Green Beans with Bacon

These copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans bring that authentic restaurant taste straight to your home kitchen. They combine simmered beans with crispy bacon and a mix of spices for a side that might just steal the spotlight. They're super easy to whip up for family meals or when you've got company over and want good food without tons of work.

I threw these together one Sunday when everyone wanted Texas Roadhouse flavors but we didn't feel like going out. Now my family asks for them constantly and whenever I bring them to gatherings, they're gone before anything else.

Ingredients

• Bacon: Gives that smoky, rich flavor that makes everything better; grab thick-cut for extra texture
• Canned green beans: Super handy and they soak up all the good flavors
• Diced onion: Forms the tasty foundation that lifts every mouthful
• Minced garlic: Adds fantastic flavor without taking over; pick plump, fresh cloves
• Butter: Brings a smooth richness to the whole dish
• Chicken broth: Packs the beans with flavor; go for low sodium so you can adjust salt yourself
• Sugar: Just a tiny bit balances out all the savory stuff
• Black pepper: Gives that mild warmth that pulls everything together

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cook the bacon:

Toss your chopped bacon into a big skillet over medium high heat. Let it cook until it's nice and crispy, stirring now and then so it browns evenly. This should take around 5 minutes and lays down the flavor base for everything else. The bacon fat that melts out will add tons of flavor.

Drain the bacon:

Scoop out the crispy bacon bits with a slotted spoon and put them on some paper towels. Keep about 1 tablespoon of that tasty bacon grease in the pan to flavor your beans.

Combine ingredients:

Put the pan back on medium heat and throw in your drained green beans, crispy bacon, chicken broth, butter, diced onion, minced garlic, and sugar. Give everything a gentle stir so the beans get coated in all that good stuff.

Simmer the mixture:

Let it all come to a gentle bubble while stirring once in a while. Once it's simmering, turn the heat down to medium low so nothing burns and the flavors can mix properly.

Cover and finish cooking:

Pop a lid on your skillet and let the beans simmer for about 10 minutes. They'll get tender and soak up all those amazing flavors from the broth and bacon. Check it occasionally to make sure there's still some liquid in there.

Final seasoning and serving:

Give your beans a taste and see if they need anything else. Add the black pepper and maybe a little more salt if needed. Serve them hot straight from the pan or in a nice serving dish.

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The bacon really makes this dish special. My grandma taught me that getting the bacon nice and crispy before adding anything else creates that amazing smoky taste that makes everyone come back for seconds. Every time I make these for family get-togethers, I end up writing down the recipe for someone.

Make Ahead Options

These green beans actually taste better the next day, so they're perfect for making ahead. You can cook the whole recipe up to two days before you need it, then keep it in the fridge in a sealed container. When you're ready to eat, just warm it up slowly on the stove and add a splash more broth if it looks dry. The flavors will have gotten even better overnight. You can also split it into smaller containers for easy side dishes all week long.

Serving Suggestions

These green beans go great with all your favorite comfort foods. Try them next to a grilled steak, some roasted chicken, or a slice of meatloaf for a complete dinner. They're extra good with some cornbread or rolls to soak up the juices. If you want the full Texas Roadhouse experience, make some copycat rolls and cinnamon butter too. During the holidays, these savory beans balance out sweet sides like sweet potato casserole or cranberry sauce.

Fresh vs. Canned Beans

This recipe calls for canned beans because they're quick and match what the restaurant uses, but fresh green beans work great too. If you go with fresh ones, cook them about 5 minutes longer and add a bit more broth (about 1/4 cup). Frozen beans are fine too, but they might release extra water, so use a little less broth. The good thing about canned beans is they're already soft and quickly soak up all the flavors, making this a true quick side dish that doesn't sacrifice any taste.

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What makes these Texas Roadhouse Green Beans so good is how simple yet flavorful they are. The mix of bacon, broth, and that tiny bit of sweetness creates a side dish that often gets more attention than the main course. Even folks who don't usually go for vegetables tend to love these beans, so they're great for picky eaters or when you want to sneak more greens onto everyone's plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What’s the trick to soft green beans?

Cook the green beans in broth under a lid so they absorb all that tasty liquid and turn soft and flavorful.

→ Can I swap canned green beans for fresh?

Absolutely! Just trim fresh green beans and let them cook a bit longer to get tender.

→ What’s a good bacon substitute?

For a smoky flavor, you can swap in smoked turkey or plant-based bacon as an alternative.

→ Can this be made ahead of time?

Sure thing! Prepare it in advance and warm it up on the stove or in the microwave when you’re ready.

→ Any seasoning ideas to kick up the flavor?

Try a splash of soy sauce or some crushed red chili flakes to take the taste up a notch.