Description

These Crack Green Beans are a crowd-pleasing side dish that transforms humble green beans into an addictive delight. Coated in a rich, umami-packed glaze, they are sure to disappear from your table first!

Ingredients

Fresh Green Beans
Frozen Green Beans
Beef Bacon
Ground Beef or Diced Beef
Light Brown Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar
Regular Soy Sauce
Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
Tamari
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
Apple Cider Vinegar (Optional)

Instructions

First things first, let’s get those green beans ready. If you’re using fresh green beans, give them a good rinse under cold water. Then, snap or cut off the tough stem ends. If the beans are very long, you can snap them in half for easier handling and eating. For frozen green beans, there’s no need to thaw them; they can go directly into the next steps.
Next, it’s time to bring on the savory goodness! In a large skillet or a Dutch oven, cook your beef of choice. If you’re using beef bacon, cut it into small pieces (about ½-inch to 1-inch lardons) and cook over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the crispy beef bacon from the pan, setting it aside, but leave about 1-2 tablespoons of the rendered fat in the skillet. This fat is liquid gold for our sauce! If you're using ground beef or diced beef, brown it in the skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once it’s fully cooked and nicely browned, drain off any excess fat, then set the beef aside. If you didn’t have much fat render, you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil or butter to the pan before making the sauce.
Now for the magic! In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. If you're adding red pepper flakes or apple cider vinegar, now's the time to include them. Whisk everything together until the sugar is mostly dissolved and you have a smooth, well-combined sauce. This is the heart of the dish, so make sure it’s thoroughly mixed.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If you cooked your beef in an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, you can continue using that. Otherwise, transfer the cooked green beans and beef mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Add the prepped green beans (fresh or frozen) directly to the skillet with the remaining beef fat (or added oil/butter). Pour the prepared 'crack' sauce evenly over the green beans. Toss everything gently to ensure the beans are well coated with that delicious sauce. Stir in the cooked beef (either crispy beef bacon or browned ground/diced beef) at this stage. You want everything to be married together before baking. Spread the green beans in a single layer as much as possible in the baking dish. This helps them cook evenly and get nicely caramelized.
Place the baking dish in your preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the green beans are tender-crisp and the sauce has thickened and caramelized around them. The exact time will depend on whether you used fresh or frozen beans, and how tender you prefer them. I like to stir them gently once or twice during baking to ensure even cooking and coating. For a slightly crispier finish, you can turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes, but watch them very carefully to prevent burning.
Once the Crack Green Beans are cooked to perfection, remove them from the oven. Serve them hot as an incredibly flavorful and addictive side dish. Be prepared for compliments and requests for the recipe!

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 200
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 500 mg
Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 8 g
Cholesterol: 20 mg

Keywords: To achieve the perfect texture, avoid overcooking the green beans. If using fresh beans, check them around the 20-minute mark; they should still have a slight bite. You can also customize the flavor by adjusting the balance of sweet and savory ingredients to your preference.