This Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon casserole is packed with a tasty sweet, salty, and smoky flavor that will turn anyone into a lover of green beans! Serve alongside any main course for a weeknight meal or a holiday feast. You only need 5 ingredients and 25 minutes. Use fresh, canned or frozen green beans.
This recipe for classic Arkansas green beans mixes tender green beans with a sauce made with butter, brown sugar, and salty soy sauce.
Top with crispy bacon, and you've got a unique side dish packed with flavor and textures!
This is a go-to side dish for any meal. It's super simple and comes together quickly. Plus, you can use fresh, canned or frozen green beans.
These green beans with bacon can be served with any main course, but we think they pair especially well with grilled chicken, Southern fried chicken, or pork chops.
They would also be a great addition to a holiday spread!
For other tasty side dishes, be sure to try Sesame Green Beans, Jiffy Corn Casserole, Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, or Buttered Cabbage.
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Why Make This Recipe
You can use any type of green beans to make this recipe, including fresh, canned, or frozen!
The flavors are salty, smoky, and sweet making them irresistible.
This dish can be served as a side or a main course with added protein.
It's an easy side dish recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes!
You only need 5 simple ingredients.
This is a classic Southern side dish.
Serve these Arkansas Green Beans as a side dish at Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or any night of the week!
Ingredients
- Green Beans - You can use any type of green beans for this recipe, including fresh, frozen, or canned.
- Bacon - Add a smoky and salty element to the dish and a hearty crunch.
- Butter - Gives the sauce a rich texture along with a buttery flavor.
- Brown Sugar - Adds a deep sweetness to the green beans that pair well with the bacon and salty notes.
- Soy Sauce - Adds salty umami flavor to the green beans.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Get out a casserole dish and set it aside.
Cook the bacon: Place the bacon slices into a cold non-stick frying pan over low heat. After a few minutes, when some fat starts to run out of the bacon, turn the heat up to medium and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. You want it cooked but slightly underdone since it will cook further in casserole. Remove from the pan, drain any excess fat and chop the bacon into small pieces.
Prepare the green beans: If they are frozen or fresh, cook them slightly by microwaving with a tablespoon of water for 4 minutes, or boil for a few minutes. Drain the green beans and add them to a 9X13 (or 2 quart) oven-safe casserole dish.
Assemble the sauce: Melt the butter in a microwave or pot on the stovetop, add the brown sugar and soy sauce whisk until combined. Pour it over the green beans, and add the chopped cooked bacon. Toss until coated.
Bake the green beans: Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until bubbling and the Arkansas Green Beans start to darken slightly. Serve hot with your favorite main course.
Cook's Tips
No matter what type of green beans you use, make sure they are fully drained. This will prevent the Southern-style green beans with bacon dish from becoming watery.
You can use any type of bacon you like for this recipe, including turkey bacon or vegetarian bacon.
If you want to make this dish ahead of time, simply assemble all the ingredients and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake. The green beans can even be cooked ahead of time!
Bake the green beans uncovered to ensure that they get nice and crispy on top.
Variations
Add other vegetables to the mix, including diced mushrooms, onions, or red peppers.
Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a bit of heat.
You can add different herbs and spices to the green beans, such as garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or black pepper.
Instead of soy sauce, try using tamari or coconut aminos to make this recipe gluten-free.
Substitute the brown sugar for other types of sweetener, including honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Cooled leftover green bean casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until warmed through.
To freeze, let it cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe dish or container. Freeze for up to three months. When you're ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until warm. Keep in mind that the texture of the green beans may change.
Make ahead: Assemble the Arkansas green beans with bacon, then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Then, cook as instructed below.
FAQs
To make it easy, use canned. However, if you like a bit of snap to your green beans, fresh or frozen may be a better option. Just make sure to lightly cook them before adding them to the casserole dish.
You can prepare all the ingredients and store them in the fridge for up to 48 hours until you're ready to bake.
It's the addition of bacon and a sweet and savory sauce made with brown sugar, soy sauce, and butter add a classic southern flair.
More side dish recipes
We hope that you love this tasty Arkansas green beans with bacon recipe! Be sure to also check out these other side dishes too!
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📖 Recipe
Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
Equipment
- 2 quart dish
Ingredients
- ½ pound bacon
- 4 cups green beans (1½ pounds fresh, 15 ounces frozen or 2 x 15 ounce cans, drained.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the bacon - Place the rashers into a cold non-stick frying pan over a low heat. After a few minutes, when some fat starts to run out of the bacon, turn the heat up to medium and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and chop the bacon.TIP: Don't overcook the bacon, it will cook further when baking with the green beans.
- If the green beans are frozen or fresh, cook them slightly by microwaving with a tablespoon of water for 4 minutes, or boil for a few minutes.
- Drain the green beans and add them to a 9X13 (or 2 quart) ovensafe casserole dish.
- Melt the butter (in a microwave or pot on the stovetop), then stir in the brown sugar and soy sauce.
- Pour it over the green beans and add the chopped cooked bacon. Mix it all up.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until bubbling and the Arkansas Green Beans start to darken slightly.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Tayler says
I'm always looking for new ways to get my kids to eat their veggies. Adding bacon to green beans? Genius!
Jess says
100% my favorite way to eat green beans!
Ieva says
Just a great recipe! Super simple and with just the right amount of sweetness and saltiness! Love it!
Sonal Gupta says
I was looking for a new recipe to test out for my Thanksgiving menu. This was wonderful and easy to make. Saving it.
Vicky says
This looks like the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. The addition of bacon really takes it over the top. After all, bacon makes everything better!
Carrie Robinson says
This was the perfect way to make green beans to me! I am all about the addition of the brown sugar and bacon. 🙂
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this with dinner last night and it was a savory success! Light yet hearty, quick and easy; even my picky eaters gobbled it up!
Casey says
I love bacon and green beans together but the brown sugar really levels up the flavor. This was delicious!
Dannii says
The bacon in this was delicious. The perfect balance of sweet and salty.
TAYLER ROSS says
This is my new favorite green beans recipe!! Easy to make, full of flavor and goes with so many things!
Amanda L. Boyd says
These green beans are so delicious!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!!!