Green Bean and Bacon Casserole

Jump to Recipe

This Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and Brown Sugar will be a new family favorite! All of the elements of green bean bundles in one dish.

A white bowl filled with cooked green beans and pieces of bacon, reminiscent of a classic green bean bacon casserole, sits on a wooden board with a white and red striped towel nearby.

The Culinary Compass participates in several different affiliate programs.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and Brown Sugar

I’ve been making this Green Bean and Bacon Casserole for a few years now and I’m still excited every time I put it in the oven. It makes the whole house smell amazing with the bacon mixing with the brown sugar/soy sauce/garlic sauce.

It’s super simple to throw together and is a staple on my Thanksgiving menu. The sweetness goes really well with spicy rubs for meat so consider this the next time you’re cooking a spicy dish and are in need of a side.

One of my friend’s moms had showed me these awesome green bean and bacon rolls that she makes as appetizers a few years ago. They’re SO GOOD. I’ve made them as appetizers for get togethers and even for tailgates. They never last long no matter the location.

I decided that they were too good to keep as an appetizer and wanted to figure out how to make them for a side dish. She gave me her recipe and I threw it all together in a casserole dish and I’ve never looked back.

The rolls are perfect for impressing friends with the flavor bomb you present to them and the people that are drinking at tailgates will love you even more.

The casserole is so quick to put together, but has all of the same flavors. And as a big plus.. there’s bacon in it and you can’t say no to that.

If you’re building out the rest of your holiday spread, this sweet and salty side is right at home next to creamy Horseradish Mashed Potatoes, cheesy Loaded Scalloped Potatoes, or buttery Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes. And if you’re firmly on team bacon, my crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon is another make-ahead side that disappears fast.

Note from the Author

2026 Update: When I first shared this recipe back in 2016, the post was pretty bare-bones. I’ve since updated it with testing tips and answers to your most common questions, so you’ll have everything you need to nail this recipe for your Thanksgiving table!

Close-up of a delicious Green Bean and bacon casserole, featuring cooked green beans mixed with pieces of crispy bacon in a white bowl.

Instructions For How to Make Green Bean and Bacon Casserole

Check out the recipe card below for more in-depth instructions for this ultimate green bean casserole recipe:

Prep the beans: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Drain your cans of green beans really well (give the colander a good shake, since extra liquid waters down the glaze) and spread them into a small casserole dish or 8×8 baking dish or pan.
Cook the bacon: Cook the bacon until it’s just slightly crispy, using whatever method you like. I lay it on a paper towel-lined microwave-safe plate and microwave it for 3 to 4 minutes. Once it’s cool to the touch, slice it into small pieces or crumble it with your hands right over the green beans.
Mix the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder until the sugar mostly dissolves. Pour it over the green beans and bacon and toss until everything is coated. Don’t skimp on the stirring here, since every bean should get a little glaze.
Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and glossy. Give it one last stir before serving to swirl the glaze back over the top.

Wustof Chef’s Knife

Feel like a real chef with a perfectly sharp 8 inch chef’s knife!

BUY NOW

Recipe Testing Notes and Tips

As a recipe developer with a degree in food science, I create approachable recipes you can trust. Here are a few takeaways:

Drain, then drain again: Canned green beans hold onto a surprising amount of liquid. Letting them sit in the colander for a few minutes keeps the glaze thick and sticky instead of thin and watery.
Don’t overcook the bacon up front: The bacon softens as it bakes in the glaze, so aim for just slightly crispy. If you want crispy bacon on top, save a handful of crumbles and sprinkle them over right before serving.
Mind the salt: Between the bacon and the soy sauce, this dish is already well seasoned. I skip added salt entirely and finish with a crack of black pepper if anything. If your bacon is on the salty side, low-sodium soy sauce is a smart swap.
Let it rest before serving: The brown sugar and butter glaze thickens as it cools slightly. Five minutes out of the oven is all it needs to go from runny to clingy.

A white bowl filled with green bean casserole with bacon, featuring tender cooked green beans and pieces of bacon, placed on a wooden surface.

Tip

Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking so the brown sugar glaze thickens and clings to every green bean.

Variations

Fresh garlic: Swap the garlic powder for 2 to 3 minced garlic cloves, warmed in the melted butter for a minute for extra flavor.
Add some crunch: Top with crispy fried onions or chopped Candied Pecans right before serving.
Sweet heat: Stir a pinch of red pepper flakes into the glaze, or swap half the brown sugar for a few tablespoons of maple syrup.

Recipe FAQs

How should I cook the bacon?

This one is up to you! I like to precook it a bit in the microwave on a plate with paper towels to get it pretty crunchy. Again, I microwave to save a little time and cut down on dishes.

You can always cook it in a skillet and save the grease for another dish you’re making though!
If you’ve got any extra bacon, you should use it to make some Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus or Bacon Caramelized Onion Crostini.

Can I use fresh green beans?

You can, but I won’t lie and say I prefer it with canned green beans. That’s for a few reasons. The first is that around the holidays I’ve got so much other cooking to do that dealing with fresh green beans is too much work.

The second reason is that the canned green beans seem to hold onto the flavors really well and it’s great without the crunch of fresh green beans.

Here’s a great recipe on how to cook fresh green beans if you do want to go that route! Frozen green beans could also work, you’ll just want to make sure they’re completely thawed.

Does this green bean casserole use mushroom soup or french fried onions?

It doesn’t! That’s the only version of green bean casserole I knew growing up, but this one is sweet and savory without any of the condensed cream of mushroom soup.

I mean who wouldn’t want green beans with bacon and brown sugar and soy sauce. Oh my!

If you’re into the combination of brown sugar and veggies, try out these Honey Braised Carrots!

Can I make a Green Bean and Bacon Casserole ahead of time?

Definitely – I do every year! I throw the entire thing together from green beans, bacon, and sauce and mix it all up really well. Then I cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator the day before.

The day of, I take the casserole out of the fridge while the oven is preheating so it can come closer to room temperature, give it a stir, and bake it for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly.

Pair it with this easy Instant Pot Turkey Tenderloin for a quick Thanksgiving dinner! If in the off chance you have any leftovers, pair it with these Turkey Sliders!

Are these like green bean and bacon bundles?

Definitely! It takes all of the great flavors you know and love from bundles and both cuts down the work and gives you all of the same flavors. Think of it as a green bean bundles casserole!

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, until warmed through.

What ingredients do I need?

This casserole only needs a few ingredients to throw together! Green beans, bacon, brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder!

DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?
Leave a 5 star rating and a comment below – I love reading them! Be sure to pin on Pinterest!
★★★★★