Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Enjoy soft and tender green beans wrapped in crispy caramelized bacon, then tossed in a garlic tomato sauce with the perfect blend of Cajun flavors. An easy side dish yet fancy enough to serve on special occasions. And an ideal addition to your easy meal prep ideas, too. Absolutely healthy and entertaining!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Servings - 8

Calories 98kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

1 pound (454 g) green beans, trimmed
6-8 pieces thick bacon
2 tablespoons (28 ml) canola oil
¼ cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon (5 g) garlic
1 medium tomato, or a tablespoon of tomato paste
1 teaspoon (5 g) Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon (2 g) Cajun seasoning
salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Blanch the Green Beans

Start by blanching the green beans in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes, dip in ice-cold water to cool off. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Cook the Bacon

Preheat oven to 400°F/205℃. Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with foil (this makes for easy clean-up). Bake the bacon for about 8-10 minutes or until bacon is just starting to brown on the edges while remaining undercooked and soft.
Remove bacon and place on a plate lined with paper towels, and let it cool. Cut each bacon in half.
While the bacon is cooking, place a small saucepan on the stove on medium heat. Add oil and onions – stir for a minute. Then add garlic, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Let it simmer, occasionally stirring for about 5 minutes, then add about ½ cup or more of water or stock and Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper if desired.
Add seasonings to taste and a little water to make a little sauce to put on the green beans. Set aside.
Add about a tablespoon or more of sauce to the green beans–toss well.

Assemble Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Place 6-8 green beans in a pile.
Take a half slice of bacon and wrap it around the middle of the bundle of green beans, tucking the ends underneath or using a toothpick. Lay the green bean bundle on a baking sheet with the bacon seam-side down. Repeat with all the green beans.
Bake for about 12-18 minutes until bacon is crisp.
Remove from heat and pour the remaining sauce mixture over it.
Let it cool slightly and serve.

Notes

Make sure to choose and buy fresh green beans for the best results.
Don't forget to blanch your green beans. This will prevent your veggies from being soggy. Plus, blanching also keeps the vibrant green color of your veggies and maintains their nutritional value too.
When you precook your bacon, be careful not to "fully cook" them. Cook them just until slightly brown on the side and still soft and rollable.
Use a toothpick to secure the bacon in place.
You can try this recipe with different flavors - garlicky, sweet, spicy, cheesy. Take your pick! ;)
And, of course, you can take a shortcut and use your air fryer. Set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook it for 10-15 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked and crispy.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition