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Crispy Brown Sugar Bacon Green Beans: Best Summer Side

crispy brown sugar bacon green beans - featured image
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Tender green beans cooked in rendered bacon fat with caramelized brown sugar and crispy bacon bits. A quick and easy summer side dish that’s sweet, salty, and smoky.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 6 slices (about 180g) thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons (40g) packed brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon (1.5g) salt
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients. Wash and trim the green beans. Pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel. Chop the bacon into ½-inch pieces. Mince the garlic. Measure out the brown sugar and set everything near the stove.
  2. Cook the bacon. Place your skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the fat has rendered. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave the rendered fat in the pan — about 2-3 tablespoons.
  3. Sear the green beans. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the dry green beans to the hot bacon fat in a single layer. Let them cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Then toss them and let them cook another 2-3 minutes until slightly wrinkled with brown spots.
  4. Add the brown sugar. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the green beans. Stir quickly to coat. Keep stirring for about 1 minute until the sugar melts and starts bubbling.
  5. Add the garlic and seasonings. Toss in the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir for another 30-45 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
  6. Return the bacon. Add the crispy bacon back to the pan. Toss everything together until the bacon is evenly distributed and coated in the caramelized sugar mixture, about 30 seconds.
  7. Finish and serve. Remove the pan from heat immediately. Transfer the crispy brown sugar bacon green beans to a serving platter. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Notes

Dry the green beans thoroughly to ensure caramelization. Work quickly once the brown sugar is added to prevent burning. For thicker green beans, blanch in boiling salted water for 2 minutes first, then shock in ice water and pat dry.

Nutrition

Keywords: green beans, bacon, brown sugar, summer side, quick side dish, crispy bacon green beans

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