Home » Fall Recipes and Comfort Food » String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon

String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon

Tracking Pixel
String beans aren’t just for Thanksgiving. This String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon is a unique twist on a holiday classic. Easy baked candied bacon added to the creamy, casserole you known and love. Plus you can even be prep ahead and bake later to save time.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield. All opinions and content are mine alone.

Overhead shot of cooked String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon in a oval casserole dish

Growing up, string bean casseroles were my thing. Literally every Thanksgiving this was my contribution to our potluck style holiday dinners. It must be the combination of creamy, crispy, savory and wholesome green beans with the crisp of fried onions.

Either way, grean bean casserole is a must for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. This recipe takes that classic recipe and makes it even better with the addition of candied bacon.

All ingredients for String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon prepped on kitchen counter

Ingredients for a string bean casserole

  • String beans: The main base and an essential ingredient
  • Cream of mushroom soup: Condensed soup adds mushroom flavor and creaminess
  • Milk: Just a bit is needed to dilute the condensed soup
  • Fried onions: Another essential ingredient which adds flavor and texture. Bake inside of casserole as well as on top
  • Worcestershire sauce: Adds an umami effect which enhances all other flavors
  • Sliced mushrooms: Optional but adds additional texture and flavor
  • Candied bacon: An addition that makes this string bean casserole unique. A simple mixture of seasoned brown sugar-coated bacon. Roast until crisp, then crumble.

Bacon coated in brown sugar prepared on a baking sheet

I used Smithfield Bacon for this recipe. Bacon makes pretty much any recipe better and has many uses beyond breakfast and burgers. It’s a great addition to your holiday recipes. Available at your local grocery store in a variety of cuts, such as Cherrywood Thick Cut or the classic Hometown Original, Smithfield’s bacon is smoked and cured to perfection.

This holiday season, try adding bacon for loads of flavor and unique recipes. Whether cooking with friends, family or parties, it’s an easy way to elevate any dish. Visit Smithfield’s Holiday Hub for more easy recipes and entertaining tips and tricks this holiday season!

Making candied bacon is super simple and can be made in the oven for easy hands-off cooking. It adds a bit of crunch and sweetness to this savory string bean casserole.

Cooked candied bacon pieces on a bacon sheet

How to make candied bacon

  • Preheat oven to 350º F. Coat a large baking sheet with foil.
  • Mix 8 slices of bacon with ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Arrange bacon in a single layer and bake 25–30 minutes until cooked and crispy
  • Drain, cool and chop into small pieces

How to make a green bean casserole with bacon

  • Start with chopped cooked string beans. Canned, frozen or fresh works fine.
  • Stir in condensed mushroom soup, milk and black pepper
  • Fold in fried onions and cooked sliced mushrooms
  • Fold in chopped candied bacon to make your string bean casserole unique. Note: candied bacon can be baked in an oven for easy cooking and cleanup.
  • Bake uncovered in a casserole dish at 350º F. for 30 minutes until warmed, the sauce is thickened and bubbly.
  • Top with additional fried onions, bake a bit more to crisp and serve

Stirring string beans and ingredients for casserole saucein a metal bowl

Tips for making a string bean casserole

  • Used canned or pre-cooked frozen/fresh string beans to reduce baking time and ensure tender string beans
  • Condensed cream of mushroom and milk creates the sauce. Use organic for best flavor.
  • Adding cooked sliced mushrooms adds additional flavor and texture. On that note add in chopped candied bacon as well.
  • Casserole can be prepped ahead, stored in the fridge, then baked when ready
  • Bake fried onions into the casserole as well as on garnished on top after baking
  • Bake just before serving at your dinner. It’s best served warm and crispy.
  • Leftovers are great and can be stored in fridge up to a week. Simply reheat in a microwave.

Pro tip: Bake string bean casserole uncovered in the casserole dish. This will allow liquid to evaporate and sauce to thicken.

String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon next to package of Smithfield bacon

How to make string bean casserole ahead of time

Assemble all ingredients as directed and place in a casserole dish. Can be made 1-3 days ahead of time and stored covered in the fridge. When ready to serve, simply bake as directed for easy make-ahead string bean casserole.

