- Tips for Perfect Green Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon
- Variations and Substitutions
- Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- What To Serve with Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon
- Tips For Success
- FAQS
- Storage and Leftovers
- Green Beans With Brown Sugar and Bacon
Ingredients Needed
- Bacon. Just use your favorite brand. Whatever brand you use, it will add a smoky bacon-y flavor.
- Canned Green Beans: Makes this recipe super easy.
- Brown Sugar: I’ve used both light brown sugar and dark brown sugar for this recipe. Either works fine and brings a caramelized sweet flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Green beans with soy sauce not only seasons them salty, but adds a layer of umami flavor. Using tamari sauce makes this a gluten free green beans recipe.
Tips for Perfect Green Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon
- How To Make Real Bacon Bits: I like to slice the bacon into pieces and then fry it. As opposed to frying strips of bacon and then cutting it. Bacon can be a bit ornery to slice, but if you put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before cutting it, it will be much more manageable.
- Use a good quality knife, or kitchen shears to slice or cut the bacon strips into pieces. No need to separate the individual slices. Cut the bacon into ½ inch pieces.
- Use thick cut bacon for a meatier end-result.
- Be sure to drain the canned green beans well, a colander works well here.
Variations and Substitutions
- Maple Syrup Substitute: Replace brown sugar with maple syrup for a richer sweet flavor profile.
- Vegetarian: Use plant based bacon in place of pork bacon.
- Turkey Bacon: Don’t eat pork? Turkey bacon is a great substitution here.
Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder and melted butter.
- Step 2: Using a whisk, mix together until smooth.
- Step 3: Add drained canned green beans to your favorite casserole dish. I like to use my Sur-la-Table 4-quart dish as you’ve got more room to stir and serve without spillage. A Pyrex 9 x 13 Pyrex will work, but it will be crowded. Spread the beans out evenly in the pan.
- Step 4: Pour the brown sugar, soy sauce, butter mixture over the beans.
- Step 5: Leaving the bacon grease behind, sprinkle cooked and crumbled bacon over the top of the beans. Using a large spoon, gently stir the mixture together.
- Step 6: Bake for 40 minutes, uncovered, at 350 degrees and serve. Voila, you’ve got a delicious green beans and bacon recipe, a casserole style side made easy using canned green beans and bursting with flavor.
Tip: The recipe is best made by frying raw bacon. It adds a little fat and pure bacon flavor the recipe needs. If you must used store purchased bacon bits, soften them by frying in ¼ cup butter then continue with recipe.
What To Serve with Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon
This practically goes with about any main course. Chicken, beef, or pork. Try them with Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin, or Old Fashioned Meatloaf, or Chicken Veloute Supreme. For a starch, serve alongside Garlic Butter Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes. And of course your Thanksgiving Turkey.
Tips For Success
- Cooking Bacon: Watch the bacon carefully when cooking. Use a medium low heat. Don’t over cook the bacon or you’ll add a burnt flavor to the beans. And don’t undercook. If the fat isn’t rendered the bacon will be soggy or flabby if not crisped properly.
- Soggy Beans: The only reason you’d end up with soggy beans is if the casserole is simply cooked too long.
- Warming Trays are such a useful tool for Holiday gatherings. When serving this recipe buffet style, place it on a warming tray to keep warm. I love my warming tray for any type of gathering, and use it more than I thought I would. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase this product using the link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
- Scaling Recipe: If you have a large casserole dish, this recipe is easy to double. It’s also easy to cut the ingredients in half for a smaller batch.
FAQS
Absolutely. And since I’m always making this for a group of people, that’s what I do. Just prepare the this recipe per directions. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. The ability to make this green bean recipe in advance makes it a great choice for hectic Holiday meals.
Yes. If you have left-overs, just place them in an air-tight container and freeze. They’ll last for about 6 months in the freezer.
Fresh: Just wash and trim the ends of the green beans and snap them in half. Boil the fresh beans in salted water for about 30 minutes or until beans are tender. Drain and proceed with the recipe. Frozen: Just let the green beans thaw at room temperature for about 30 – 45 minutes. Then proceed with recipe.
Storage and Leftovers
- Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days. Reheat slowly in a saucepan stove top, or in a microwave safe container in 30 second increments until hot.
- These beans will also freeze well. I like to use a zip-lock style freezer bag. These bags are easy to squeeze the air out and will lay flat to save room in the freezer. Be sure to label the bag with contents and date.
Green Beans With Brown Sugar and Bacon
I hope you give this easy green bean side dish recipe a try. It’s truly the best canned green beans recipe I’ve found.
