Bacon Green Bean Bundles

These Bacon Green Bean Bundles are the ultimate holiday side dish – fancy, elegant, flavorful and super easy to make! Fresh green beans wrapped in bacon, seasoned with garlic powder, brushed with maple syrup and then oven-roasted to perfection.

Need more green bean goodness in your life? Try my Crispy Green Bean Fries or my Healthy Green Bean Casserole next.

The Best Bacon Wrapped Green Beans Recipe

Baked green beans are a great side dish on their own, but have you ever thought of adding bacon to the mix? These bacon-wrapped green beans are neat little bundles of deliciousness! You get to enjoy a beautifully balanced combination of sweet, salty and savory flavors in one super simple side dish. Count me in!

I love serving these green bean bundles during the holidays. Not only because they look fancy and taste amazing, but also because the servings are already portioned out before the green beans even enter the oven. Everyone can grab their helping from the center of the table without needing to pass the serving dish from person to person. It may seem like a small thing, but after spending all day cooking up a feast, it’s nice to be able to chow down as soon as possible!

And with this scrumptious side dish on the table, you never have to worry about missing out on key vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Green beans are a great source of both! They also support bone health, improve heart function and provide plenty of antioxidants to bolster immunity. The protein-packed bacon only adds to the benefits!

What You’ll Need

As is the case with all great veggie side dishes, this recipe keeps things nice and simple. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• French Green Beans: These are slightly longer, thinner and more flavorful than regular green beans.
• Baking Soda: To blanch the beans before baking them.
• Bacon: Use your favorite kind.
• Salt & Garlic Powder: Added to taste.
• Bacon Fat: This helps the seasonings stick to the green beans.
• Maple Syrup: I don’t recommend using artificial syrup for this recipe – pure maple syrup is much healthier and tastier.
• Parsley: Optional, to garnish.

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How to Make Bacon Green Bean Bundles

It only takes about 30 minutes to make this healthy side dish happen. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below!

Prep for Baking: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the strips of bacon on a wire rack over a large baking sheet.

Cook Bacon: Bake the bacon for 7 minutes. Remove it from the oven, let it cool and set aside the baking dish containing the bacon fat. Cut each strip of bacon in half and set them aside.

Blanch Green Beans: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add in the baking soda and green beans. Blanch the green beans in the boiling water for 3 minutes.

Transfer to Ice Water: Immediately place the blanched green beans into an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Drain the water and pat the green beans dry.

Season: Add the dried green beans to a large bowl along with the melted bacon fat, garlic powder and salt. Toss to coat the beans evenly in the seasonings.

Wrap: Wrap 6-8 green beans with a piece of bacon and secure the bundle with a toothpick or two. Place the green bean bundles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Add Maple Syrup: Brush each green bean bundle with a little bit of maple syrup.

Bake: Bake the bundles for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve warm.

Can I Make These in Advance?

Yes, you can. Simply proceed through the wrapping process and refrigerate your green bean bundles overnight. Keep them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness. When you’re ready to serve, brush on the maple syrup and bake the bundles as usual.

Tips for Success

Take note of these tips and tricks to make the best bacon green bean bundles possible. Onward and upward!

• Use Good Green Beans: Make sure you’re using fresh, vibrant green beans that aren’t browned or bruised. They should also all be similar in size to ensure even roasting.
• Blanching is Important: The blanching process helps tenderize your green beans in preparation for their baking. If you skip this step, you won’t get that nice tender-crisp texture for every bean.
  • Transfer to Ice Water Immediately: That being said, you don’t want your green beans to tenderize too much. After they’ve been in the boiling water for 3 minutes, use a slotted spoon to move them directly to the ice bath.
• Don’t Overstuff the Bundles: I don’t recommend adding more than 8 green beans to any given bundle. If your green beans are larger or thicker, stick with 6. Overstuffed bundles will not cook properly.

Serving Suggestions

Whether it’s a random weeknight or a long-awaited special occasion, any one of the dishes below will make an amazing partner for your bacon-wrapped green beans.

• Pair with Stuffed Peppers: Meat and vegetables for the win! These Southwestern Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a hearty main dish that goes great with bacon green bean bundles in every way.
• Serve with Salmon: I could not be a bigger fan of this Honey Mustard Pecan Crusted Salmon. The combination of crunchy and tender works so well with this bacon-wrapped side dish.
• Pair with Glazed Carrots: Need another appetizer or side to go along with your green beans? I highly recommend pairing them with my easy Maple Dijon Glazed Carrots. Yum!

How to Store and Reheat Baked Green Beans

Once baked, you can store your bacon green bean bundles for up to 3 days. Let them cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them. Reheat them in a 350°F oven for 4-5 minutes, or until they’re warmed through.

Can I Freeze These?

If desired, you can store leftover green bean bundles in the freezer instead of the fridge. They will last for 4-5 months and should be kept in a freezer-safe container. Thaw them out in the fridge before reheating.

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More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes to Try

I have so many more veggie side dish and appetizer recipes that I know you’re going to love. Start with these!

• Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan Lemon Butter Sauce
• Pan Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions & Bacon

DON’T MISS A RECIPE ->

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