Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

TiffanyUpdated Jan 10, 2022, Published Oct 20, 2016

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Total Time 30

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This recipe for Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon is so good it turns veggie haters into hard-core green bean lovers. It only takes 20 minutes to get these delicious green beans on the table and trust me, the combination of sweet brown sugar and savory bacon absolutely turns this simple side dish in to the star of the meal.

Looking for more easy vegetable side dish recipes? I’ve got you covered with these Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic and Almonds (can’t go wrong with buttery garlic!), and these super simple Sauteed Brussels Sprouts (pro tip: top them with a bit of balsamic glaze to really take it over the top!).

close up of brown sugar green beans with bacon in a wok.

Holiday side dishes are my fav-o-rite side dishes. If we are excluding French fries, which we are. French fries are a whole other discussion we just don’t even have time for. Except for those babies, holiday side dishes are my sides of choice and I’ve said it before but they are easily my favorite part of holiday meals. Even though I love a really good glazed ham or brined turkey (no one can brine a turkey like you Mom) I could, if I absolutely had to, live with out the main dish come Thanksgiving or Christmas.

As long as I can fill my plate (two or three times) with side dishes galore, I’m a happy camper.

steps 1-4 for brown sugar green beans with bacon recipe

steps 5-8 for brown sugar green beans with bacon recipe

top view of brown sugar green beans with bacon in a wok.

My mother goes overboard every single year and makes two kinds of mashed potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, green beans two ways, some kind of fruit salad, two or three kinds of bread (gotta have options) and at least two meats. It’s not turkey or ham at our house, it’s turkey AND ham with your choice of sauce.

Love that woman and her need to out-do herself every single year.

This is my latest obsession as far as green beans are concerned. I took the idea from one of my mother’s famous green beans recipes and spun it my own way with the addition of garlic, brown sugar, and dijon mustard. Dijon mustard?? YESSSSSSS. It makes all the difference in this recipe bringing the sweet and the savory together in one scrumptious sauce. You’re gonna go crazy for this one and so will every single person you’re having over for holiday dinners.

Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below, I can’t wait to hear what you think of this dish!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll also love my tutorial for how to cook Bacon In The Oven!

4.99 from 176 votes

Brown Sugar Green Beans with Bacon

By Tiffany Azure

Tender brown sugar green beans with bacon are so incredibly flavorful and make the perfect side dish, especially for holiday meals.

Prep: 5

Cook: 25

Total: 30

Servings:

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Ingredients

▢ 2 pounds fresh green beans, ends trimmed
▢ 4-6 strips bacon, chopped, (may sub turkey bacon)
▢ ⅔ cup brown sugar
▢ 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic
▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Place beans in a large pot and cover beans with water. Cover pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until beans are tender, but not soggy (they are going to get cooked a bit longer later on so you don’t want them overcooked at this point, just to the point they can be easily pierced with a fork).
Drain pot and rinse beans in cold water. Set aside.
In skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat 6-8 minutes until fully cooked but not yet crispy.
Add brown sugar, dijon mustard, and garlic to the pan and stir until all ingredients are combined. Add green beans and continue to stir until sauce is bubbly and green beans are thoroughly coated in the sauce (4-6 minutes).
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.