These bacon-wrapped green bean bundles, brushed with a sweet, balsamic glaze, are a beautiful and elegant side dish that is easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
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I think that bacon makes everything delicious. Then add balsamic vinegar to that, and you have a dish that is always a hit. They are perfect for holidays, dinner parties, or a weeknight dinner.
Getting veggies into my family seems like an endless battle. However, this recipe for tender green beans that are wrapped in bacon and glazed in brown sugar and balsamic vinegar sauce makes it much easier. Using a few tips and tricks, this elegant side dish is sure to become a regular on your family dinner rotation.
TIPS FOR MAKING THESE SWEET AND TANGY GREEN BEAN BUNDLES
- I like using center cut bacon and pre-cooking it a bit so that it gets very crispy in the oven around the green beans.
- For the most tender beans, use the thin, French variety, called Haricots Verts. You don’t need to trim them or pull the string from the back. They are very flavorful and tender.
- Take the time to blanch the beans. If you use the thin beans, just dunk them in the boiling water and remove them. It will help to retain the green color. If you use traditional green beans, blanch them for just a minute or so and remove them. This will cook the beans just a bit so that when the bacon wrapped around them is crispy, the beans will be tender and delicious.
- Take care removing the green bean bundles from the baking sheet to the plates. They will be delicate and you don’t want to tear open the pretty bundles.
In the mood for a few more elegant and easy side dishes? Here are a few to try:
- Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
- Ratatouille Casserole
- Roasted Garlic Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
- Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
- Marmalade Rum Glazed Carrots
SWEET AND TANGY GREEN BEAN BUNDLES
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
Description
This elegant side dish is a beautiful, individual bundle of green beans, wrapped in smokey bacon and glazed with a brown sugar and balsamic sauce. So pretty, it is a lovely holiday side dish, yet easy enough for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients
16 slices of bacon, preferably center-cut
1 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar glaze
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ pounds thin green beans (haricots Vert) or regular green beans that have been trimmed, lightly blanched
¼ cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat and set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, partially cook the bacon, in batches, until the edges just begin to brown and the bacon is very pliable – about 5 – 7 minutes.
Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and allow it to cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, balsamic glaze, salt, and garlic powder.
Divide the green beans into 16 equal portions.
Gather each portion into a bunch and wrap a half slice of bacon around the center to hold the bundle together. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon tightly around the green bean bundle.
Place the bundle onto the prepared baking sheet, seam side down.
Sprinkle the brown sugar over the bundles and drizzle with the butter mixture.
Roast in the preheated oven until the bacon is browned and crispy, about 20 – 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow the bundles to rest for 5 minutes.
Serve hot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: elegant side dish, side dish recipes, green bean recipes, vegetable recipes, side dish
