These bacon wrapped green beans are made with canned green beans, smoky bacon, and a buttery brown sugar glaze. They can be assembled ahead of time and served as a holiday side dish or bite-size appetizer.
Why You'll Love Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
We all have those recipes that work for everything from holiday dinners to an easy weeknight side. These bacon wrapped green bean bundles are one of mine.
Tender canned green beans are wrapped in bacon, covered with a brown sugar butter glaze, and baked until caramelized. The finished bundles look so impressive on a holiday table, but the prep is super easy!
Ready In: 1 hour
Ingredients: 5
Flavor Profile: Savory/sweet combo
I hope you love this one!
Ingredient Notes
(See recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient measurements.)
- Whole canned green beans - I like to use whole green beans because they make the bundles look a little prettier. Cut green beans also work well for smaller, bite-size bundles. Drain and dry them well so the glaze does not get watery.
- Bacon - Regular-cut bacon wraps more easily and crisps up better. Thick-cut bacon will work, but it may need a few extra minutes in the oven.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar both work. I usually use light brown sugar because it gives the glaze plenty of caramel flavor without making it too rich.
- Butter - Melted butter helps the brown sugar spread evenly over the bundles and bake into a smooth, glossy glaze.
- Garlic powder - This adds just enough savory flavor to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar.
Why Canned Green Beans?
I've made these bundles with both fresh and canned green beans, but canned beans work best for this recipe. They're already tender, easy to portion out, and bake in about the same amount of time as the bacon.
Use cut canned green beans for smaller, bite-size bundles or whole green beans for a prettier look. The flavor is the same either way.
Want to make this as more of a side dish? I have a deconstructed version with these Sweet Green Beans with Bacon!
Can I use fresh green beans?
Yes, fresh green beans will work, but they need to be blanched first.
Trim the ends, boil the beans in salted water for 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer them to ice water. Pat them completely dry before wrapping with bacon and following the recipe as written.
Fresh green beans stay brighter and a little crunchier, while canned beans give you softer, more tender bundles.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
- Drain the green beans. Pour the canned green beans into a colander, then pat them dry with paper towels. Let them sit while you prepare the bacon so extra liquid does not thin the glaze.
- Cut the bacon. Cut each bacon slice into thirds with a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Gently stretch each piece so it wraps more easily and cooks evenly.
- Assemble the bundles. Place 5 to 6 green beans at one end of each bacon strip, then roll tightly. Arrange the bundles seam-side down in a single layer in a baking dish.
- Make the glaze. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. Stir in the brown sugar and garlic powder until evenly combined. The mixture may look slightly grainy, but it should still be pourable.
- Coat the bundles. Spoon or pour the glaze evenly over the bacon wrapped green beans.
- Bake. Bake at 425°F for about 40 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked and the edges are browned and caramelized.
- Drain and crisp. During the final 10 minutes, carefully spoon out most of the rendered bacon fat, then return the dish to the oven. If you are using a broiler-safe metal pan, broil for 1 to 2 minutes if the bacon needs more color. Watch closely so the glaze does not burn.
The Secret to Crispy Bacon
Don't skip that last drain! During the last 10 minutes of baking, carefully remove most of the rendered bacon grease so the bundles can crisp up instead of sitting in the fat.
Put the dish back in the oven for about 10 minutes. For crispier edges, broil the bundles for 1 to 2 minutes only if you are using a broiler-safe metal pan. Watch closely so the glaze does not burn.
If the bottoms still look soft, carefully flip the bundles before the final few minutes of baking.
Step-by-Step Recipe Video
Make-Ahead Instructions
Put the green bean bundles together up to 24 hours in advance, arrange them seam-side down in the baking dish, and cover tightly. Keep them refrigerated until you're ready to bake.
Wait to add the brown sugar glaze until just before baking. This keeps the bacon from sitting in the glaze overnight and gives it a better chance to crisp.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store leftover green bean bundles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: For the best texture, reheat them in a 350°F oven or air fryer for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. The microwave works in a pinch, but the bacon will be softer.
Freezing: I don't recommend freezing these. The green beans can release extra moisture after thawing, making the glaze watery and the bacon harder to crisp.
What to Serve with Green Bean Bundles
These bundles work great as an appetizer, but I usually serve them as a holiday or family-dinner side dish. They go really well with my Crock Pot Corn Casserole and Canned Yam Casserole.
They also make a great side for my Sausage Cornbread Dressing or Onion Soup Meatloaf!
Leslie's Testing Notes
- Use a rimmed baking dish - The glaze bubbles as it cooks, and the bacon releases quite a bit of grease. Use a rimmed glass or metal baking dish to keep everything contained.
- Let them rest before serving - The glaze will be super hot when the bundles come out of the oven. Let them sit for about 5 minutes so the glaze can thicken a little bit and they are easier to serve.
- Watch closely if you broil them - Only broil the bundles in a broiler-safe metal pan. Brown sugar can go from caramelized to burned quickly, so stay near the oven.
FAQs
Hope you love this bite-sized favorite as much as we do! If you try this recipe, make sure to give it a review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and comment 💭 below.
Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Ingredients
- 3 cans whole green beans (drained)
- 16 ounces regular-cut bacon
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- 1 stick butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Drain the green beans. Pour the canned green beans into a colander and pat them dry with paper towels. Let them sit while you prepare the bacon so extra liquid does not thin the glaze.
- Cut the bacon. Cut each bacon slice into thirds with a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Gently stretch each piece so it wraps more easily and cooks evenly.
- Assemble the bundles. Place 5 to 6 green beans at one end of each bacon strip, then roll tightly. Arrange the bundles seam-side down in a single layer in a rimmed baking dish.
- Make the glaze. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. Stir in the brown sugar and garlic powder until evenly combined. The mixture may look slightly grainy but should still be pourable.
- Coat the bundles. Spoon or pour the glaze evenly over the bacon wrapped green beans.
- Bake. Bake at 425°F for about 40 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked and the edges are browned and caramelized.
- Drain and crisp. During the final 10 minutes, carefully spoon out most of the rendered bacon fat, then return the dish to the oven. If using a broiler-safe metal pan, broil for 1 to 2 minutes if the bacon needs more color. Watch closely so the glaze does not burn.
- Rest and serve. Let the bundles rest for about 5 minutes so the glaze can thicken slightly, then serve warm as an appetizer or side dish.
Notes
- Drain and pat the green beans very dry so the glaze does not get watery.
- Use regular-cut bacon for easier wrapping and better crisping.
- Arrange the bundles seam-side down in one layer, then remove most of the rendered fat during the final 10 minutes.
- Do not broil glass bakeware. Only broil in a broiler-safe metal pan.
- Assemble up to 24 hours ahead, but add the glaze just before baking.
- Let the bundles rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- This recipe makes about 40 to 50 bundles. One serving is approximately 5 to 6 bundles.
Nutrition Facts
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 17 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
these little bundles are so savory! I'm headed to my family reunion down here in Mississippi. These babies will be the first to go off the appetizer table cause you can't wait to eat them as a side dish. that's just cruel to make the relatives wait! 🤣🥰