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GET IT NOWMy Bacon Wrapped Green Beans Are Sweet, Salty, and Crispy In One
Whenever I want a fall veggie side (or appetizer) that feels special but is still super easy, I make these bacon wrapped green beans. They’re lightly sweet, a little smoky, and perfectly crisp around the edges! Here’s what makes these green bean bundles my favorite way to turn basic roasted green beans into something extra:
- Sweet, salty, and caramelized flavor – Green beans with bacon are already an amazing combo of sweet and savory together, but my version coats the bacon in this irresistible caramelized brown sugar flavor.
- Crispy bacon and tender (not mushy) green beans – Just like I cook bacon in the oven and bacon wrapped asparagus on a rack, the same method works beautifully for bacon wrapped green beans. In this recipe, though, I discovered that blanching also improves the texture significantly. It leaves the green beans crisp-tender instead of soggy and lifeless.
- Restaurant-style presentation – Wrapping a few beans into neat bundles takes very little effort, but makes them look elegant enough for holidays or date night dinners. I love serving them next to a juicy steak or pork chop.
Make them with me and you’ll see why this is my favorite green bean and bacon recipe!
“Definitely a hit! I used to make mine with brown sugar and too much butter, so this is a great alternative! Thank you!”
-Rebecca
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my bacon wrapped green bean bundles recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Green Beans – I used American green beans, but haricots verts (French green beans) work, too. I always trim the ends.
- Bacon – I prefer regular bacon here, but turkey bacon also works if you want something lighter. In my testing, I found it crisps a little faster, so watch your cook time.
- Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – For a touch of natural sweetness and that deep brown sugar flavor, without refined suga. You can use regular brown sugar if it fits your lifestyle, swap in maple syrup, or leave it out completely for a more savory version.
- Spices – Garlic powder and black pepper bring out the natural taste of the green beans and bacon without overpowering them. I don’t add extra salt because the bacon is plenty salty.
How To Make Bacon Green Bean Bundles
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Preheat and prep. Set your oven and line a baking sheet with a rack (I use this set). Lay the bacon slices in a single layer and bake just until they start to cook but aren’t crisp yet.
- Blanch the green beans. That’s a fancy way to say boil them briefly, just until they’re bright green. Plunge in ice water right away to prevent overcooking, then dry very well.
- Season and toss. Pour the warm bacon drippings over the beans, sprinkle with the garlic powder and black pepper, and toss to coat.
- Wrap and arrange. Gather a small bundle of beans, wrap with a piece of bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Line them up on the baking sheet.
- Add sweetness and bake. Sprinkle the Besti Brown or brown sugar over each green bean bundle. Bake your bacon wrapped green beans until the bacon is crispy.
My Recipe Tips
- Be careful not to overcook the green beans at the blanching step. They should still be very crisp at this point, otherwise they’ll be mushy after roasting. Plunge them in ice water the second they turn bright green!
- Pat the green beans completely dry. Any moisture left on them can make the bacon steam instead of crisp, so don’t skip this step.
- Don’t overlap the bacon too much when wrapping. I overlap just enough to secure with a toothpick, but no more, as any overlapping parts don’t get as crispy. For this reason, I recommend cutting the bacon in half to make shorter pieces before wrapping.
- Don’t stretch the bacon, either. It will shrink in the oven and try to unravel.
- I recommend 6-7 green beans per bundle. Fewer than that get overcooked too easily by the time the bacon is done. If you use more, it’s tough to wrap a halved bacon slice around them, plus the ratio of green beans and bacon isn’t ideal.
- Do you have to use a rack? No, but I highly recommend it! Baking the bacon wrapped green beans on a rack lets the heat circulate all around, so the bacon doesn’t sit in grease and gets crispier. I have and love this pan and rack set!
- Do you have to use toothpicks? No, I just find it easier. You can just place the bundles seam-side down on the rack instead.
- For crispier bacon, place the bundles under the broiler for a minute or two. Watch them closely, so they don’t burn.
- Want to grill them instead? You can use the same prep steps, then cook the bundles on the grill instead of in the oven. They usually take about 10-15 minutes at medium heat, turning occasionally.
Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
My bacon wrapped green beans are crispy, savory, and lightly sweet. These green bean bundles are easy and elegant for holidays or weeknights!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Place an oven-safe rack over a baking sheet.
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Arrange the halved bacon slices in a single layer on the rack. Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cooked through but not crispy.
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Meanwhile, place the beans in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3-5 minutes, until crisp-tender but not quite done.
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Drain the beans into a colander over the sink and run ice cold water over them, to stop them from cooking further. Pat dry very well. Place the green beans into a large bowl.
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Pour the bacon drippings from the pan over the bowl of green beans. Sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper. Toss to coat. The bacon drippings already add salt, but if desired, you can add more salt to taste.
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Lightly wipe down the baking sheet with a paper towel. Take 6-7 green beans and wrap in a bacon slice, secure with a toothpick, and place onto the baking sheet. Arrange all the bundles on the baking sheet, without touching each other.
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Sprinkle Besti Brown over the green bean bundles, about 3/4 teaspoon per bundle.
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Bake green bean bundles in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until bacon is crispy and green beans are tender.
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If you want the bacon even more crispy, place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes at the end.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 green bean bundles, or 1/6 of the entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get crispy bacon and tender green beans, without them turning out mushy or soggy.
- Storage: Keep the bacon wrapped green beans in the fridge for 3-5 days. They do lose their crispness, but the right reheating method can help bring some of it back.
- Meal prep: Assemble the green bean bundles 1-2 days ahead and just bake when ready.
- Reheat: I prefer to reheat these in my air fryer to crisp up the bacon again, but the oven works, too. The microwave leaves everything limp.
- Freeze: You can freeze the bundles before baking. Assemble them with blanched green beans and raw bacon, then freeze. When ready, roast straight from frozen, but reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees and they’ll take longer. Just note that frozen green beans turn out softer than fresh.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
More Bacon Wrapped Recipes
Wrapping vegetables and other foods in bacon is one of my favorite ways to make them more interesting and flavorful. If you like these bacon wrapped green beans, try one of my others next:
4 Comments
Rebecca
Definitely a hit! I used to make mine with brown sugar and too much butter, so this is a great alternative! Thank you!
Reagan
I love these green bean bundles! So yummy!
Heather Kuhn
Can we use this for sides? Especially with the pandemic raging, I don’t have much use for appetizers, and two pounds of beans worth of green bean casserole was way too much for two people so I cut that recipe in half and probably have enough over a pound of green beans left to make four bundles because the supermarket was selling in packages of around two pounds.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Heather, Yes these bundles make a great side dish.