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This is it! We’ve come to what is indisputably the best green beans recipe EVER. I think so, my family thinks so, and anyone/everyone for whom I’ve ever made them thinks so. That makes it official, right? Right. These green bean bundles have held me in a flipping chokehold for about 20 years now. Green Bean Bundles are very simple (canned beans, a really simple spiced brown sugar + soy sauce + butter sauce, bacon). But the flavor is undeniable. You get these little parcels of sticky, salty-sweet green beans all wrapped up in smoky bacon, that are just perfect for entertaining … especially around the holidays.

Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles
Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles

What are Green Bean Bundles?

They are ridiculous, that’s what. But more specifically (and helpfully), green bean bundles are these little parcels of green beans that are held together by small pieces of bacon. I have my lovely Aunt Kathy to thank for introducing me to them. These easy and amazing green bean bundles bake up in a sweet and salty soy caramel sauce that is other-worldly delicious. Your holiday tables (and any table, really) will be all the better for them. A must make!

At some point, I’ll tinker and play around with the sauce, seeing if I can’t come up with a few more versions of this amazing side dish, but for my money, this is IT. The combination of that salty soy sauce, melted butter and brown sugar is just addictingly good. I suppose I don’t really need to change a thing. Why mess with perfection, you know?

Green Bean Bundles

What makes green bean bundles the best green beans recipe ever?

It’s the salty-sweet thing for me. If you’ve been reading or cooking along with me for any length of time, then you’ve probably caught on to my affinity for this combo. The contrasting flavors will never not be my favorite – the push-pull of the sugar and salt will always be the most fun to eat, I think. This is why I love my Cozy and Comforting Cider Braised Pork and Apples, my Warm Radicchio Salad with Caramelized Squash and Dates, and my Feta and Butternut Squash Galette so much.

Another thing I love about these green bean bundles is just how different they are from anything else on a standard holiday table. They’re a far cry from a basic green bean casserole (which I also love, for the record), and they’re way more enticing than a pile of say, sautéed green beans amandine.

These soy caramel green bean bundles are just a total treat. They’re rich and decadent and I love them on a Thanksgiving table or on my Christmas Eve table. But also? They’re a perfect side dish for a steakhouse inspired spread. Yes! Serve them alongside my Steak Au Poivre with these Lemon Crunch Potatoes, and you will never stop patting yourself on the back. A more dynamic trio has never existed.

Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles

Ingredients for The Best Green Beans Recipe Ever

  • Two 15-ounce cans whole green beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chipotle powder (if you like spicy)
  • 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark is fine)
  • One package bacon
Green Bean Bundles Shopping List

How to make the best green beans recipe ever

This is a really easy recipe, which we love here at MKL. You just line up a bunch of bundles beans (that have been wrapped up in bacon) and then drench them in this ridiculous salty soy caramel sauce that doubles as their little marinade. What a happy thing! It’s almost too much, honestly.

DIRECTIONS

  1. To create one bundle, arrange about 8-10 green beans/green bean pieces together and wrap with a piece of the bacon, creating a little bundle of joy. Place it seam side-down in a large baking dish and repeat with the remaining green beans until they’ve all been used up.
  2. Combine the melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Pour this mixture over the bean and bacon bundles and allow it to marinate for one hour.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the pan of bundles with lots of freshly cracked black pepper. Bake the bean bundles for 40 to 45 minutes until bubbling and hot. 
  4. To serve, carefully remove the bundles from the saucy tray, and transfer to a plate or platter (those drippings can live a second life as a killer warm bacon salad dressing if you don’t want to toss them, just saying). Serve warm.
Green Bean Bundles

If that’s not enough, this Green Bean Bundles recipe comes with a Bonus Salad Dressing!

If you just can’t bring yourself to toss those tasty drippings, you can whisk about ½ cup of them with a dollop of Dijon mustard and a splash of apple cider vinegar to create an amazing vinaigrette for any manner of salad (Like my Southern Killed Lettuces) or roasted veggies. This dressing will keep for you for about a week in the fridge, and you can reheat it in the microwave to loosen prior to serving.

Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles
Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles
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Fantastic Green Bean Bundles

Soy Caramel Green Bean Bundles
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A true side dish all-star, this green beans recipe is legendary in my family. It’s simple (canned or fresh beans work) and the flavor is undeniable – you can’t beat brown sugar and soy sauce when paired together. You get these little parcels of sticky, salty-sweet green beans, all wrapped up in smoky bacon, that are just perfect for entertaining … especially around the holidays. 

  • Author: Lauren McDuffie
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6 to 8 people 1x
  • Category: Side Dishes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/4 pounds fresh haricot vert or two 15-ounce cans whole green beans, drained and rinsed (see note)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 package bacon slices, cut into thirds

Instructions

  1. If you’re using fresh green beans, bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the beans for about 30 seconds and then submerge them in ice water. This is worth doing because it will help the beans retain their lovely green color.

  2. To create one bundle, arrange about 8-10 green beans together and wrap with a piece of the bacon, creating a little bundle of joy. Place it seam side-down in a large baking dish and repeat with the remaining green beans until they’ve all been used up (you may have some bacon left, which is never a problem, right?).

  3. Combine the melted butter, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Pour this mixture over the bean and bacon bundles and allow it to marinate for one hour.

  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the pan of bundles with lots of freshly cracked black pepper. Bake the bean bundles on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes until bubbling and hot. 

  5. To serve, carefully remove the bundles from the saucy tray (tongs work great), and transfer to a plate or platter (those drippings can live a second life as a killer warm bacon salad dressing if you don’t want to toss them, just saying. See my notes below). Serve warm.

Notes

1. This recipe works beautifully with either fresh or canned green beans, and I use both. The advantage the canned have is that you can skip right over the blanching/ice water pat of the program and just begin baking your bundles right away. But either way, you’ll wind up in the same place. Up to you!

2. If you just can’t bring yourself to toss those tasty drippings, you can whisk about ½ cup of them with a dollop of Dijon mustard and a splash of apple cider vinegar to create an amazing vinaigrette for any manner of salad or roasted veggies. This dressing will keep for you for about a week in the fridge, and you can reheat it in the microwave to loosen prior to serving. Â