Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are easy enough for a weeknight meal and pretty enough to prepare for guests!

Tender green beans are wrapped in smoky bacon with a hint of brown sugar and roasted (or air fried) until golden.

a stack of bacon wrapped green bean bundles on a white plate

Green Beans Made Special

  • Every dinner needs a veggie side, but bacon-wrapped green beans can also be served as an appetizer!
  • As they roast, the beans and bacon caramelize adding lots of flavor.
  • You can use frozen green beans in this recipe, they will need to be thawed first.
  • We love these because they can be prepared ahead of time and roasted before serving.

ingredients for bacon wrapped green beans

Ingredients

We love to serve green beans with almost any meal from a Classic Green Bean Casserole to these bacon-wrapped green beans.

GREEN BEANS: Choose fresh or frozen long green beans as they’re easier to wrap. Frozen green beans should be thawed.

BACON: Choose regular cut bacon. Thick cut bacon needs longer to cook which will cause the beans to overcook. Pre-cooked bacon can be used.

VARIATIONS: Add some asparagus to the beans or a few slices of red pepper for a festive dish. Try different flavors of bacon like maple or smoked pepper!

process of adding bacon and sauce to Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

  1. Slightly cook bacon (we air fryer or pan fry for about 3-4 minutes) & reserve drippings.
  2. Boil green beans for a few minutes (per the recipe below) and then place in ice water.
  3. Wrap bacon around bundles of green beans & sprinkle with brown sugar.
  4. Roast in the oven or the air fryer. Garnish with sliced almonds, if desired.

Blanching the Beans

Blanching means boiling vegetables quickly and then putting them into ice water to stop the cooking.

Blanching green beans helps them keep their bright green color, preserves their ‘snap’ texture, and improves their flavor.

PRO TIP: A little trick I learned at our local culinary school is to add a little pinch of baking soda to the boiling water. This keeps them a bright green color and works for almost any green veggie.

bacon wrapped green bean bundles on a baking tray with toothpicks holding them together

Recipe Tips

  • Pre-cook the bacon so that a lot of the fat is removed. This will help it crisp without overcooking the beans.
  • These can be oven roasted or cooked in the air fryer.
  • Pre-cooked bacon can be used in place.
  • Blanch (boil and then ice bath) the green beans for the best texture. Be sure to dry them well before wrapping.
  • Prep ahead and bake at the last minute.

cooked Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles in the air fryer

More Veggies and Bacon

Did you make these Green Bean Bundles? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
a stack of bacon wrapped green bean bundles on a white plate
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Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

Tender crisp green beans wrapped in bacon and brushed with a simple brown sugar glaze are easy enough for a weeknight meal and elegant enough for the holiday table!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 bundles
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Ingredients  

  • 6 slices bacon
  • 1 ½ pounds green beans 6-8 beans per bundle
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Cook bacon on the stovetop until slightly cooked (not crispy), about 3-4 minutes. Reserve any drippings.
  • Trim and wash green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add baking soda. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes until tender-crisp. Remove from boiling water and place in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
  • Dab beans dry and toss with reserved bacon drippings (about 2 teaspoons) or olive oil if you don't have drippings, garlic powder, and salt & pepper to taste.
  • Cut each slice of bacon in half and wrap around about 6-8 green beans, secure with a toothpick, and place on a parchment-lined pan.
  • Combine brown sugar with 1 tablespoon of water and lightly brush over each bundle.
  • Roast 20-22 minutes or until bacon is crisp and beans are lightly roasted.

Notes

  • Pre-cook the bacon so that a lot of the fat is removed. This will help it crisp without overcooking the beans.
  • These can be oven roasted or cooked in the air fryer at 380°F for about 11-13 minutes.
  • Pre-cooked bacon can be used in place of raw bacon.
  • Blanch (boil and then ice bath) the green beans for the best texture. Be sure to dry them well before wrapping. 
  • Prep ahead and bake at the last minute.
  • Reheat in the oven at 375°F on a parchment-lined pan until heated through. 
4.97 from 61 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1bundle | Calories: 67 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 6.9mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This side dish turned out just like the picture in looks and the taste was superb. My son said he wished the whole bundle was wrapped with bacon. It is a perfect dish to make ahead of time and then pop in the oven to bake.5 stars

  2. These turned out beautifully. I added the red pepper slice for color and flavor. Served with rib roast and potatoes. Thank you for another great recipe.5 stars

  3. I made this Green Bean wrapped with bacon for thanksgiving. it was a hit!!!!!! my family loved it. I Blanched the Green beans and baked them in the oven. Plus as the beans were cooking I brushed them with a sauce of olive oil, brown sugar, salt, pepper and garlic power. thank you so much for sharing the mouth watering recipe!!!!!5 stars

  4. Made this as a side dish yesterday – OH MY GOODNESS! It was beyond tasty, easy to make and turned out perfectly. The tips shared on the baking soda, ice bath and pre-cooked bacon made this a dream recipe. Thank you so much!5 stars

  5. I have made this dish several times for family and guests and I always get rave reviews. I do all the prep ahead of time and just pop it in the oven before mealtime. Thank you for your wonderful recipes!5 stars

    1. Hi Charlie, that should work well for this recipe, but I haven’t personally reheated to say for sure.

  6. Made these as a side to our Thanksgiving Turkey yesterday and were enjoyed by all! Hubby suggests next time we try maple syrup instead of brown sugar.5 stars

    1. You can use regular bacon as well. The bacon is partially cooked and then can be dabbed with a paper towel to reduce drippings. You could also try prosciutto.

  7. These green beans are fantastic- I now get asked to bring them for all family gatherings. My grandsons love them5 stars

  8. Can you post a recipe for chillie green beans, if you could pl? I’m referring to the ones you get in the Chinese restaurants.
    Thx

    1. Hmm, we don’t have a recipe for those yet Shar. I hope you are able to find one that works for you!

  9. Holly,
    First, thank you for publishing these great recipes!
    I can’t wait to try the green beans wrapped in bacon.
    Question..why put baking soda in the water for the green beans?

    1. Hi Terry, Adding baking soda to the water helps the green beans to keep their bright green coloring when boiled.

      1. It makes the water slightly alkaline, which helps to preserve the chlorophyll in the green vegetables. Acid on the other hand, and also overcooking vegetables breaks down the chlorophyll.