Sweet, salty, and smoky, these Arkansas green beans bake in a rich brown sugar, butter, and bacon glaze that makes even the pickiest eaters excited for veggies. They’re tender, flavorful, and perfect for everything from busy weeknights to holiday dinners.
If you enjoy green beans with bacon, try my slow cooker Southern green beans, these Southern-style green beans, or this comforting Amish green bean recipe. They all offer that same cozy, Southern-inspired flavor that pairs well with almost any meal.
Table of Contents
Before You Get Started
- Choose your green beans. Frozen cut green beans are the easiest option here, but you can substitute with 3 (15 ounce) cans of drained green beans or about 7 cups of fresh green beans that have been steamed or boiled until tender
- Partially cook the green beans first. Since the beans only bake for about 30 minutes, steaming or boiling them first ensures they become soft, tender, and able to absorb the sweet and savory glaze.
- Don’t over-crisp the bacon. Cook it just until done. It will continue to crisp in the oven without burning.
How to Make Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
If you want to encourage your kids (or husband!) to eat some veggies, then these Arkansas green beans are a must on your next dinner menu! You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview with a few helpful notes:
Step 1: Steam the Green Beans
Place the frozen beans in a microwave-safe dish with a couple tablespoons of water. Cover and steam for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender. Drain off any liquid.
** Quick Note: Giving the beans a head start helps them soften fully in the oven and absorb more flavor without burning the bacon on top.
Step 2: Season the Beans
Spread the drained green beans in a greased 2-quart baking dish. Season with salt and pepper and stir to coat.
If you like extra flavor, you can sauté a thinly sliced onion and add it to the dish before baking.
Step 3: Cook the Bacon
Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet just until it’s done but not overly crisp. It will finish crisping in the oven.
Sprinkle the bacon evenly over the beans.
Step 4: Whisk the Glaze
In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder until smooth and well combined.
Step 5: Bake
Pour the glaze over the beans and bacon.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes, or until the beans are very tender, the sauce is slightly caramelized, and the bacon is crisp on top.
Excellent recipe! I made a small batch using some green beans that needed to be eaten. Since I like my beans “tender crisp” I didn’t precook them and they came out just as I like them. I’m making them again tonight but minus the bacon (we’ve already had bacon today).
– Leslie
Variations
- Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Swap in turkey bacon.
- Reduce the brown sugar slightly for a less sweet version.
- Add sautéed onions or mushrooms for extra flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Arkansas green beans with almost any family dinner. The sweet and savory glaze pairs especially well with comforting casseroles and simple roasted meats.
Great options to serve with these green beans:
Preparation and Storage Tips
Make Ahead: Assemble the green beans and bacon up to 24 hours in advance. Cover the dish and keep it in the refrigerator. Allow it to sit at room temperature for 30–60 minutes before baking.
How to Store: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months, but the texture will be softer once thawed.
How to Reheat: Cover loosely with foil and warm in a 350 degree F oven until heated through, about 15 to 20 minutes. Individual portions can be microwaved for about 1 minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned green beans instead of frozen?
Yes. Drain them well first and skip the steaming step.
Can I make Arkansas green beans ahead of time?
Absolutely. Assemble the dish up to a day in advance, refrigerate, then bake when needed.
Can I freeze Arkansas green beans?
Yes. The texture will be softer once thawed, but the flavor is still great.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Arkansas Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 (16 ounce) packages frozen cut green beans
- 6 strips of bacon, chopped
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon less-sodium soy sauce
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Steam or boil the green beans until they're tender (I cook mine in a covered dish in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of water for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through). Strain off the excess liquid.
- Spread the green beans in the prepared baking dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Give them a good stir.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet just until done, but not too crispy (it will continue cooking in the oven).
- Sprinkle the bacon on top of the green beans.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
- Pour the sauce over the green beans.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. The green beans should be very tender at this point and the bacon will be nice and crispy on top.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Assemble the dish up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Frozen cut green beans work best for convenience, but canned beans (drained) or fresh beans that have been steamed until tender also work well.
- Cook the bacon only until done. It will continue to crisp in the oven.
- The green beans should be soft and tender after steaming; this helps them absorb the glaze during baking.
- If the glaze seems too sweet, reduce the brown sugar slightly or add a splash more soy sauce.
Nutrition
Originally published in April, 2020, this post was updated in December, 2025.
Oh my these green beans look divine! I will definitely be making these soon.
Awesome! I hope you love them, Kimberly!
Hello Blair, this green bean recipe looks very yummy! The instructions are very easy so I am going to make it at home. One question and that is there any alternative to brown sugar?? Thanks!
Hi, Annie! No problem — you can swap out the brown sugar for almost any sweetener that you have on hand. Honey, maple syrup or even white sugar will all work. Enjoy!
Excellent recipe! I made a small batch using some green beans that needed to be eaten. Since I like my beans “tender crisp” I didn’t precook them and they came out just as I like them. I’m making them again tonight but minus the bacon (we’ve already had bacon today).
Awesome! I’m glad that you liked it, Leslie! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a note and let me know!
Reminds me of whack beans
Oh! I’ve never heard of those.:)
Feeding roughly 25 – 30 people, should I double or triple the recipe?
Hi, Carla! I would triple the recipe to be safe. Enjoy!
Could you help me out with exact measurements and how many cans of green beans I would be needing if I am tripling the recipe?
Sure, Carla! The specific measurements are all included in the recipe box at the bottom of the post, but I’ve copied and pasted them here as well:
2 (16 ounce) bags frozen cut green beans
6 slices bacon, chopped
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon soy sauce
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
If you’re using canned green beans instead of frozen, you’ll need 3 (15 ounce) cans of green beans, drained. To triple the recipe, that would mean 9 (15 ounce) cans. Hope you enjoy!
I made this recipe. It was easy, simple and delicious. I made them in an electric skillet to free up the oven for the Holidays. We’ll be making them for Christmas this year. I personally don’t you have to be precise with ingredients , just personalize
Thank you for the feedback, Barbara! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe. We hope you have a very merry Christmas!
I love these green beans! I wondering if you think it would work to make these then keep them warm in a crock pot for a few hours? Would they get mushy? Or could I possibly cooking them in the crockpot?
Thanks!
Hi, Sarah! Yes, you can either keep them warm in the slow cooker on the “warm” setting so that they don’t get too mushy. I would sprinkle with the cooked bacon just before serving so that it doesn’t get soggy.
They wouldn’t work quite as well cooking them in the slow cooker, since you leave them uncovered in the oven. The lid on the slow cooker will trap moisture, making the sauce much thinner and watery, and the bacon won’t get crispy. 🙂
Ok, makes sense. Thanks for your help!
Can I ask why the green beans need to be steamed (or otherwise cooked) first? It seems like the thirty minutes in the oven would cook them just fine.
Would it be possible to put raw green beans in the baking dish with the bacon and sauce?
Hi, Laura! This ensures that the beans are really tender by the end (more of a Southern-style green bean that’s “cooked to death” — but not really). 🙂 If you prefer your green beans crisp-tender, then yes — you can probably just thaw them and bake them directly in the dish without pre-cooking at all.
I just wanted to “Thank you” for all of these awesome recipes. I am going to try them all. I know it takes a lot of time and patience to make all of this to happen so beautifully. I was looking through your recipes and remembered my Mom and Grandmother making a few of these. You brought back some wonderful memories, Thank you , God Bless you and yours .
Thank you for such a kind message, Linda. We’re so glad our recipes could bring back fond memories and hope they taste as good as you remember. Thank you for being here!