Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon!! Take your side dish game up a few notches! And try adding a splash of vanilla extract into your savory dishes this holiday season! It’s amazing!
Disclosure: I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post. All opinions are my own.
I can’t believe Christmas is next week! I don’t know why but this holiday season has been a little more calm for me. And I actually got holiday cards made (I just have to mail them!) and I’m finished with my holiday shopping. How did that happen??!!!
I think I work well with having deadlines .. or giving myself deadlines. . while I am in the midst of it all, I hate it. But once I’m done and can breathe, it’s quite exhilarating!
After seeing 
When we were little, my dad would wake up early (he’s an early bird like me) and make breakfast for us. We would wake up to the smell of bacon and someone screaming (or crying) in Korean. My dad would be blasting a Korean drama from the TV. Maybe this was his way of waking us up?
Anyway, now whenever I smell bacon, I am immediately transported back to my childhood days, sitting around the table with my family, happy and going to town on some bacon.
This year, on Christmas Eve, I’m going to surprise my family with candied bacon. I don’t know what took me so dang long to make this myself. It’s so easy and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. And, you guessed it, your kitchen will smell amazing.
Candied bacon is a revelation! SO good. . and just like candy, you will want to eat a LOT. It’s so yummy! And it tastes exactly how you would imagine it to taste. Sweet, sticky, crispy, slightly salty, chewy and delicious! The neighborhood kids or dogs might come knocking on your door to get some, so just a warning.
This year, we’re having prime rib and savory cheddar cheese and chive popovers for our holiday dinner and I’m serving this with this fabulous side dish: Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon.
Have you guys ever thought to use a splash of vanilla to enhance the taste of savory dishes? You guys have to try this!! It’s amazing! My green beans never tasted so good! And I added Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla Bean Paste to my candied bacon too! OH MY, so good!!!! Took the flavor profile up like 5,000 notches!
Today, I’ve partnered with 
Wishing everyone the best holiday ever and one filled with love and lots of yummy food! Happy Holidays!!
Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon
Ingredients
For the candied bacon:
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 pound thick cut bacon
For the green beans:
- 2 pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed and blanched
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 to 3 large shallots finely diced
- 1 8 oz. package cremini mushrooms, chopped
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
For the candied bacon:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and place an over safe rack on top.
- Stir together the dark brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla bean paste, Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt and stir together one more time.
- Pour the mixture into a casserole baking dish and lay in the slices of bacon, one at a time, coating each one on both sides and then placing each slice (in a single row) on the rack to go into the oven.
- Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until cooked through and slightly crispy but not burnt. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before crumbling into smaller pieces.
For the green beans:
- Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan or skillet over medium high heat, and after a minute or two, add in the shallots and sauté for a few minutes. Add in the mushrooms and let cook until beginning to soften, for about 3 minutes.
- Add in the balsamic vinegar, vanilla extract, whole grain dijon mustard and brown sugar and let cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until just about reduced by half. Stir in the butter until combined and then, add in the blanched green beans, and cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a serving dish and top with the candied bacon. Serve immediately.
That’s so funny about the Korean TV wake up call. My dad also got up early to make everyone breakfast, and he just sang. Very. Loudly. Mainly songs from his childhood in the 30s and 40s. So it was partly comforting, and partly reallllyyy annoying, especially in those teen years.
So I’ve never had bacon (the whole pork thing doesn’t mix with the Jewish thing) and I KNOW I’m missing out. It’s a bummer. But I’m definitely going to do the second half of this recipe, mainly because I’m so intrigued by the vanilla! I need to see what that does!
Ahh I love this! I never thought to add a splash of vanilla to savory sides but as I read I thought “well that makes perfect sense!” Vanilla adds such a depth and complex note and I love NM. When I discovered them a couple years ago I never went back to regular vanilla. Their vanilla bean paste is awesome too. I’m drooling over this bacon oh my!
I don’t eat meat any more, but I am all for adding shallots and balsamic to my green beans. I could always add some candied bacon on the side for guests to add themselves though 🙂
You had me at balsamic green beans…but that bacon! I want this for breakfast! 🙂
I would have NEVER thought to add vanilla bean paste to green beans and bacon, but this sounds like a flavor BOMB! I want these for dinner tonight!
I love a hint of vanilla in savory dishes and these green beans with bacon sound wonderful! (And that holiday menu is out of sight!) Wishing you and your a merry and joyous holiday, Alice. Cheers!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!!! Wishing you and your family the same!!! xoxoxoxo
Girlfriend these are calling my name!!!! You added bacon to my fave veggie: green beans!!!
Is it weird that I am looking forward to the family pj party on Instagram?? Can’t wait! What a great idea! Also candied bacon is on my list to try. Love this side! Hope you have a great holiday!!
Ok now I want new jammies, lol! They are so cute. And yes to candied bacon! It’s so addictive and I bet it’s amazing with these incredible balsamic green beans with vanilla. I cannot live without Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean paste! That stuff is the ultimate 🙂
OMG, candied bacon is the jam! Your family is going to LOVE their morning surprise, Alice!! I am loving these green beans! I mean, I love plain green beans, so obviously I MORE than LOVE these! Green beans on culinary crack! NEED! Cheers, my friend!
I love love balsamic vinegar so I totally love this Alice!
Oh I love the idea of candied bacon! This looks so creative, Alice! What a great side dish!
Those pjs! Now I want to go buy matching pjs for me and my husband, do you think he would wear them? 🙂 And I am so in love with this candied bacon. Putting vanilla in there is brilliant! I have not really used vanilla in savory dishes but I love the idea.
I never would have thought to use vanilla in this way. You are brilliant!
Those jammies are so cute, I can’t wait to see you all sporting it 🙂 Can’t believe Christmas is next week already too – we’ve been busy prepping and thankfully are almost done! 🙂 Enjoy the holidays with your family, Alice! These green beans look amazing!!! Love the candied bacon!
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for the pajama photos! Ha ha ha! I love how you took a classic side dish and gave it a fresh facelift with the vanilla. Genius! And that bacon is REALLY calling my name!
Love those pajamas, and I also love shopping on Nordstrom.com! Can’t believe Christmas is in a week! These green beans will be perfect for the holidays! Love that you used vanilla! Have great holidays Alice!
The bacon looks so crispy so I can just imagine how tasty it must be when served with green beans. Mniam! I’m not the biggest fan of balsamic oil, but I will use coconut oil instead. Sounds like a good lunch or dinner option for two! 🙂
I’m so excited, I just recently noticed the vanilla bean paste on the grocery store shelf and couldn’t resist buying it…I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it but here you’ve come along and given me all sorts of inspiration! Love it! And this dish!! Candied bacon? Forget about it!
Alice, you’re killing me with these green beans―I’ve been smitten by them since I saw them on Instagram. The flavor profiles? Sublime. Wishing you and yours all the best of the season!
Wow! Props to whoever took those pictures I really want to pull that dish thru my phone & eat it all Ha! Thanks for the recipes & stories! Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Green beans and bacon have always been a favorite…but candied bacon? I must try!
Hey Alice! Nielsen-Massey is my go to vanilla of choice. It’s excellent!! I love your dish here especially with the candied bacon and that bit of balsamic is buono! XO
I’ve never used vanilla in savory dishes and I am going to try it out for sure. Btw, love that brand of vanilla paste.
Anything with balsamic is so so good, these look amazing Alice.
The way you’ve combined flavors here is masterful. I must try this.
Hi
How do you blanch green beans.
I cannot wait to eat this tomorrow night with our grilled beef tenderloin. It looks so amazing!
Hi Becky, please let me know how you like it! and don’t skip the candied bacon! Happy Holidays!