Green Bean Bundle Casserole
Green Bean Bundle Casserole has all the flavor of classic bacon wrapped green bean bundles without all the messy wrapping. Tender green beans and crispy bacon, baked in a sweet and savory brown sugar butter glaze, until everything caramelizes and gets crispy. It’s an easy side that’s perfect for Thanksgiving or any family dinner, and it can be prepped ahead. Made with pantry staples, it comes together in about 50 minutes and serves 8.
Back in my catering days, I made green bean bundles constantly. You know the ones, little bundles of green beans wrapped in bacon, tied up neat, glazed and baked. They taste incredible and look impressively fancy.
They are also a colossal pain to wrap one at a time.
Nobody has time to bundle individual servings of green beans on a busy weeknight, and frankly I don’t want to do it on a holiday either. So I turned the whole thing into a casserole.
The same tender green beans, same crispy bacon, same sweet and savory brown sugar glaze, just spread in a dish and baked. All the flavor, none of the messy work, and it feeds a crowd.
It’s a delicious twist on the classic green bean casserole, and it earns its spot on the Thanksgiving table or a regular family dinner.
More Green Bean Casseroles
- Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole – classic creamy holiday bake
- Crack Green Bean Casserole – sweet smoky bacon green bean bake
- Joanna Gaines Green Bean Casserole – from scratch savory baked green bean casserole
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Green Beans – I like to use the French style green beans (aka (Haricot Verts) but whole or cut green beans work. Canned, frozen, or fresh all turn out great. If using canned, drain and rinse them really well. The canned ones will be a little softer but still taste delicious.
Bacon – I always use thick cut because I like to actually taste the bacon pieces not have them burn up into little paper-thin pieces. Use the regular flavor bacon or switch it up to maple or applewood smoked. Cut into bite-size pieces.
Sugar – Light brown sugar gives the glaze that caramelized flavor. You can substitute white granulated sugar but add a dash of soy sauce to give it a deeper flavor.
Butter – This holds the glaze together so use unsalted butter. The bacon already has enough.
Spices – I use a combination of garlic powder and onion powder but feel free to use your favorite spices.
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How To Make Green Bean Bundle Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the drained green beans in an even layer in the dish.
- Top with the bite sized pieces of bacon.
- Melt the butter (in the microwave or on the stove), then stir in the brown sugar and spices until most of the sugar is dissolved. Pour the butter and sugar mixture evenly over the green beans and bacon.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and drain off most of the liquid. Return to the oven uncovered and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until the bacon is cooked and crispy. Serve warm.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Reheat in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until heated through.
Make Ahead: Prep the green beans and store them in the fridge up to 2 days. Keep the brown sugar mixture in its own container and the cut bacon in a separate bag, then assemble and bake when ready.
Freezer: This is best fresh out of the oven, since the green beans can get very soft after freezing. But you can freeze leftovers if you need to.
Bubble Over Tip: Set a baking sheet on the rack below in case the glaze bubbles over, and lands on the oven floor. No one wants to clean up that mess.
Variations
Vegetarian: Leave off the bacon for a meatless version that’s still sweet and savory.
Creamier: Stir in a little cream of mushroom soup for a creamier consistency.
Extra Crunch: Top with French fried onions for that classic green bean casserole crunch.
Crispier Bacon: Partially cook the bacon before adding it, or broil at the end (watching the sugar so it doesn’t burn).
Fresh Beans: Use blanched, fresh green beans for a bright green color and the best texture.
More Green Bean Recipes
- Spicy Green Beans – PF Chang’s inspired garlicky green beans with heat
- Italian Green Beans – sautéed with fresh tomatoes and garlic
- Smothered Green Beans – Southern style slow cooked beans with bacon
How Do You Keep Green Beans Bright Green?
The secret to vibrant green beans instead of dull, sad green ones is blanching.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the green beans into the boiling water for about 6 minutes, then quickly move them, about 8 to 10 at a time, into the ice bath.
The shock of the cold water stops the cooking instantly and locks in that bright green color.
It’s an extra step, but it makes a real difference in how the casserole looks, especially if you’re serving it for a holiday and want it to be the pretty, bright green side dish.
If you’re using canned green beans, they’ll be softer and less vibrant, so blanched fresh or frozen is the way to go for color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Prep the green beans and store them in the fridge up to 2 days, keeping the brown sugar mixture and cut bacon in separate containers. Assemble and bake when ready.
All three work. Canned are easiest (drain and rinse well), while frozen or blanched fresh give the brightest color and best texture.
Blanch them. Boil for about 6 minutes, then shock in ice water. This locks in the vibrant color, which matters most for holiday presentation.
Partially cook the bacon before adding it, or broil the casserole at the end. Just watch it closely so the brown sugar glaze doesn’t burn.
Yes. Leave off the bacon and you still get a sweet, savory, glazed green bean side.
2 to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep the bacon crisp.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Drain and rinse canned green beans well so the casserole isn’t watery.
- Blanch fresh green beans for the brightest color and best texture.
- Set a baking sheet on the rack below in case the glaze bubbles over.
- Drain most of the liquid before the final uncovered bake so the bacon crisps.
- Top with French fried onions for extra crunch.
This Green Bean Bundle Casserole recipe has all the sweet, savory, bacon wrapped flavor with none of the tedious wrapping. Make it for your next Thanksgiving or family dinner and skip the fussy bundles for good!
Green Bean Bundle Casserole
Ingredients
- 56 ounces french style green beans drained, rinsed
- 12 ounces bacon cut into bite-sized pieces
- 5 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread the green beans in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Top with bite-sized pieces of bacon.
- In the microwave (or on the stove top) melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and spices and stir to combine. Be sure the majority of the brown sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the butter/sugar over the green beans and bacon, trying to get as even as possible.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Uncover and drain the majority of the liquid.
- Return to the oven, leaving uncovered, and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and crispy.
- Remove and serve!
Notes
- Drain and rinse canned green beans well so the casserole isn’t watery.
- Blanch fresh green beans for the brightest color and best texture.
- Set a baking sheet on the rack below in case the glaze bubbles over.
- Drain most of the liquid before the final uncovered bake so the bacon crisps.
- Top with French fried onions for extra crunch.
Nutrition
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