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A close-up, macro shot of glazed Crack Green Beans, highlighting the delicious texture of the rich sauce and crispy bacon.

Viral Crack Green Beans: The Ultimate Savory & Sweet Side Dish

The internet-famous Crack Green Beans feature tender-crisp green beans and savory bacon tossed in an addictive, glistening brown sugar and soy sauce glaze. An unforgettable side dish ready in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Fresh Green Beans, trimmed (450g)
  • 8 slices Thick-Cut Bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed (100g)
  • 6 tablespoons Low-Sodium Soy Sauce (90ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (3g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder (1.5g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground (0.5g)

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet A 12-inch skillet is recommended.
  • 1 Slotted Spoon
  • 1 Small mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Place the chopped bacon in a large, cold skillet. Cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply browned and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons of rendered fat in the skillet.
  2. Add the trimmed green beans to the hot bacon fat in the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, tossing frequently, until the beans are bright green and tender-crisp.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the packed brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Pour the glaze over the green beans in the skillet.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the glaze thickens into a syrupy sauce that coats the beans.
  5. Turn off the heat. Return the crispy bacon to the skillet and toss everything to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don't Overcook the Beans: The goal is tender-crisp, not mushy. Remember they will cook a little more in the glaze.
Use Fresh Green Beans: Fresh beans provide the best texture. Frozen beans can be used in a pinch but may release excess water.
Keep the Glaze Moving: Stir constantly once the glaze ingredients are added to prevent the sugar from burning.
Serve Immediately: This dish is at its peak right out of the skillet while the glaze is hot and the bacon is crispy.