BBQ side dishes are essential and these green beans pair perfectly with so many smoker recipes like my smoked whole chicken, smoked brisket, and this smoked meatloaf! Smoked low and slow with hickory wood and bacon, these green beans and bacon have become a family favorite!
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There are a plethora of green beans recipes, like these grilled green beans out there but did you know that you can smoke them in a smoker? It's a convenient and super flavorful way to enjoy this healthy side dish. This vegetable is great on its own, but green beans with bacon is delicious. When you smoke instead of cooking green beans, the flavor is over the top!
Green beans have a wonderful taste when smoked and you can really taste the hickory and the bacon. I smoke a lot of different foods in my smoker and I love making side dishes in the smoker because of the convenience. I mean, you've already got the smoker going so why not make some side dishes to go with the smoked meat?
And the flavor. Smoked anything just tastes delicious. I don't know about you, but I like to avoid heating up my kitchen in the summer as much as possible so anytime I can cook an entire meal in the smoker, I do it.
Preparing The Smoker
Depending on what type of smoker you have depends on how you prepare it. Below are steps to take when preparing an electric smoker and a pellet smoker. I typically only smoke side dishes when I'm smoking a piece of meat. But you can also prepare the smoker for just a side dish or two.
If I crave the taste of smoked side dishes, I also include smoking meat with it so I can make a meal out of it! For an electric smoker, prepping the wood chunks, water pan, and cleaning the smoker takes effort so if you're going to smoke food, smoke as much as you. Plus, smoked leftovers are wonderful.
Before we jump into this recipe, there's a couple of generic things you need to know about preparing a smoker.
- Wrap the water pan - I always use a water pan when smoking food and I wrap the water pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil before I add the water. By doing this you’re saving yourself a lot of mess. Less cleanup is always better. If your smoker doesn't come with a water pan, place a disposable aluminum pan beside the meat directly on the smoker racks. Expert Tip: For this green bean recipe, I also add 1 Tablespoon of Liquid Smoke to the water. This helps contribute to the smokey flavor.
- Wood Chunks or Wood Chips? - I personally prefer using wood chunks when I smoke food because it’s been my experience that they produce more smoke for a longer period of time.
- Wood Type - For this recipe, I use hickory wood, but I've also made this fresh green bean recipe using pecan and apple wood chunks.
- Preheat the Smoker - I always preheat my smoker to 225°F before placing in the food.
Ingredients You'll Need
The ingredients you need to make these green beans with bacon are SIMPLE. You can use french cut green beans if you want but any fresh beans will work.
Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
First, cut the ends off the beans. Cut them in half and add to a colander. Rinse well and set aside.
Blanching the green beans is the next step. In a large skillet, add in the chicken broth, apple cider, salt, and pepper. Add the fresh green beans and turn up the heat. Blanch for about 3-4 minutes and then turn off the heat.
Transfer the green bean mixture to a disposable aluminum pan. Make sure you do not drain. You want all the liquid and mixture going into the pan.
From there, chop the bacon into bite size pieces. Place the bacon on top of the green beans and then once the smoker is pre-heated to 250°F, place the pan of directly onto the smoker rack. Smoke uncovered for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, pull the pan of smoked green beans with bacon out of the smoker. Stir and add in some almond slices. Serve with your favorite smoked meat and enjoy!
This green bean side dish is amazingly delicious and a huge crowd pleaser!
Expert Tips
- For these bacon green beans, you can use pork or turkey bacon. Both taste great!
- When preparing, make sure to string them before cutting them in half.
- Adding a bit of apple cider vinegar helps bring out the flavor. Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic and has a sweet and tangy taste that pairs really well with the chicken broth and the salt.
- If there are leftovers, store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Other Smoked Side Dishes
You can smoke just about anything. I love Smoked Macaroni and Cheese. Creamy and delicious, this smoked mac and cheese is smoked over hickory wood and full of flavor that will both satisfy and impress. These Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon is a southern classic and is a must for any BBQ! These Smoked Potatoes are also a huge hit!
I can’t wait to hear how this recipe turned out for you! If you’ve tried this or any other recipe of mine on the website, make sure you rate the recipe. You can also leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!
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Hickory Smoked Green Beans Recipe
Equipment
- Smoker
Ingredients
- 6 cups green beans, fresh
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6-8 slices bacon, bite size pieces
- sliced almonds, (optional)
- ¼ cup onion, diced (optional)
Instructions
- First, cut the ends off the fresh green beans. String them and then cut them in half. Add them to a colander and rinse well. Set aside.
- In a large skillet on the stove top, add in the chicken broth, apple cider, salt, and pepper.
- Add the beans, combine, and turn up the heat to medium-high.
- Blanch for 3-4 minutes and then turn off the heat.
- Transfer the mixture to a disposable aluminum pan. Make sure you do not drain. You want all the mixture going into the pan.
- Chop the bacon into bite-size pieces and place on top of the green beans. If you're opting to add the diced onion add them here.
- Place the pan into the smoker and smoke uncovered at 250°F for 3 hours.
- Remove the pan from the smoker and add sliced almonds on top. Mix to combine and then serve immediately.
Notes
- For this recipe, I add 1 Tablespoon of Liquid Smoke to the water. This helps contribute to the smokey flavor.
- For this recipe, you can use pork or turkey bacon. Both taste great!
- When preparing, make sure to string them before cutting them in half.
- Adding a bit of apple cider vinegar helps bring out the flavor. Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic and has a sweet and tangy taste that pairs really well with the chicken broth and the salt.
- If there are leftovers, store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2019, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in June 2021.
Jamie
Any idea what temp? We have an electric smoker and I would love to try these.
Amanda Mason
250°F.
Shelly
Can I smoke my green beans then freeze them?
Amanda Mason
Technically you can, yes. I do worry about the texture though after you defrost them. I've never done it so I'm not sure how they will turn out.
Sean
You mentioned onion in the ingredient list. At what point do you add onions to the mix? Thanks!
Amanda Mason
Hi Sean! Step 4 is where you add the onions. I'll update that in the recipe card. Thanks for letting me know!
Stephanie Wilson
I'm smoking a ham at 300' for three hours. Do you think I could put these beans on with it- or is 300' too hot?
Thanks!
Stephanie
Amanda Mason
the beans should be fine att 300°F.
Kshep
Can you use canned beans??
Amanda Mason
You can try, yes. Should work fine.
Regena Vick
I want to try this bean recipe today. I am smoking a chicken in my Treagar but it only takes an hour to smoke the chicken at 325 so have you smoked meat and these beans at the same time?
Amanda Mason
Hi Regena!
yes - you can smoke this the same time you smoke meat...or you can smoke them with no other meats cooking at all! They will turn out great regardless!