Crack Green Beans

Ingredients

• Bacon: Cooked directly in the skillet with the onion. You can leave it a little softer or cook it longer if you prefer crispier bacon.
• Yellow onion: Diced small enough to cook alongside the bacon.
• Canned cut green beans: Drain well before adding them to the skillet. This recipe uses 29 ounces total, before draining.
• Light brown sugar: Gives the green beans their distinctive sweetness.
• Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper: Season the brown sugar sauce and balance the sweetness.

How to Make Crack Green Beans

STEP 1: Cook the bacon and onion. Cut 4 slices of bacon into 1-inch pieces and add them to a large skillet with 1/2 cup diced yellow onion. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is cooked and the onions are browned. If you prefer crispy bacon, let it cook a little longer before adding the green beans.

STEP 2: Add the green beans and seasonings. Drain 29 ounces of canned cut green beans and add them directly to the skillet with the bacon and onion.

Add 1/3 cup light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir well until the beans are evenly coated.

STEP 3: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes to redistribute the sauce.

Serve hot. Give everything a final stir and serve immediately, including the bacon and onions.

Why Are They Called “Crack” Green Beans?

The name is a playful way of saying these green beans are so delicious they’re addictive! Food bloggers have used the term “crack” for years in recipes like Crack Chicken and Crack Dip. It’s not meant to be taken literally, just a fun way to describe a dish that keeps people coming back for more.

Tips for the Perfect Holiday Side Dish

A sweeter take on green beans. These aren’t your traditional savory green beans. The brown sugar creates a sweet coating, while the bacon, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce balance everything out. They’re a nice change from the usual green bean casserole for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Cook the bacon how you like it. The bacon can be a little softer or cooked until crispy, depending on your preference. Just keep an eye on the onions as they cook alongside it, since they can brown quickly.

Keep the sauce from getting watery. Make sure the canned green beans are thoroughly drained before adding them to the skillet. Since they’re already cooked, the final 10 minutes are really about heating them through and coating them in that brown sugar sauce.

More Green Bean Side Dishes

If you prefer green beans with a more traditional savory flavor, try my Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon, which are cooked with bacon grease instead of a sweet brown sugar sauce.

For another sweet-and-savory option, my Honey Garlic Green Beans use fresh green beans with honey, garlic, and a little red pepper for some heat.

You can also try Seasoned Green Beans with Garlic and Butter for a simple skillet side dish without the sweetness.