Savory Texas Roadhouse style green beans are so easy to make for any meal, they're fuss free and perfect for a weeknight side dish. Canned green beans are jazzed up with plenty of flavor from crispy bacon, aromatics, and sweet brown sugar! These are simmered in a pan full of broth for a delicious restaurant side dish that's even better the next day.
This recipe goes out to Chrissy, who asked me to make a rendition of her favorite Texas Roadhouse side to go along with their famous rolls as home. Wish granted!
Chain restaurants don't have the time nor the sources to get fresh green beans and snap them everyday at every restaurant, so they use canned beans. Makes total sense, canned green beans are one of many canned things in the back of a chain restaurant, let me tell ya! Already tender green beans don't need to take up an extra stockpot and burner in a bustling back of the house kitchen.
And with Thanksgiving coming around the corner, this recipe is a fabulous make-ahead side if you're looking for a faster version of classic slow cooked southern green beans.
My version of these makes for a super home-cook friendly recipe, with plenty of tips for absolutely delicious green beans that taste just like Texas Roadhouse's.
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Delicious Texas Roadhouse Green Beans!
So how do we make a canned green beans recipe taste good? Well, an old friend of mine from when I worked at a chain restaurant also worked back of the house at Texas Roadhouse and may have let a few secrets slip out.
The green beans are accompanied by onions that sizzle in bacon grease, then they simmer in ham broth with brown sugar and a splash of acidity just enough to warm through, but not enough to get mushy (preferably you make this some hours before serving so the beans soak up that good, salty ham broth flavor...according to my friend).
You end up with a skillet full of sweet and savory southern style green beans made in 30 minutes that is really great for weeknights with roasted chicken, the most country sunday suppers with chicken fried steak, or even on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ingredients
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Canned Green Beans - if you have never used canned green beans, they are already cooked before canning. So unlike fresh or frozen green beans, you don't need to worry about cooking them until tender.
- Diced Bacon - use a thick, center cut bacon. You want something with plenty of fat to render without burning the meat. We want to keep those crispy bits for serving.
- Yellow Onion and Garlic Powder - you can use fresh minced garlic if you want.
- White Wine Vinegar - tangy, acidic, and fruity! It gives a great depth of flavor while cutting through the richness of that bacon fat.
- Ham Broth Base - this is what my friend told me made all the difference. They use ham broth/ham base in the restaurant!
- Brown Sugar - for a hint of sweetness! While developing this recipe I tried doing it with and without the brown sugar and it really just gives a little sweet touch that rounds this dish out.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Style Green Beans
Step 1 | Cook the bacon in a large skillet or saute pan. Remove the cooked bacon to a paper towel lined plate with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Step 2 | Cook the diced onions in that bacon fat with a little seasoning. Once they start to develop color, add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Step 3 | Reduce heat to medium low heat and add in all of the other ingredients. Give them a quick zhush with a wooden spoon and put a lid on it all and simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Pro Tip: Make this up to a day ahead so the green beans soak up the broth's flavor; it's how Texas Roadhouse makes their southern-style green beans so flavorful!
Step 4 | Serve warm with the crispy bacon sprinkled over top. So simple, so good!
Variations and Pro Tips for the Best Green Beans
- Be sure to drain the can green beans before adding it to the pan.
- If you have just wayyyy too much bacon fat in the pan, carefully use long tongs and a paper towel to soak some of it up before adding in your chopped onion. We want to have about 3 tablespoon or ¼ cup of bacon fat in the pot at most.
- Can't find ham base or broth? Totally okay to use chicken broth, it just won't have that porky taste.
- My family loves chewy bacon! If you're the same, but the bacon in with the green beans to simmer for a few minutes before serving. I save some because I, personally, really like crispy bacon with my green beans.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storing: Store the green beans with all the broth in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I tend to keep the bacon crumbles separated so I can have fresh, crispy bacon to sprinkle on top (warmed up in a microwave for 30 seconds!).
Reheating: Warm the green beans in a pan on the stove top over medium low heat until warmed through or nuke a serving in a bowl in the microwave for a minute or two.
Equipment
- Large Skillet or Saute Pan
- Wooden Spoon
- Ham Broth Base - I know this isn't something like chicken broth that's everywhere, so this is where you can easily find it online.
FAQs
Yes you can! Wait until they've completely cooled before freezing flat in a freezer-safe zip top bag for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat with a splash of chicken broth until warmed through. Serve with freshly crisped bacon, though.
More Southern Side Dish Recipes
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Texas Roadhouse Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, thick cut, chopped
- ½ cup yellow onion, medium diced (about ½ medium onion)
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 (16oz) cans cut green beans, drained
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 cup ham broth, or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, as needed
Instructions
- In a large skillet or sauté pan, start the bacon in a cold pan. Cook over medium high heat, allowing the fat to slowly render out until the bacon becomes crispy, about 7-10 minutes. Once done, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.4 slices bacon
- Using the bacon fat in the skillet, sauté the diced onions. Cook until the onions begin to caramelize, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic powder and mix well.½ cup yellow onion, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the green beans, brown sugar, vinegar, black pepper, and broth to the pan. Stir to combine, then cover the pan and let everything simmer for 8-10 minutes, allowing the beans to warm through and absorb all that delicious flavor.2 (16oz) cans cut green beans, 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, 1 cup ham broth, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoon black pepper
- Taste and season with the kosher salt as needed.1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Serve warm with the crispy bacon sprinkled on top.
Recipe Notes
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storing: Store the green beans with all the broth in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I tend to keep the bacon crumbles separated so I can have fresh, crispy bacon to sprinkle on top (warmed up in a microwave for 30 seconds!). Reheating: Warm the green beans in a pan on the stove top over medium low heat until warmed through or nuke a serving in a bowl in the microwave for a minute or two.Variations and Pro Tips for the Best Green Beans
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- Be sure to drain the can green beans before adding it to the pan.
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- If you have just wayyyy too much bacon fat in the pan, carefully use long tongs and a paper towel to soak some of it up before adding in your chopped onion. We want to have about 3 tablespoon or ¼ cup of bacon fat in the pot at most.
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- Can't find ham base or broth? Totally okay to use chicken broth, it just won't have that exact Texas Roadhouse taste.
- I personally like adding a pinch of red pepper flakes while sautéing the onions for a little extra spice.
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