Smoky Maple Bacon Green Beans

Smoky Maple Bacon Green Beans with citrusy maple mustard glaze smokes on a gas grill for added deliciousness. Classy enough for a holiday green bean side-dish and yummy enough for a summer backyard grilling party this year-round side dish is so in demand you can serve it as an appetizer! It’s that scrumptious!

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Smoky Maple Bacon Green Beans!

Do you want to make the very best green beans ever? You have come to the right place! Smoky Maple Bacon Green Beans just might become your go to green bean recipe year round! I know it has for me because I can do a lot of the prep 1-2 days ahead of time. That benefit really helps me out at Thanksgiving! Also, the recipe can be changed up a bit if you want! Add a shot of whiskey to the glaze or at Christmas I add dried cranberries. Orange zest is delicious too!

WHAT SMOKING CHIPS ARE BEST FOR GREEN BEANS

Green Beans love an earthy distinct smoke so I suggest pecan, apple, or maple smoking chips. Think of it this way, what actual fruit or nut tastes delicious with green beans. The genius light goes on….”ohhh roasted pecans, sauté apples or a splash of maple syrup or how about some maple whiskey! Consequently, Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrel Smoking Chips infuse grilled green beans with a rich marked flavor that I know you will love. 

WHAT PAIRS WELL WITH MAPLE SMOKED GREEN BEANS

Because Maple Smoked Green Beans are so versatile there are a plethora of entrees you can serve with this popular year-round side dish! I will warn you, at Thanksgiving when I make this Smoky  Maple Green Beans the raving reviews sometimes outweigh the turkey! 

The grilled green beans are smoky and sweet therefore an entree that is spicy with acid is a good pairing. For example:
Grilled Lemon-Lime Salmon
Lemon Zest Rosemary Chicken
Ancho Pork with Lime Crema
Garlic Peppered Steak with Roasted Tomato-Onion Drizzle

Or choose from one of Grilling Grandma Western BBQ Smoked entrees:
Smoked Rotisserie Chicken on a Gas Grill
Cherry Smoked Duck Breasts
Cherry Smoked Pork Loin

This recipe is extremely forgiving and is pretty much FOOLPROOF! Hence you can smoke it for 10 minutes or accidentally forget about it and smoke it for 20! Even though the texture will be different the flavor of the smoky roasted-extreme green beans is addicting! 

WHAT VARIETY OF GREEN BEAN IS TASTIEST FOR MAPLE BACON GREEN BEANS

For the most part the consistency of flavor and texture of the longer and skinnier green bean known as Haricot Verts or French Green Beans is more flavorful. In addition, because they are harvested earlier than common green beans they are more tender. However Haricot Vert green beans do cost more. Although I am a penny pincher, I always, and I do mean always, find the texture and consistent flavor in Haricot Verts  worth the investment of a few extra pennies. In addition, bonus Haricot Verts are trimmed before packaging!

If you grow your own green beans, lucky you! There is nothing like homegrown green beans. Some of my favorite garden fresh or Farmers Market green bean varieties for the grill are snap-bush green beans, snap-pole green beans, string beans, wax beans, and bush yellow green beans.  

I always say fresh over frozen but that’s cuz I’m from California where we always have fresh green beans in the grocery stores. Please, never use canned…whew glad that was said!

CAN YOU SMOKE PEA PODS AS A SUBSTITUTE

Save you scrumptious snap peas and snow peas for eating raw or in quick stir fries. They may look similar to a green bean but do not hold up well with long smoky cooks on the grill.

DO GREEN BEANS NEED TO BE BLANCHED

Look up the topic of blanching green beans before roasting or grilling and you will see many say you don’t have to. Although I do agree that you don’t have to WhilI am Grilling Grandma and I am going to let you know why you should.

Let’s think about the waxy shell of a green bean. In short when you apply smoke to raw green beans the smoke adheres to the shell, in the beginning, forming a layer of smoke build up. Subsequently, It takes at least 15 minutes for the green bean to soften and receive the infusion of intended delicious smoke.

Meanwhile blanched green beans are placed on a grill their pores are open and ready to be filled with smoke and seasoning. Of course Grilling Grandma’s non-scientific theory is based simply on her LONG experience! In fact, I feel the same about smoking cauliflower and broccoli therefore I blanch first.

In the meantime, go ahead and test my theory and I bet you will come on board Grilling Grandma’s hypothesis on smoking and grilling vegetables! On a side note: Smoking is not grilling vegetables at a high heat or what is known as roasting. That style of cooking works due to the heat, I am talking about a lower heat where smoke is applied.

HOW TO MAKE SMOKY MAPLE BACON GREEN BEANS

ON A GAS GRILL

While it’s easiest to combine the maple mustard glaze ingredients before preparing the grill I have a tendency to whisk it up when the bacon is cooking. In addition, the glaze can be made 2 days in advance, if you need a time saver the day of the cook. In other words, make the glaze whenever you want! LoL

Prepare The Green Beans

To begin with, trim the tips off of the green beans, if needed. I buy Haricot Vert green beans, in a package, that do not require trimming. However, green beans can be trimmed and blanched before you head outside to prep the grill or I par-cook my green beans while the bacon is cooking on the grill.

Prep that Smoking Vessel

Use 2 cups of Western BBQ Smoking Chips to fill a smoker box or make a perforated foil packet. Place the smoking chip vessel over the hottest burner that is the farthest from the grill’s vent.

It’s Time for Bacon

Cut 12-ounces of bacon slices crosswise in half to make 4-inch slices. The half-slices of bacon cook through to the center quicker this way. Arrange bacon slices on a rimmed cast iron griddle or pan, and place it in the center of the grill. Turn the gas grill on to direct 375°F heat. Close the grill’s lid, and set a timer for 15 minutes, then take a peek.

Bake bacon on the grill until crispy, 20-25 minutes. By the time the bacon is crisp the smoke will have developed. Remove the crisp bacon from the grill and pat with a paper towel. Crumble bacon in large 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch pieces, and set aside. Now it’s time to add blanched green beans.

Let’s Blanch Green Beans

Meanwhile, while the bacon is cooking, prepare the green beans. Bring to a boil a large pot of water, about 4 quarts. Add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Carefully place green beans into boiling water, and cook for 3 minutes to blanch. Transfer green beans to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Strain the water from the green beans in a colander. Pat the green beans with a paper towel. The green beans are “tender crisp” at this point and are ready to be added to hot bacon fat.

Smoke It!

Finally, as soon as the bacon is done crisping, remove it from the rimmed pan. Add the prepared green beans to the bacon fat and stir to coat. Close the lid, lower the heat to 325°F, and smoke the green beans for 10 minutes. Add the maple mustard glaze, and crumbled bacon and stir to coat the green beans. Close the grill’s lid and smoke and roast green beans for 10 minutes or until desired doneness.

WHERE ARE SOME MORE SMOKY DELISH RECIPES

Here are some handy links to more smoky delicious Western BBQ recipes!
Western BBQ Premium Products recipe website
Western BBQ Instagram
Western BBQ Facebook