And it really is true; bacon makes everything better! Not only does it adds delectable savory flavors to our bacon-wrapped green beans, but it also makes our side dish aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. But, of course, the taste won’t disappoint, either. It’s undeniably scrumptious. They’ll be gone in no time, I’m telling you! Even your picky-eater kid won’t have trouble eating these healthy treats and will surely enjoy munching on them. I guarantee that! 😉
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans Recipe
I think we can agree that the bacon here steals the show, as always. The crispy caramelized bacon brings out the best flavor of this recipe, not to mention the special Cajun tomato sauce covering these babies. Baking them locks all the flavor inside and adds the perfect crisp to our bacon. Aah! No wonder they came out fantabulously D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!
Green Bean Bundles Ingredient List
This one is a simple recipe you can quickly whip up any time. And it’s made with a reasonably short list of ingredients you can easily find in your pantry. So, don’t forget to grab a bunch of green beans and bacon on your next grocery shopping trip and try this simple recipe.
Green Beans – Aside from their high fiber and folate content, they are also an excellent source of vitamin A, C, and K. They are also pretty versatile. You can add them to your favorite savory dish, and they’ll taste effortlessly amazing. 😉Bacon – Aah! Bacon! This bad boy is simply magical. It makes everything taste better with its savory presence. Need I say more?Tomato – A single tomato is enough to add subtle fruity sweetness and tartness in the background. It will surely add more flavor and depth to our dish. Or you can easily replace it with a tablespoon or more tomato sauce, depending on your preferences.Canola Oil – Actually, you can use any cooking oil you have on hand. We use the oil to saute our green beans and bacon. For richer and buttery flavor, I suggest using butter. 😉 How to Dispose of Cooking Oil.Onion and Garlic – Nothing beats onion and garlic when it comes to adding exceptional flavor and aroma to any dish.Worcestershire Sauce – This ingredient has sweet umami flavors that are pretty strong, so a teaspoon is enough to add a more savory flavor to your dish. And if it’s not available, you can easily substitute Worcestershire sauce with seasoning liquid like Maggi, or an equal ratio of soy sauce and ketchup.Cajun Spice – This ingredient is optional, but it will definitely make bacon-wrapped green beans more delectable and flavorsome. It’s simply a mix of delicious herbs and spices, which you can easily make at home with my Homemade Creole Cajun Seasoning.Salt and Pepper – And, of course, don’t forget this power duo to season our dish. The salt will instantly balance it, while the pepper will give it a slight kick of heat.
Recipe Variations
Italian Seasoning – Aside from Creole Seasoning, you can also add a dash of Italian Seasoning to add more herby flavors to our dish.Mexican Fusion – You can try it with some Taco Seasoning for flavor variation and mix the flavors a bit.Make it Spicy – Go crazy on the cayenne powder or pepper flakes; I won’t stop you. Just be careful not to set your mouth on fire, though. 😉Make it Vegan – Just skip the bacon, and you’re good to go. Easy peasy!Veggie Switch – You can also try my Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus. Another way to encourage your picky-eater kids to enjoy more veggies. Oh yes!Add Cheese – And yes, just like bacon, everything is better with CHEESE, too! Grated parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella will definitely do the trick. Just sprinkle a little grated cheese on top about two minutes before the green beans come out of the oven. Yum!Sweet Glaze – Try it with some sprinkles of brown sugar to liven up your tastebuds. Oh yes!
Tips and Tricks
Serving and Storage Instructions
Yes! You can make these Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans ahead of time to make easy meal prep for the whole week. Just follow instructions 1-8 and line them up in a container or a baking dish. Store – You can store the Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans in an air-tight container or simply cover the baking dish with a cling wrap. Refrigerate – They will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze – Yes, you can freeze them if you don’t intend to eat them within the next few days. However, make sure to blanch them first because freezing raw veggies makes them mushy. Thaw – Thaw inside the fridge overnight when ready to serve the next day. Bake or Roast – Proceed to baking or roasting as instructed. However, you might need to add more time when baking straight from the refrigerator.
Reheating Instructions
Microwave – Reheat on medium power for about 1-2 minutes or until warm. Stove – Drizzle a little bit of oil in a pan and heat on medium-low until heated through. Air Fryer – Reheat at 350℉/175℃ for 5-7 minutes.
What Goes with Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans?
This side dish is not only perfect for regular dinners, but it’s also great for special occasions. These Green Bean bundles are beautifully presented and can pass for a fancy side dish in no time, especially when you serve them with these equally delectable dinner dishes.
Roast Garlic Mashed PotatoesBeef WellingtonSmothered Pork ChopsSpicy Grilled New York SteakBaked Turkey Thighs
More Easy Sides to Try
Collard GreensGreen Bean CasseroleStuffed Green Bell PeppersParmesan Crusted Baked AsparagusFlaky Homemade Biscuits
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Prepare the Green Beans and Bacon
Blanch – Start by blanching the green beans in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes, then dip them in ice-cold water to cool off. Remove and drain on paper towels. (Photos 1-2)Bake the Bacon – Preheat oven to 400°F/205℃. Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with foil (this makes for easy clean-up). Bake the bacon for about 8-10 minutes or until bacon is just starting to brown on the edges while remaining undercooked and soft. (Photos 3-4)Slice – Remove bacon and place on a plate lined with paper towels, and let it cool. Cut each bacon in half.
Make the Sauce
Saute – While the bacon is cooking, place a small saucepan on the stove on medium heat. Add oil and onions – stir for a minute. Then add garlic, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Let it simmer, occasionally stirring for about 5 minutes, then add about ½ cup or more of water or stock and Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper if desired. (Photos 5-6)Adjust Seasonings – Add seasonings to taste and a little water to make a little bit of sauce to put on the green beans. Set aside.Toss – Add about a tablespoon or more of sauce to the green beans, then toss well. (Photos 7-8)
Assemble
Assemble Bundles – place 6-8 green beans in a pile.Wrap and Tuck – Take a half slice of bacon and wrap it around the middle of the bundle of green beans, tucking the ends underneath or using a toothpick. Lay the green bean bundle on a baking sheet with the bacon seam-side down. Repeat with all the green beans. (Photos 9-10)Bake for about 12-18 minutes until bacon is crisp. (Photos 11-12)Pour – Remove from heat and pour the remaining sauce mixture over it.Serve – Let it cool slightly and serve.
Watch How To Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”YtbRr2eN” upload-date=”2021-11-03T18:41:55.000Z” name=”Bacon Wrapped Green Beans” description=”Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans – Enjoy soft and tender green beans wrapped in crispy caramelized bacon, then tossed in a garlic tomato sauce with the perfect blend of Cajun flavors. An easy side dish yet fancy enough to serve on special occasions. And an ideal addition to your easy meal prep ideas, too. Absolutely healthy and entertaining!” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was first published in August 2014 and has been updated with an additional write-up, new photos, and a video.
