These Cute Bundles are The Best Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans for Thanksgiving
These green bean bundles are my new go-to Fall and Winter favorite side dish - perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas! It's simply blanched green beans wrapped in crispy bacon, brushed with a buttery brown-sugar garlic glaze, and roasted until glossy and tender-crisp.
- 16 oz Fresh French Green Beans (washed and ends trimmed)
- 7 slices bacon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh parsley chopped for garnish (chopped for garnish)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add green beans. Cook for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Remove green beans from the stove and drain water. Submerge green beans in a bowl of ice water and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
- Drain green beans from ice water and pat dry.
- Cut bacon slices in half. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until the slices start to brown (make sure not to overcook the bacon). You may need to cook in batches to keep from overcrowding the bacon in the skillet.
- Take green beans and bundle them in 7-8 green bean bundle each. Wrap bacon slices around each bundle of green beans and secure with a toothpick. Place on a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, pepper, salt and garlic powder.
- Brush each green bean bundle with the butter mixture.
- Place sheet pan in the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes or until the green bean bundles are roasted.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then pull out toothpicks.
- Place green bean bundles and top with parsley if you wish.
Holiday Green Bean Bundles
I've been sharing all kinds of side dishes on my site since 2012, and the green beans consistently trend every Fall and Winter -especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you've made my lemon garlic parmesan green beans or the green beans with pine nuts, you know I'm obsessed with bright, restaurant-quality sides that are still weeknight-easy. I already have a beloved garlic, bacon, and green beans recipe that's a fan favorite, but I'd never posted green bean bundles-and these bacon wrapped green bean bundles are just so cute, tidy, and undeniably crowd-pleasing. They slot right into my Thanksgiving menu alongside turkey, roast duck, garlic mashed potatoes, and sausage stuffed butternut squash, and they photograph beautifully for entertaining. And if you're looking for more stunning Thanksgiving roasted veggies sides, be sure to try my Roasted Green Beans and Butternut Squash with Bacon and Pumpkin Seeds.
You'll Need These Ingredients
- Fresh French green beans (16 oz): I use thin haricots verts for quick blanching and a tidy bundle. You can sub with standard green beans (and increase blanch by 1-2 minutes). I do not recommended frozen green beans for bundles (they will be too wet).
- Bacon (7 slices, halved): I used regular thin bacon - it's best for wrapping; thick-cut bacon takes longer and won't crisp well. You can sub with turkey bacon (brush with extra butter/olive oil as it won't caramelized quite the same otherwise), or prosciutto (skip pre-browning; it crisps fast). Want spicy? Use peppered bacon.
- Unsalted butter (4 Tbsp, melted): Adds rich flavor and helps the brown sugar caramelize. You could use olive oil ghee or vegan butter for a dairy-free swap.
- Brown sugar (3 Tbsp): The key to the caramelization + it adds that classic "candied bacon" vibe. You can substitute with maple syrup or honey (reduce to 2 tablespoon and glaze lightly), or coconut sugar.
- Pepper, Salt, Garlic Powder: Season to taste. For a smoky kick, add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne.
- Fresh Parsley: For garnish and fresh color. You can skip or swap for chives or thyme.
How to Make Green Bean Bacon Bundles (Step-by-Step Photos)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, shock in ice water for 1-2 minutes, then drain and pat very dry.
- Cook bacon: Halve the bacon and cook in a skillet over medium heat just until it starts to brown (don't crisp).
- Make a glaze: Stir together melted butter, brown sugar, pepper, salt, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Make green bean bundles: Bundle 7-8 beans, wrap with a bacon half, and secure with a toothpick. Repeat with the rest of the beans.
- Assembly: Place green bean bundles on the baking sheet.
- Brush the glaze over the bundles.
- Roast the green beans wrapped in bacon for 18-20 minutes until the bacon is crisp and beans are tender-crisp.
- Rest 5 minutes, remove toothpicks, and garnish with parsley if you like.
Storage, Reheating, Freezing, Make-Ahead
- Storage: Cool green bean bundles completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3-4 days. Keep glaze drippings (refrigerate); they re-melt and re-gloss when reheated.
- Reheating (best): To reheat, simply place on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet pan until heated through; brush with any saved glaze or a touch of butter to revive shine. This keeps the bacon nice and crisp. Air fryer 320-330°F for 4-6 minutes also works.
- Freezing: Freeze before baking: assemble green bean bundles (with toothpicks), lay them on a tray to freeze solid, then transfer to a bag/container up to 1 month. Bake from frozen at 400°F, 12-15 minutes until hot and sizzling.
- Make-Ahead: I recommend pre-assemble these bundles the night before (up to 24 hours) and keep them covered in the fridge, then glaze and roast them right before my guests arrive.
Green Beans Wrapped in Bacon
holiday side: fresh green beans wrapped in smoky bacon, brushed with a brown sugar butter glaze, and roasted until caramelized-
perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special dinner! You'll love them as much as my other side dishes:
