The Best Crack Green Beans

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Get ready for a tasty treat! Crack green beans are a yummy side dish that you’ll love. They mix sweet and salty flavors in a way that’s hard to resist. These beans are super easy to make and only take 50 minutes from start to finish.

You’ll need some simple items like canned green beans, bacon, and a few pantry staples. The magic happens when you bake everything together. The bacon gets crispy, and the beans soak up all the good flavors. It’s a great way to jazz up plain old green beans!

Exact Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need to make these yummy crack green beans:

• 4 cans (14.5 oz each) green beans, drained
• 10-12 strips bacon
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Make sure you have all these items before you start cooking. The bacon adds a nice crunch, while the brown sugar and soy sauce create a sweet and salty mix.

Don’t forget to drain the green beans well. This helps the sauce stick better. You can use fresh green beans if you prefer, but canned ones work great too.

Feel free to adjust the amount of bacon or sugar to your taste. Some folks like it extra sweet or extra crispy!

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9×13 baking dish and lightly grease it.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Keep an eye on it until it’s nice and crispy. Move the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.

While the bacon cools, drain 4 cans of green beans. Cut them into smaller pieces if you like.

In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons each of garlic and onion powder, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce.

Spread the green beans in your baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over them and stir to coat.

Chop the cooled bacon into small bits. Sprinkle these evenly over your green beans.

Pop the dish in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. The beans will come out hot and flavorful.

Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your tasty crack green beans!

Possible Substitutes List

You can try these tasty swaps if you don’t have green beans on hand:

1. Asparagus
2. Sugar snap peas
3. Broccoli florets
4. String beans
5. Zucchini slices

For a meatless version, try using smoked paprika or liquid smoke instead of bacon. You can also swap the brown sugar for maple syrup or honey for a different sweet kick.

If you’re watching your salt intake, use low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos. For a gluten-free option, pick tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.

No butter? Use olive oil or coconut oil instead. They’ll give your dish a new flavor twist.

Fresh beans work great too! Just blanch them for 3-4 minutes in boiling water, then cool them in ice water before using.

Remember, these swaps might change the cooking time a bit. Keep an eye on your dish and adjust as needed.

How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly

To make this recipe more diabetes-friendly, you can try a few simple swaps. Use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon to cut down on fat and calories. Replace the brown sugar with a natural sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.

Try using fresh green beans instead of canned ones. Fresh beans have more fiber and nutrients. Steam them lightly before adding to the dish. This helps keep their crunch and goodness.

Cut the butter amount in half and use olive oil for the rest. This gives you healthier fats. You can also reduce the soy sauce to lower the sodium. Try using a low-sodium version.

Here’s a quick list of changes:
• Turkey bacon for regular bacon
• Sugar substitute for brown sugar
• Fresh green beans (steamed) for canned
• 2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp olive oil
• Low-sodium soy sauce, use less

These tweaks make the dish lighter but still tasty. You get to enjoy the flavors without as much sugar or unhealthy fats. Remember to watch your portion size too. A small serving can be part of a balanced meal for many people with diabetes.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

For extra crispy bacon, cook it in the oven instead of a skillet. Lay the strips on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes.

You can use fresh green beans instead of canned. Trim the ends and blanch them in boiling water for 3-4 minutes before adding to the dish.

To save time, prep the bacon and sauce mixture a day ahead. Store them separately in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.

For a healthier twist, try turkey bacon or reduce the amount of regular bacon used.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.

To freeze, let the dish cool completely, then wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

For added crunch, top with sliced almonds or crushed crackers in the last 5 minutes of baking.