• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Kitchen Divas
  • Recipes
  • Resources
    • Kitchen Divas Resources
    • Blogger Resources
  • About
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Divas Resources
  • Blogger Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Us
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

    Published: Dec 29, 2021 · Modified: Mar 16, 2023 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

    Share
    Pin210
    Tweet
    Email
    219Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Green beans with bacon and brown sugar are going to be your new favorite side. These crack green beans are made with green beans, bacon, brown sugar, and soy sauce to create a sweet and savory sensation. Give these green beans with sugar.

    Green beans with bacon and brown sugar held in the air on a fork.

    I have a friend that lives in the southern states, and she shared this recipe with me. I'm so glad she did, too! With all that bacon and brown sugar, it was easy for me to see why they're sometimes called crack green beans. They're addictive!

    Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar Ingredients

    This time around, I've listed all the ingredients here because every one of them is so important to this green beans with sugar dish. The great thing is that you'll find them all easily at your local store! Check the recipe card at the end of the post for amounts.

    Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make Green beans with bacon and brown sugar.
    • Green beans
    • Bacon
    • Brown sugar
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Butter
    • Soy sauce
    • Chicken broth

    Substitutions and Variations

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change these green beans with bacon and brown sugar.

    • Green Beans - canned green beans can be used if you don't have fresh on hand.
    • Stock - chicken stock can be used in place of chicken broth.
    • Spicy - Add red pepper flakes to increase the spice level of this recipe.
    • Ham - Want to add a little more meat to your green beans, use cooked ham or smoked ham hocks.

    Green Beans with Sugar Instructions

    Ready to make these crack green beans? If so follow these three easy steps below and you will have a delicious family-friendly side dish.

    These are the highlights, but you'll find the complete green beans with sugar instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post. The great thing is that they're not much different!

    Onion, garlic, butter and bacon grease added to a large pan.
    Onions and garlic cooking in a large pan.

    1: Heat bacon grease and butter in a large pan and saute the onion and garlic until soft.

    Brown sugar, soy sauce and chicken broth added to the large pan to make green beans with sugar.
    Green beans added to the large pan.

    2: Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth, and green beans and simmer until the liquid is almost gone.

    Bacon brown sugar green beans in a white bowl ready to be served.
    Closeup photo of a spoonful of crack green beans and crispy bacon.

    3: Add the bacon and cook a few minutes more.

    Closeup shot of bowlful of crack green beans

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this smoked green beans recipe.

    What to Serve with Green Beans with Sugar

    These delicious bacon brown sugar green beans pair perfectly with any of these beef recipes, chicken and shrimp recipes, and almost any pork recipe.

    Storage

    Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

    Freezer: Freeze in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

    Tips

    • I prefer fresh green beans for this dish, but you can use canned ones for a quicker version. One key to this dish is the long simmer time. Let them simmer until nearly all the broth is gone.
    • If you are in a hurry, you can cook this over medium heat. Remove from the stove when most of the broth has evaporated.
    Overhead shot of bacon brown sugar green beans in a white bowl with serving spoon and napkin.

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about green beans with bacon and brown sugar? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this recipe.

    How do I reheat green beans?

    Reheat leftover green beans with bacon in the microwave for one to two minutes or until completely warm.

    Can I freeze leftovers?

    Yes! You can freeze leftover green beans with bacon for up to two months.

    Can I make this recipe ahead?

    Certainly! These green beans are great when made ahead of time. Just don't add the bacon until you are heating your beans so that your bacon doesn't get soggy.

    More Green Bean Recipes

    Do you like side dish recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Air Fryer Parmesan Green Beans
    • Sweet Garlic Balsamic Green Beans
      Sweet Garlic Balsamic Green Beans Saute
    • Sweet green beans in baking dish from overhead.
      Easy Sweet Green Beans
    • Quick Sweet and Sour Green Beans
      Quick Sweet and Sour Green Beans

    Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Green Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

    Warning: these green beans can be addictive! Made with bacon, brown sugar, onion, garlic, soy sauce and simmered in broth for hours, you can easily see why.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 10 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 Servings
    Calories 482 kcal

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • cutting board
    • Sharp knife
    • large saucepan
    • wooden spoon

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ pound bacon cooked and chopped, reserve the bacon grease for the green beans
    • ½ cup brown sugar packed
    • 1 cup white onion diced
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
    • ¼ cup butter
    • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 2 pounds green beans trimmed and halved or (4 cans 14 ounce green beans)

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
    • In a large pan, heat your reserved bacon grease and butter and add the onion and garlic.
    • Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often.
    • Add the brown sugar, soy sauce and chicken broth.
    • Stir in the green beans and simmer over low heat until the liquid is nearly gone. This may take up to 2 hours but is worth every minute.
    • Add the bacon to the green beans and cook for an additional few minutes to warm bacon.
    • Serve.
    • Enjoy every bite!

    Notes

    I prefer fresh green beans for this dish, but you can use canned for a quicker version. One key to this dish is the long simmer time. Let them simmer until nearly all the broth is gone.
    If you are in a hurry, you can cook this over medium heat. Remove from the stove when most of the broth has evaporated.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingCalories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 4gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 705mgPotassium: 477mgFiber: 5gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 1062IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 97mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword green beans with bacon and brown sugar
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    A fork full of green beans with sugar  over a full white bowl.
    Share
    Pin210
    Tweet
    Email
    219Shares
    219Shares

    More Sides

    • What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs
    • What to Serve with Shepherds Pie
    • What to Serve with Pasta Salad
    • What to Serve with Paella

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Welcome!

    Ken and Karin

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

    Read more...

    Latest Recipes

    • Easy Red Chicken
    • What to Serve with Swedish Meatballs
    • Mango French Toast
    • Pesto Salad Dressing with Lemon

    Footer

    Join me in the kitchen for a week of our favorite Sweets and Treats!

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    © 2023 · Kitchen Divas · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy