Green Bean Bundles with Bacon

closeup photo of cooked green bean bundles

These Green Bean Bundles wrapped in bacon and braised in a sweet garlic liquid are easy to prepare in advance. They're perfect for holidays and weeknight dinners alike, and the make-ahead options reduce last-minute cooking stress.

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: comfort, freezer meal, holiday, vegetable

Author: juiceofsevenlemons

Equipment

Individual 1/8 Sheet Pans or larger depending on how many you make, but the smaller ones fit in my freezer better
silicone baking sheet for 1/8 sheet pan
reusable stand-up silicone bag, 104 Oz for freezer storage (plastic-free) - I love this bag!
12.5-inch stone baking dish

Ingredients

1 lb fresh green beans trimmed
1 lb of bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup chicken broth bouillon or salted water okay substitutions
1 tsp sea salt

Instructions

Prepare the Bundles:

Bundle 8-10 green beans and wrap a half slice of bacon around them.
Secure with a toothpick.
(MAKE-AHEAD OPTION) Place the bundles on a baking sheet and freeze until firm; once frozen, remove the toothpick and transfer them to a freezer bag for storage.

Braising Liquid

In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, minced garlic, broth and salt.
Heat over low until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is well combined.
Remove from heat.
Arrange the green bean bundles in a 13x9 inch baking dish (if frozen, no need to defrost).
Drizzle the brown sugar and garlic braising liquid over the bundles.
(MAKE-AHEAD OPTION for day before) Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.

Baking

Preheat your oven to 375°F for convection or 400°F for a conventional oven.
Remove the toothpicks from the frozen bundles.
Bake for 15-20 minutes (20-25 for conventional) or until the green beans are tender and the bacon is golden brown.
To reheat cooled dish, bake for 10-15 minutes at 350°F.

Notes

Make-ahead convenience: The freezing step allows you to prepare these bundles in advance. You can also prepare the dish the day before.
Green Beans: you can use fresh, frozen, or canned green beans in this dish. Fresh/frozen Haricots Verts are our favorite bean choice.
Bacon: Thick or thin bacon works, but thick bacon will take longer to turn golden brown, so we typically choose a thinner bacon.
Remove toothpicks before baking/serving: It's important to remove the toothpicks to avoid accidents while serving.
Versatile side: These green bean bundles make an elegant side dish for holiday gatherings and can also enhance your regular weeknight dinners. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!