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Crack Green Beans

Crack green beans are tender oven-baked green beans coated in a sticky brown sugar soy glaze and topped with mostly-crisp bacon. This American side dish bakes uncovered until the sauce turns caramelized, with a glossy, lightly crunchy finish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Green beans
  • 2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
Bacon
  • 8 slices bacon, chopped
Glaze
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 0.25 cup butter, melted
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 clove garlic, minced
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and blanch the green beans for 3 minutes in boiling water, then drain. Look for bright green beans that are tender but still crisp.
  2. Cook the chopped bacon until mostly crisp, then drain it on paper towels. Keep an eye out for browned edges while it still has some chew.
Assemble and bake
  1. Place the drained green beans in a 9x13-inch baking dish and top with the bacon. Make sure the bacon is scattered evenly over the beans.
  2. Whisk the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper until smooth, then pour over the beans. The mixture should look glossy and thick as it coats the top.
  3. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, stirring once, until the glaze is sticky and caramelized. Watch for darkened caramel edges and a shiny brown sheen.

Notes

Pro tip: Stir only once during baking so the glaze clings and thickens instead of pooling. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3-4 days in a covered container; reheat in the oven at 325F until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the beans can soften and the glaze can lose its glossy texture. For a lower-sodium option, use reduced-sodium soy sauce.