Should I use cooked string beans in a string bean casserole?

Cooked string beans are recommended for making a string bean casserole. You can use raw string beans but baking time will be significantly increased, plus the casserole may dry out with extended baking times. Canned string beans are pre-cooked, but fresh or frozen ones will need to be pre-cooked a bit.

How to cook string beans for a string bean casserole

Drained canned string beans work well as they are pre-cooked. Otherwise, use trimmed fresh or frozen string beans and microwave on high in a sealed bowl with a bit of water for 5 minutes. Then combine with ingredients and bake into the casserole as directed.

Hand scooping String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon with a wooden serving spoon
String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon

More Holiday Side Recipes You Might Like

String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon recipe at-a-glance:

Flavor profiles: Rich, savory and lots of mushrooms paired with sweet and meaty candied bacon
Texture: Tender string beans with creamy sauce and crunchy bacon bits

Leave a comment below and star rating if you made this recipe or want to share your thoughts.

 

Are you following me on Pinterest, InstagramFacebook, and Twitter? Also, sign up for our newsletter to get all our recipes and cooking tips.

Overhead shot of cooked String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon in a oval casserole dish
Print
5 from 5 votes

String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon

Easy baked candied bacon added to creamy, tender string bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword holiday casserole recipe, string bean casserole, string bean casserole with bacon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Calories 205kcal
Servings 8
Author: Matt Ivan
Did you know? Servings and ingredient amounts can be adjusted on all my recipes. Click the green number above to change.

Ingredients

  • 8 strips Smithfield Hometown Original Bacon
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 cups green beans, cooked (or canned, drained)
  • 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ⅓ cups fried onions, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350º F. Cover a large baking sheet with foil. Mix bacon with brown sugar and ¼-teaspoon black pepper. Arrange bacon in a single layer and bake 25–30 minutes until cooked and crisp. Drain, cool and chop into small pieces. Set aside.
  • Cook mushrooms in a non-stick pan over medium heat for 7 minutes, or until tender, stirring often. Set aside.
  • For fresh or frozen string beans: cook in a microwave safe bowl covered with a bit of water on high for 5 minutes until slightly tender. Drain, cool and chop into ¾-inch pieces. If using canned string beans just drain as they are already cooked.
  • Stir string beans, candied bacon and mushrooms with remaining ingredients, reserving ⅓ cup onions. Bake uncovered in a casserole dish for 25 minutes, until heated through and sauce is thickened and bubbly.
  • Top with remaining fried onions and bake 5 minutes more until golden. Let sit 5-10 minutes and serve.

Notes

  • To make ahead: Assemble all ingredients and place in a casserole dish. Can be made 1-3 days ahead of time and stored covered in the fridge. When ready to serve, bake as directed.
  • Used canned or pre-cooked frozen/fresh string beans to reduce baking time and ensure tender string beans
  • Condensed cream of mushroom and milk creates the sauce. Use organic for best flavor.
  • Adding cooked sliced mushrooms adds additional flavor and texture. On that note add in chopped candied bacon as well.
  • Casserole can be prepped ahead, stored in the fridge, then baked when ready
  • Bake fried onions into the casserole as well as on garnished on top after baking
  • Bake just before serving at your dinner. It’s best served warm and crispy.
  • Leftovers are great and can be stored in fridge up to a week. Simply reheat in a microwave.
Nutrition Facts
String Bean Casserole with Candied Bacon
Amount Per Serving
Calories 205 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 241mg10%
Potassium 274mg8%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 400IU8%
Vitamin C 7.3mg9%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Like this recipe?Visit @platingpixels on Pinterest to discover more. Pin it with button below to save recipe for later.
Don't forget to leave a comment below and rate this recipe if you like it →

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield.

 
Fall Recipes and Comfort Food | Pork Recipes | Recipes | Sides | Thanksgiving Recipes

Similar Posts

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This looks so much better than run of the mill green bean casserole! I’m sold. I’ll just have to take out the mushrooms because I’m allergic.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating