Brown Sugar Green Beans [No Bacon]

Jump to:

• Perfectly Sweet and Savory Vegan Crack Green Beans
• The Ingredients
• Add-ins & Recipe Variations
• How to Make Vegan Brown Sugar Green Beans?
• FAQs
• Top Recipe Tips and Notes
• Storage Recommendations
• More Vegan Side Dishes
• Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
• Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
• Cold Noodle Salad
• Brown Sugar Green Beans [No Bacon]

Perfectly Sweet and Savory Vegan Crack Green Beans

If you love vegan candied yams with marshmallows, you clearly appreciate the combination of sweet and savory as part of your dinner and holiday offerings. And while most people use green beans for dairy-free green bean casserole (which is also delicious, I admit!), brown sugar green beans (aka sweet green beans) are my new favorite way of enjoying this humble vegetable!

With fresh, frozen, or canned green beans, you can enjoy this Southern-inspired, bacon-free vegan recipe of green beans with brown sugar with very little prep time or effort.

It's perfect for serving as a crowd-pleasing side dish and at potlucks, parties, holidays, or any family dinner! Enjoy it alongside other family favorites, like vegan stuffing (or cauliflower stuffing) and garlic-herb oven-roasted vegetables. 

The Ingredients

Minimal ingredients enhance the flavor of the green beans in this sweet green bean recipe.

You could also use a brown sugar alternative. However, note that the level of sweetness may vary, so adjust accordingly. Likewise, the sauce won't thicken in the same way regular sugar does.

Add-ins & Recipe Variations

There are several ways to adapt this Thanksgiving green beans recipe. Here are my top options.

• Onion: You can add thinly sliced shallots/sweet onions or use some onion powder.
• Vegan bacon: To mimic traditional brown sugar green beans and bacon, cook and chop up several pieces of your favorite vegan bacon to stir into the sweet green beans when serving.
• Ginger: Use alongside or replace the garlic with a small amount of ginger for added spiciness.
• Red pepper flakes: Enjoy sweet and spicy green beans with a pinch of chili flakes or some garlic chili sauce.

How to Make Vegan Brown Sugar Green Beans?

This vegan sweet green beans recipe comes together in no time, with minimal hands-on prep and basic, inexpensive pantry staples.

Alternatively, you could boil the green beans for a similar amount of time until bright green and tender-crisp.

Step 3: Finally, add the walnuts and green beans and toss everything until the green beans are evenly coated. Enjoy immediately!

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• Adjust the green bean texture: Adjust the cooking time of the beans based on if you'd like tender or tender-crisp green beans. This will also change based on whether you use frozen or fresh green beans.
• Chop to size: You can leave the green beans whole or cut them down into bite-sized pieces for these brown sugar green beans.
• Adjust the sweetness: Increase or decrease the amount to taste. Also, note that if you use a sugar substitute, the level or 'sweetness' will change, so adjust accordingly.
• For more caramelized green beans: Increase the time you cook the green beans in the brown sugar glaze (over low temperature). The process can take up to 40 minutes for traditional caramelized green beans, but cook it to your desired level. Just a few additional minutes is great.

Storage Recommendations

Store: Allow the brown sugar green beans to cool and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can store leftovers in a freezer-safe container or Ziplock/Stasher bag/s for 3-4 months. Upon thawing, the beans will be mushier but taste delicious.

Reheat: The leftovers will reheat well in a microwave (in 20-30 second increments) or a skillet (over low heat).