Description

This Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans recipe delivers smoky, savory, and slightly sweet green beans flavored with crispy bacon, garlic, and onions. Bringing the iconic restaurant side dish into your home kitchen, it’s a quick and easy way to elevate your vegetable game and satisfy even picky eaters. Made primarily with canned green beans for authenticity, this dish simmers in a buttery, bacon-infused sauce with a hint of tang from red wine vinegar, perfect for family dinners or special gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats

6 strips bacon, chopped

Vegetables & Aromatics

1/2 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/2 medium)
2 cans (16 oz each) green beans, rinsed and drained
1 tbsp garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)

Liquids & Fats

1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp red wine vinegar

Seasonings

1 tsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

Cook the Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the chopped bacon. Cook, stirring often, until the bacon becomes just crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid sticking or burning as the bacon renders its fat and develops flavor.
Soften the Onions: Add the finely chopped white onion to the skillet with the bacon. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes. This step ensures the onions develop sweetness and meld with the bacon.
Combine Green Beans and Flavorings: Add the rinsed and drained green beans, chicken broth, minced garlic, butter, red wine vinegar, white sugar, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to coat the green beans evenly with all the seasonings and to incorporate the flavors fully.
Simmer the Green Beans: Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid. Let the green beans simmer gently until tender and the flavors have melded together, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and distribute the heat evenly.
Taste and Serve: After simmering, taste the green beans and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Transfer the green beans to a serving dish or plate individual portions. For added brightness, add an extra splash of red wine vinegar right before serving. Serve warm alongside your favorite hearty main dishes.

Notes

Use canned green beans for the most authentic Texas Roadhouse taste, but fresh (blanched) or thawed frozen green beans can also be used.
Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to render fat and develop deep smoky flavor; don’t rush or discard bacon grease.
Add garlic after onions soften to prevent burning and bitterness.
Do not overcook green beans once added; they only need to be heated through and absorb flavors.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave; add a splash of chicken broth if dry.
Substitutes: Ham or turkey bacon instead of bacon, yellow onion for white, vegetable broth for chicken broth, and apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar.

Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Side Dishes
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Texas Roadhouse green beans, copycat recipe, green beans with bacon, restaurant style green beans, smoky green beans, easy side dish, southern side dish