Classic Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans

Texas Roadhouse knows how to make vegetables taste good. Their green beans are proof that even the pickiest eaters will clean their plates. But who wants to wait for a table every time you’re craving them?

That’s why I figured out how to make these green beans at home. They’re smoky, a little sweet, and have just the right amount of bacon flavor. My kids actually ask for seconds on vegetables now, which feels like a small miracle.

The best part? You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. No special trip to the store, no fancy equipment needed. Just simple ingredients that come together to make something restaurant-worthy in your own kitchen.

What Kind of Green Beans Should I Use?

For this recipe, canned green beans are actually your best bet since that’s what Texas Roadhouse uses in their restaurants. You can use any brand of canned green beans, but make sure to drain and rinse them well to remove excess sodium and that slightly metallic canned taste. If you want to use fresh green beans instead, you’ll need to blanch them first until they’re tender, which will add some extra time to your prep. Frozen green beans can work too – just thaw them completely and pat them dry before adding them to the skillet with the bacon and onions.

Options for Substitutions

This recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps, so here are some easy substitutions you can make:

• Bacon: If you don’t have bacon, try using diced ham, turkey bacon, or even pancetta. For a lighter version, you can skip the meat entirely and add an extra tablespoon of butter for flavor.
• Canned green beans: Fresh green beans work great too! Use about 2 pounds, trim the ends, and blanch them for 3-4 minutes before adding to the recipe. They’ll have a bit more crunch than canned.
• White onion: Yellow onions or even shallots work just fine here. The flavor will be slightly different but still tasty.
• Chicken broth: Vegetable broth or beef broth can easily replace chicken broth. You could even use water with an extra pinch of salt if that’s all you have.
• Red wine vinegar: Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar will give you that same tangy kick. Start with a bit less and taste as you go.
• Fresh garlic: Garlic powder works in a pinch – use about 1 teaspoon instead of the fresh minced garlic.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making these green beans is rushing the bacon cooking process – you want to cook it slowly over medium heat until it’s crispy and renders plenty of fat, which becomes the flavorful base for the entire dish.

Don’t drain all that bacon grease either, as leaving about 2-3 tablespoons in the pan gives your green beans that rich, smoky flavor that makes them taste just like the restaurant version.

Another common error is adding the garlic too early with the onions, which can cause it to burn and turn bitter – wait until the onions are softened before stirring in the garlic for just 30 seconds.

Finally, resist the urge to overcook the green beans once you add them to the pan, as they’re already tender from the can and just need to heat through and absorb the flavors for about 5-7 minutes.

What to Serve With Green Beans?

These bacon-loaded green beans are perfect alongside classic comfort foods like grilled steak, roasted chicken, or barbecue ribs – they really complement any hearty main dish. Since they’ve got that smoky bacon flavor going on, they pair beautifully with mashed potatoes and cornbread for a true Southern-style meal. I love serving them at cookouts with pulled pork sandwiches or grilled burgers, where the savory beans balance out all those rich flavors. They’re also great as part of a holiday spread with ham, turkey, or prime rib when you want a side dish that’s a little more special than plain steamed vegetables.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: These green beans taste even better the next day after all those flavors have had time to meld together! Store them in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days. I actually prefer making these a day ahead because the bacon and onion flavors really soak into the beans.

Freeze: You can freeze these green beans in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Just know that the texture might be a bit softer after thawing, but the flavor will still be there. I like to portion them into family-sized containers so I can grab one for busy weeknight dinners.

Reheat: Warm them up in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also microwave them in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one. If they seem a bit dry after reheating, just add a splash of chicken broth to bring back that saucy goodness.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 400-480
• Protein: 18-22 g
• Fat: 23-28 g
• Carbohydrates: 32-38 g

Ingredients

• 6 strips bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/2 medium)
• 2 cans (16 oz each) green beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper, or to taste

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

• 6 strips bacon, chopped

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

When the pan is hot, add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring often, until the bacon is just crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir frequently to prevent the bacon from sticking or burning.

Step 2: Soften the Onions

• 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/2 medium)

Add the finely chopped white onion to the skillet with the cooked bacon.

Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, approximately 5 minutes.

Step 3: Combine Green Beans and Flavorings

• 2 cans (16 oz each) green beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper, or to taste

Add the drained and rinsed green beans, chicken broth, minced garlic, butter, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper to the skillet with the bacon and onions.

Stir well to fully incorporate all the ingredients.

I like to make sure the green beans are well coated in all the seasonings for maximum flavor.

Step 4: Simmer the Green Beans

Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid.

Simmer everything together until the green beans are tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

This step really lets all the flavors come together.

Step 5: Taste and Serve

After 10 minutes, taste the green beans and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking if needed.

When satisfied with the flavor, transfer the green beans to a serving dish or divide into individual portions and serve warm.

For a little extra depth, sometimes I add a splash more vinegar right before serving.

Classic Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans

Delicious Classic Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 12 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 37 minutes mins

Servings 4

Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 6 strips bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/2 medium)
• 2 cans (16 oz each) green beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

 

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring often, until the bacon is just crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the bacon from sticking or burning.
• Add the finely chopped white onion to the skillet with the cooked bacon. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add the drained and rinsed green beans, chicken broth, minced garlic, butter, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper to the skillet with the bacon and onions. Stir well to fully incorporate all the ingredients. I like to make sure the green beans are well coated in all the seasonings for maximum flavor.
• Reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid. Simmer everything together until the green beans are tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This step really lets all the flavors come together.
• After 10 minutes, taste the green beans and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking if needed. When satisfied with the flavor, transfer the green beans to a serving dish or divide into individual portions and serve warm. For a little extra depth, sometimes I add a splash more vinegar right before serving.