More Popular Side Dish Recipes
And if you’re looking for more side dish recipe ideas, don’t miss my Side Dish Category. You’ll find lots of great ideas, including one of the most popular recipes on my site for Broccoli Cheez Whiz Casserole.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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Green Beans With Brown Sugar and Bacon
Ingredients
- 90 ounces canned green beans 6 small cans. Drained
- 10-12 slices of bacon regular or thick cut will work
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari to make this gluten free
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder or granulated garlic
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut bacon into ½ inch pieces and fry until nice and crispy.
- While the bacon is cooking, open and drain the green beans, then spread them out into a 3 quart casserole dish. A 9 x 13 Pyrex will work but it will be crowded. I like to use a 4 quart dish so I have more room to stir and serve without spillage.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce and garlic powder. Pour it over the green beans.
- After the bacon is crispy, use a slotted spoon to sprinkle it over the green beans. Stir the beans to distribute the sauce and the bacon. Bake the beans uncovered for 40 minutes.
Notes
- I like to slice the bacon into pieces and then fry it. As opposed to frying strips of bacon and then cutting it. Bacon can be a bit ornery to slice, but if you put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before cutting it, it will be much more manageable.
- Use a good quality knife, or kitchen shears to slice the bacon strips into pieces. No need to separate the individual slices. Cut the bacon into ½ inch pieces.
- Cooking Bacon: Watch the bacon carefully when cooking. Use a medium low heat. Don’t over cook the bacon or you’ll add a burnt flavor to the beans. And don’t undercook. If the fat isn’t rendered the bacon will be soggy or flabby if not crisped properly.
- Soggy Beans: The only reason you’d end up with soggy beans is if the casserole is simply cooked too long.
- Warming Trays are such a useful tool for Holiday gatherings. When serving this recipe buffet style, place it on a warming tray to keep warm. I love my warming tray for any type of gathering, and use it more than I thought I would. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase this product using the link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
- Scaling Recipe: If you have a large casserole dish, this recipe is easy to double. It’s also easy to cut the ingredients in half for a smaller batch.
- Make Ahead: Holiday hosting can become hectic. Make this recipe a day ahead, cover with plastic wrap. Remove plastic wrap, then bake when ready to start cooking for the meal.
Nutrition
Canned Green Beans Recipe with Bacon and Brown Sugar … It’s what’s for a side dish.
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
I love that people have been commenting on this recipe since 2016. I’ve made it for three family holidays now and it has quickly become a family, favorite, replacing our former Asian green beans (my family loved those so that tells you how good these really are.)
it makes it extra special for me that they’ve been in your family for over 40 years. Thank you for sharing such a delicious and wonderful recipe. Today is Christmas Eve and I’m serving them for our traditional Christmas Eve Polish dinner.
Hi Toni and thanks so much for taking the time to write such a lovely note. It’s a family favorite at our house. Happy 2026.
Really delicious. I wanted to drink the juice. 🙂
Hi Vicki and thanks so much for the rave review. And LOL – I hear ya about that juice. 🙂
I’ve never had these but they sound interesting.
I think I’ll make this recipe, but add a touch of apple cider vinegar. Thoughts?
so sorry about the loss of your mom last year. this looks amazing! making for thanksgivin !! i am sure she was proud of the cook you became. thanks for sharing. love your recipes!
Green beans and bacon how I love them. I am excited to try the sweet and sour dressing! Loved your story about growing up on the farm. I remember sitting on my grandma’s porch and breaking beans. Growing up stories… Memories…. Family dinners!
Isn’t it wonderful how food brings back the wonderful memories of our mothers. I must try her green bean recipe, it is different from any I’ve had because of the sugar. I’m sure she would be very pleased you are sharing her recipe and the wonderful memories you have of her.
What a great memory. I am sorry about your loss but this is a great homage to your mom. I love this green bean recipe. My typical “grandma” memory is of overcooked green beans with lots of bacon and onions. (Note, overcooked was not a bad thing this her greenbeans and I could have eaten a gallon.) Nicely written!
My mom used to make something like this too! I’m sorry to hear of your loss.
I guess northern girls share some of the same memories, I used to sit and snap beans also. I used to get so tired of it, though and complain. But now I would give anything to go back and do it again…. with my mom. She has been gone longer then yours, and I can tell you it does get easier. BUT some days..some moments….
Anyway..stumbled upon your blog, and so glad I did…off to check out your recipes!
Lea Ann, I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. She sounds wonderful. I’ll think of her when I make these green beans. My mother died many years ago, and I still miss her. I love making, and eating, the foods she made.
I miss my mom on Mother’s Day also. It gets easier as the years go by, but I still miss her sweet smile. She didn’t like to cook as much as my Dad so he made a lot of our meals, very similar to what you describe – simple fresh ingredients from the garden or the chicken coop or with canned green beans from the pantry.
My family will love this one! You can’t go wrong with bacon.