Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans (Green Beans with Bacon)

The Ingredients

• Thick-Cut Bacon
• Onion, small diced or minced
• Canned Green Beans, drained
• Chicken Broth
• Minced Garlic
• Butter
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt and Black Pepper

How to Make Texas Roadhouse Green Beans

1. Cut the bacon into 1/2″ wide chunks, small dice the onion and drain the green beans.  Mince the garlic, if needed.
2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the pan is hot.
3. Add the raw bacon pieces that you cut previously into the preheated skillet.
4. Cook and stir until most of the bacon is crisp (about 5-7 minutes).  You may have a few straggling pieces that are not fully done, but they will continue to cook.
5. Add the diced onion to the bacon and bacon grease in your skillet and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.  It won’t be translucent yet.
6. Next, stir in the drained green beans, chicken broth, butter, red wine vinegar, sugar and pepper.
7. Reduce the heat to medium. Simmer until the beans are hot and have absorbed the seasoning flavors. (about 10 minutes). The liquid will reduce as the beans cook. Stir occasionally to toss the beans with the flavorful seasoning liquid.
8. Taste and add more salt and some black pepper, if needed.
9. Serve.

Possible Recipe Variations and Tips

Substitutes for Bacon:

You could use regular bacon, but we prefer the meatier texture of thick-cut and feel it holds up better in the recipe. Use what your family prefers.

If you want a short-cut option, you could buy the real bacon bits in the salad dressing aisle and substitute those for fresh bacon. 

You could also chop leftover ham and use it instead of the bacon.  

Onion Substitutions:

You can use white, red, or yellow onion.  I used red.

Again, you can use shortcuts by buying onions already chopped in the produce aisle or in the frozen foods section. Keep in mind you will pay a higher price for that convenience.

For milder onion flavor, try minced shallots.

Green Beans Substitutions:

Texas Roadhouse green beans seem to be made with canned beans. However, frozen green beans may work if you thaw them before preparing the recipe.

You could also try the recipe with fresh green beans. I think they would need to be blanched before making the recipe. Otherwise, getting them to cook to the correct texture for this recipe might be difficult.

You could also try subbing in other vegetables instead of using green beans.  Halved or quartered Brussels sprouts or fresh kale would both be good.

Chicken Broth Options and Substitutions:

Use store-bought or homemade chicken broth, low sodium or regular, as appropriate for your own family. 

You could also easily use vegetable broth in place of the chicken.

Mincing Garlic:

Mince whole garlic cloves with a knife, use a garlic press, or, like me, buy your garlic pre-minced.

Don’t come for me. lol  I have literally worn out three garlic presses over the years. The handles have snapped after years of use.

We use LOTS of garlic at our house. I’m ready to just pay for the convenience, and we don’t note any difference in the flavor.

Do what your heart dictates.

Salted Butter vs Unsalted

I always buy salted butter.  I like to have a stick softened out on the counter for buttering toast, etc.  Salt helps deter bacterial growth. 

The USDA says it’s safe to keep both unsalted and salted butter out for up to two days.

I also prefer the flavor of salted butter, but the mouthfeel, texture, and browning capabilities are identical in both types.

When cooking with it, remember that salted butter WILL add to the saltiness of your dish.  I often omit salt in recipes that say “to taste” if I’ve used salted butter or other salty ingredients.  You MUST taste what you’re cooking to decide whether or not to add salt.

Vinegar Substitutions

Sub in apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar if that’s what is normally in your pantry.  I personally feel that plain white vinegar may be too assertively sharp in this green bean recipe, though.

You might also try subbing in lemon juice for the vinegar to achieve the same acidic balance and an element of brightness.  I would lean more toward lemon juice if I were using fresh green beans instead of canned ones.

What About the Sugar?

Yup!  It’s confirmed.  Texas Roadhouse does add sugar to the green beans. You choose for you.

The amount of sugar in this recipe is so small that I don’t think it will really matter what variety you use.  I chose granulated sugar because it was handy.  However, I think both brown sugar and possibly honey could also work.

If you have a favorite sugar substitute, I think it would be totally appropriate to use it here.

The sugar is just a light undertone of sweetness that is barely noticeable.  Its only purpose is to bring the dish into a harmonious balance between savory, sweet, and acidic flavors. 

What to Serve with Green Beans with Bacon

This flavorful side dish recipe can will be a perfect complement to any of these scrumptious main dishes. Serve them along with my friend Leah’s deviled eggs and perfect brown rice alongside any one of these proteins and your dinner will be a smashing success.