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Crack Green Beans

Crack green beans are baked until the brown sugar soy glaze turns sticky and caramelized, with bacon adding crisp, salty crunch. The beans are first blanched for tender-crisp texture, then baked uncovered in a 9x13-inch dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

green beans
  • 2 lb fresh green beans trimmed
bacon
  • 8 slice bacon chopped
glaze
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
  • 0.25 cup butter melted
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 clove garlic minced
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep & blanch
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the baking dish is ready as soon as the beans are blanched.
  2. Blanch green beans in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain well. Look for bright green color and beans that are just tender-crisp.
  3. Cook chopped bacon until mostly crisp, then drain on paper towels. Aim for pieces that are lightly browned but not fully dry.
Assemble & glaze
  1. Place drained green beans in a 9x13-inch baking dish and top with bacon. Spread them into an even layer so the glaze sticks everywhere.
  2. Whisk brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper until smooth. The mixture should look glossy before pouring.
  3. Pour the glaze over the beans so it coats the top surface. You should see caramel-brown liquid pooling slightly in the corners.
Bake & caramelize
  1. Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring once during baking. The glaze should become sticky, shiny, and caramelized with some darker spots.

Notes

For the best sticky glaze, drain the blanched beans well and don’t cover the dish—uncovered baking lets the sauce reduce and cling. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days; reheat in a 300°F oven or microwave until hot and saucy. Freezing is not recommended because the beans can soften. If you want a lower-sodium option, use low-sodium soy sauce while keeping the same amounts for the caramel coating.