Description
Hearty Southern “Smothered Green Beans” deliver rich, slow-cooked comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Smoky bacon, caramelized onions, and tender green beans blend into a soul-warming side dish you’ll crave at every family gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 5 cans green beans (15 ounces/425 grams each, drained)
Proteins and Fats:
- 6 strips bacon
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
Seasonings and Sweeteners:
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, creating an ideal environment for transforming simple green beans into a delectable side dish.
- Transfer drained green beans into a spacious 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring an even, flat distribution across the surface.
- Render bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it reaches a delicate, slightly crisp texture but remains flexible, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Drain bacon on absorbent paper towels, then meticulously chop into small, uniform pieces and scatter generously over the green bean landscape.
- Liquify butter using a microwave or stovetop method, preparing for a rich, velvety sauce.
- Combine melted butter with brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic powder in a mixing bowl, whisking until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy liquid.
- Cascade the sauce evenly across the green beans and bacon, gently folding to ensure complete and uniform coating.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven, allowing the ingredients to meld and caramelize for 40 minutes, developing deep, complex flavors.
- Extract the dish from the oven, letting it rest briefly to allow the sauce to slightly thicken and intensify.
- Present the smothered green beans as a sumptuous accompaniment to roasted meats or as a standout element in holiday feasts.
Notes
- Elevate your green bean game with this sweet and savory Southern-style side dish that transforms ordinary vegetables into a show-stopping recipe.
- Bacon adds a smoky, crispy texture that makes these green beans irresistibly delicious and completely addictive.
- Use fresh or frozen green beans; if using canned, drain thoroughly to prevent excess liquid that could make the dish watery.
- Adjust the brown sugar and soy sauce ratio to control sweetness and saltiness according to your taste preferences.
- This recipe works perfectly as a make-ahead dish and can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance, making holiday meal prep easier.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, gently reheating in the oven to maintain the crispy bacon texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg