Texas Roadhouse Green Beans pack maximum comfort food flavor into an underappreciated vegetable. Green beans with bacon are the perfect side; they’re quick, easy to make, and absolutely scrumptious.
And to be perfectly honest, I have eaten these green bean leftovers as my lunch. They are definitely hearty enough to be a meal with the added protein from the bacon.
We Need Quick and Easy
We all want to make nutritious and delicious food when we cook. But life is hectic, and sometimes cooking just seems overwhelming.
Throughout the week, we’re pulled in so many different directions. It’s hard to juggle “all the things” and still put a great meal on the table in the evenings.
We need our dinners, especially weeknight dinners, to be quick, easy, AND delicious. And for most of us, they need also to be affordable. Green beans are an inexpensive side that can help make all that happen.
Add some equally affordable seasonings, and a simple green bean recipe becomes a beloved favorite dish.
Choosing main dishes and sides that can be prepared simultaneously in around 30 minutes will almost always save you money over takeout or the drive-thru. And friends, the food will taste so much better and be better for you.
These mouthwatering green beans with bacon will solve all your quick, easy, and delicious side dish problems. They’re company-worthy scrumptiousness you can easily make on a weeknight. You’re going to love them!
Why You’ll Love Texas Roadhouse Green Beans
Texas Roadhouse Green Beans are delectable! You know exactly what I mean if you’ve ever enjoyed them in the restaurant. But eating out is pricey, and these green beans are SO easy to make at home.
Plus, these flavorful green beans and bacon take only about 20 minutes to cook. (A little later in this post, I’ll give you ideas for some of the best main courses to cook alongside them to complete your meal.)
My copycat recipe is the perfect example of using everyday simple ingredients to create a memorable restaurant dish at home.
The green beans are savory, smoky and comforting. The recipe achieves a great balance between light acidity from red wine vinegar and a barely-there undertone of sweetness. When people start talking about vegetables as comfort food, you know you have found a winning recipe.
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
- Cut the bacon into 1/2″ wide chunks, small dice the onion and drain the green beans. Mince the garlic, if needed.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the pan is hot.
- Add the raw bacon pieces that you cut previously into the preheated skillet.
- 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.
- 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.
- Next, stir in the drained green beans, chicken broth, butter, red wine vinegar, sugar and pepper.
- 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.
- Taste and add more salt and some black pepper, if needed.
- 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.
Controlling the Salt and Pepper
I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it in previous recipes, but I have a pepper grinder and always grind our black pepper fresh.
It’s one of the few times where I feel like the flavor intensity is significantly different, and we’ve just come to prefer freshly ground black pepper.
That being said, if you normally use pre-ground pepper, use what you have on hand. Don’t buy something extra and outside your normal tastes to season a dish if it isn’t going to have a huge impact.
As for salt, go easy until you’ve tasted everything. Remember that the bacon, the chicken broth and possibly the butter will all have salt in them. Salt is also added when beans are canned.
It’s so important to taste food all throughout the cooking process to adjust seasonings appropriately.
FAQs
Sure! If you want to make the recipe vegan, you would need to omit the bacon, chicken broth and butter. In that case, I would recommend adding 1/2 cup vegetable broth, 1/8 teaspoon of liquid smoke and a Tablespoon of avocado or olive oil. Alternatively, you could use a vegan bacon substitute and vegan butter.
If you need to reheat a large quantity, I would toss them in a skillet on the stove top to reheat the green beans. Single servings are easily reheated in the microwave.
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.
Whenever you decide to serve them, Texas Roadhouse Green Beans will take an everyday side dish and make it exceptional using ingredients you probably already have on hand.
You’ll be able to cook delicious green beans with bacon at the same time as a weeknight main dish and put the complete meal on the table in 30 minutes or less.
Plus, you’ll save money and add nutrition by cooking your meal at home. Everyone you prepare them for will be delighted.
If you’re a huge fan of copycat recipes then you’ll also want to check out my Costco Copycat Raspberry Crumble Cookies and my friend Mandy’s Chick Fil A Nuggets recipe over at Pocket Friendly Recipes.
If you enjoy this recipe, please leave a comment and five-star rating below to help others more easily find our Texas Roadhouse green bean recipe in the search engines. Thanks so much!
Have a blessing-filled weekend!
The Recipe
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Texas Roadhouse Green Beans
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Craving Texas Roadhouse Green Beans (Green Beans with Bacon)? Make this delicious comfort-food dish at home. Grab our quick & easy recipe. With a few everyday pantry ingredients you’ll have them on the table in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon
- 1 small onion, small diced (about 2/3 cup)
- 2 (15 oz.) cans cut green beans, drained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste (Green beans, chicken broth, and butter can all have salt, so taste your dish before finishing to determine how much if any salt is needed.)
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into 1/2″ wide chunks, small dice the onion and drain the green beans.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the pan is hot.
- Add the cut bacon pieces into the preheated skillet.
- Cook and stir on medium-high heat until the bacon is crisp.
- Add the diced onion and cook an additional 5 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Next, stir in the drained green beans, chicken broth, butter, red wine vinegar, sugar and pepper.
- 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.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve.
Notes
As for salt, go easy until you’ve tasted everything. Remember that the bacon, the chicken broth and possibly the butter will all have salt in them. Salt is also added when beans are canned.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Side Dish, Vegetables
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
I love that you added vinegar for extra bright flavor and sugar to balance it. Really delicious, thank you for the recipe!
Thanks, Julie. The vinegar was new to me, too, when I heard that was how T.R. made them. But you’re absolutely right, the bright zing it added to the dish was such a nice balance with the rich fattiness of the bacon.
My kids already love green beans (small win!) but they liked this version with bacon even more! They really were amazing!
I’m glad to hear it, Lauren! Our kids were always great veggie eaters, too, but I know that’s not always the case in some families. Bacon is a great treat for all of us.
The combination of tender green beans and crispy bacon is perfection. The seasoning is just right, and the dish has become a staple in my home-cooked meals. Delicious!
That contrast of textures is one of my favorite things about this dish, too, Gianne. Thanks for stopping by, today!
These are my favorite way to eat green beans! They taste so good and even my kids eat them. Thanks for the recipe!
Kathryn, you’re so very welcome! I’m happy you’re enjoying them.
These are amazingly flavorful. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
So happy you enjoyed the flavors, Donalyn!
So good! Since making these, I am addicted! This recipe makes canned green beans taste fantastic. Highly recommend!
Thank you, Clair. I agree completely. Canned beans become a treat with this recipe.
What a delightful dish this is! I really love how well it paired with my ribeye steak last night. A go-to recipe indeed 🙂
A true steak house meal! Yum! So glad you’re enjoying the recipe, Corrine!
Absolutely delicious! I’ve been hooked since trying this recipe. It really turns ordinary canned green beans into an extraordinary dish. Now, I’m wondering how it would taste with fresh green beans. So excited to try!
Jenna, I’m a fresh green beans girl, too. I think it would be delicious! I’m so anxious for summer and fresh garden produce.
So flavorful, love how the bacon and broth make canned beans from the pantry into something special anny night of the week.
Glad you’re enjoying them, Judy.
These Texas roadhouse green beans are so easy to make, have incredible flavor, and are the perfect side for any meal. There’s acidity from the red wine vinegar and and smokiness from the bacon. I had leftover ham, so I just used that to substitute the bacon. So yum!
That’s a great use of leftovers, Riah! Glad you’re making the recipe your own!