This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Fresh green beans get the ultimate treatment here with crispy bacon, maple syrup, and coconut aminos. The result is the tastiest crack green beans recipe you won’t be able to get enough of. Perfect for a family dinner or holiday table. Once you try this delicious side dish, you’ll be hooked!
Table of Contents
- Easy Stovetop Crack Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
- What should you serve this green bean dish with
- Simple ingredients you’ll need for sautéed green beans with bacon
- How to make this crack green beans recipe
- Watch me make the perfect side dish
- How to turn this into crack green bean casserole
- How to store
- Substitutions
- More amazing side dishes you’ll love
- Easy Stovetop Crack Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
Easy Stovetop Crack Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
My kids like green beans okay, but once they tried these crack green beans, each of them turned into a huge green bean fan!
How can you go wrong with tons of bacon plus sweetness from maple syrup and coconut aminos? It’s the ultimate sweet and savory glaze that will have you coming back for more.
If you have green bean haters in your life, make this for them, and come back and let me know how they feel about green beans now!
Typically crack green beans are loaded with tons of brown sugar, melted butter, and soy sauce, so I wanted to put my spin on the recipe that was a bit more healthful.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still bacon and loads of delicious sweetness, but this option is refined sugar-free, and soy-free.
What should you serve this green bean dish with
This recipe pairs perfectly with a holiday meal and the main dish you’d find at it – think Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas dinner ham. It’s also a great addition to a potluck dinner or weeknight meal!
Try pairing this easy side dish with one of these mains:
- Grilled pork tenderloin
- Baked salmon with mayonnaise
- Skillet chicken pomodoro
- Cajun blackened tilapia
- Panko parmesan baked cod
Simple ingredients you’ll need for sautéed green beans with bacon
Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.
- pork bacon
- fresh green beans
- granulated garlic
- onion powder
- pure maple syrup
- coconut aminos
How to make this crack green beans recipe
Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat add the chopped bacon and cook bacon for 5-7 minutes, until the bacon is just about cooked through, but not all the way crispy.
Step 2: Add the fresh beans into the pan with the bacon, granulated garlic, onion powder, maple syrup, and coconut aminos. Stir to combine and place a lid over the pot to steam for 5 minutes until the green beans are fork-tender.
Step 3: Remove the lid, and stir the sweet and savory sauce to coat the green beans.
Step 4: Using a slotted spoon add to your serving dish and enjoy!
Watch me make the perfect side dish
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
How to turn this into crack green bean casserole
For the ultimate green bean casserole, double this recipe and mix it with your favorite cream of mushroom soup. You can use a homemade version, or buy your favorite from the grocery store.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with crispy fried onions, and bake until warmed through!
The best part? You can easily prep it in advance for dinner time or a holiday meal!
How to store
Leftover crack green beans can be stored in an airtight container once cooled to room temperature.
They will stay fresh for up to 5 days, which makes them a great recipe to prep in advance for holiday meals!
Reheat in either a skillet over medium heat or in a warm oven until warmed through.
Substitutions
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this crack green beans recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Bacon – Regular bacon works really well but you can also substitute turkey bacon or beef bacon in. Add a little oil to the pan if you’re using a bacon that leaves you with less bacon grease for cooking.
Green beans – Try this same recipe with asparagus, chopped broccoli, or kale! I wouldn’t suggest using canned green beans as they will not be crispy.
Granulated garlic – Garlic powder is a 1:1 replacement for granulated garlic. If you’d like to use fresh garlic, wait to add it until after you remove the lid from the green bean steaming, and then cook for 2 minutes at the end. This will prevent the fresh garlic from burning.
Maple syrup – In place of maple syrup you can use honey, date syrup, or brown sugar to add sweetness to this recipe.
Coconut aminos – For that same savory umami flavor you get from coconut aminos, you can substitute in soy sauce, tamari, or Worcestershire sauce.
More amazing side dishes you’ll love
- Maple glazed oven roasted carrots
- Roasted broccoli and carrots
- Dairy free sweet potato casserole
- Turkey veggie tray
- Cranberry jalapeno meatballs
- Christmas charcuterie board
Easy Stovetop Crack Green Beans Recipe with Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices pork bacon, chopped
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the chopped bacon and cook bacon for 5-7 minutes, until the bacon is just about cooked through, but not all the way crispy.
- Add the fresh beans into the pan with the bacon, granulated garlic, onion powder, maple syrup, and coconut aminos. Stir to combine and place a lid over the pot to steam for 5 minutes until the green beans are fork-tender.
- Remove the lid, stir the sweet and savory sauce to coat the green beans.
- Using a slotted spoon add to your serving dish and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you try this crack green bean recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
Originally published November 2023. Updated February 2025.
I recently tried the this recipe and it was a hit at my family’s dinner! The flavor was incredibly savory and the beans had just the right amount of crunch. I’m curious, do you think I could use turkey bacon as well? Not sure if this would be too lean and not provide enough fat for the green beans to cook in?
Hey Mackenzie! You could definitely use turkey bacon, you’d just have to add oil to compensate for the lack of grease with turkey bacon. I’m so glad your family loved this recipe!