Crack Green Beans (Stovetop, Oven & Crock Pot)
These crack green beans have the power to turn a green bean hater into a raving fan! Smothered in a delicious sweet and savory glaze, then topped with lots of bacon, this green bean recipe will be a favorite at your house! The best part? It can be made on the stovetop, in the oven, OR in your crock pot/slow cooker!
Ingredients
- 3 14 oz. cans of green beans, drained WELL! no salt added, if possible (See notes below to prepare with fresh green beans)
- 8-10 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces + 2-3 tbsp. of reserved bacon grease
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar light brown sugar or dark brown sugar work just fine
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Cook bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon pieces until crisp (about 10 minutes). Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Discard all but 2-3 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
- Make the sauce/glaze: In the same skillet with the bacon grease, over medium heat, add butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Increase heat to medium high and simmer 3-5 minutes more, stirring often, until the mixture has thickened into a glaze and the sugar has dissolved.
- Add & finish: Add the drained green beans and reserved bacon and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook 10-15 minutes more - the sauce will thicken more as it cooks. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed. Serve green beans right away or see make-ahead instructions.Note: If your sauce is not thickening enough, it's probably because the green beans still had a bit of excess water on them. No fear! You can try one of two things. First, you can try turning up the heat a bit and simmering the beans for 5-10 minutes more. If that doesn't work, cool a few tablespoons of the sauce. Then whisk in 1/2 tsp. of cornstarch. Add the cornstarch slurry back into the green beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
Crockpot Instructions
- Cook the bacon as directed in stovetop instructions above. Add reserved bacon grease, green beans, and all remaining ingredients (except the cooked bacon) to your crock pot. Give everything a good toss so the beans are well-coated. Cook on low 4-5 hours or on high 2-3 hours. Stir in reserved bacon and serve.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat over to 375°F.
- Cook bacon as directed in stovetop instructions above. Add reserved bacon grease, green beans, and all remaining ingredients (except the cooked bacon) to a 8x8 (or similar) baking pan. Give everything a good toss so the beans are well-coated. Cover with aluminum foil and cook at 375°F 20-25 minutes until the glaze is thick and bubbly. Stir in reserved bacon and serve.
Make Ahead
- You can make these green beans a day in advance. Make the stovetop recipe above. Transfer to a baking dish, cool, then refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and reheat in the oven at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until the glaze is bubbly and beans are heated through.
Notes
How to make this recipe with fresh green beans
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- Oven method: This method will yield super soft, tender beans, closer to the texture of canned green beans. Prepare the bacon and sauce just as you would for the stovetop recipe. Place fresh cut green beans in a casserole dish. Pour the sauce mixture over the top and give it a good stir so the beans are coated. Bake at 375°F for 40-45 minutes, or until beans reach your desired tenderness. Give them a good stir once or twice during baking so the beans are totally coated in the sauce.
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- Stovetop/blanching method: This method will yield more crisp, fresher-tasting green beans. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the green beans and cook for 2–3 minutes until they turn bright green and slightly tender but still crisp. Drain them well, then prepare the recipe and replace the canned beans with your homemade blanched green beans!
Nutrition
Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 9.1gFat: 13.7gSaturated Fat: 6.3gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 1320mgPotassium: 272mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 11gVitamin D: 4µgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!