Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans: Your Secret to a Beloved Restaurant Side Dish at Home

Craving that irresistibly savory, slightly sweet, and perfectly tender side dish from Texas Roadhouse? Look no further! This copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans recipe captures the authentic flavor and comforting texture of the original, bringing your favorite restaurant experience right to your kitchen table. Combining humble green beans with crispy bacon and tender sautéed onions, this dish is far more than just a simple vegetable side. It’s an explosion of flavor that will transform your perception of green beans forever, proving that sometimes, the best recipes are the simplest ones. Prepare to impress your family and friends with this surprisingly easy, incredibly delicious recipe that’s perfect for any occasion.

A large cast iron skillet brimming with vibrant Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans, generously mixed with crispy bacon pieces and caramelized onions, ready to be served.

Why This Copycat Recipe Is a Must-Try

**Unforgettable Flavor Profile:** These aren’t your typical bland green beans. Texas Roadhouse green beans are renowned for their complex flavor: **savory from the bacon and broth, subtly tangy from red wine vinegar, and just a touch of sweetness to balance everything out.** Each bite offers a delightful medley that is truly addictive. If you’re already a fan of the iconic restaurant version, you’ll be amazed at how accurately this at-home copycat replicates that beloved taste and texture. It’s a culinary experience that elevates a simple vegetable to star status.
**Remarkably Easy One-Skillet Preparation:** Despite their sophisticated taste, these delicious green beans are **exceptionally easy to prepare.** The entire cooking process, from crisping the bacon to simmering the beans, takes place in a single skillet. You’ll start by rendering chopped bacon until perfectly crisp, then sauté diced white onion in the flavorful bacon fat. Next, canned green beans are introduced to the skillet along with chicken broth, minced garlic, butter, red wine vinegar, a touch of sugar, salt, and pepper. Everything simmers together until the beans are tender and infused with all the rich flavors. This straightforward method means minimal cleanup and maximum enjoyment.
**Incredibly Versatile for Any Meal:** These delightful green beans are the perfect accompaniment to virtually any meal. They shine as a comforting side dish for **everyday weeknight dinners**, pairing wonderfully with classics like baked ribs, grilled chicken, meatloaf, or even lighter options like flaky salmon. Beyond daily meals, their rich flavor and impressive presentation make them an ideal choice for **holiday feasts and special occasions**. Imagine them alongside a succulent bacon-wrapped turkey breast for Thanksgiving, or as an elegant accompaniment to a perfectly cooked filet mignon. They offer a refreshing and equally delicious alternative to traditional green bean casserole, ensuring your holiday spread is both familiar and exciting.

Expert Chef’s Tips for Perfection

**Embrace Canned Green Beans for Authenticity:** To truly replicate the distinct taste and texture of Texas Roadhouse’s signature side, **we intentionally use canned green beans.** While fresh or frozen green beans are delicious in their own right, canned varieties offer a specific tenderness and slightly softer texture that is key to achieving that authentic restaurant-style experience. The canning process breaks down the cell walls of the beans, making them incredibly tender and allowing them to absorb all the savory flavors of the bacon fat, broth, and seasonings more effectively. Before adding them to your skillet, remember to drain all the liquid from the cans thoroughly. Giving them a quick rinse under cold water is also a smart step to remove any excess sodium from the canning process, giving you better control over the final seasoning.
**Tailor to Your Dietary Needs – Easily Adaptable:** This recipe is remarkably flexible and can be adjusted to suit various dietary preferences.
- **Dairy-Free Option:** It’s incredibly simple to make this dish dairy-free. Just skip the butter entirely or replace it with an equal amount of your favorite cooking oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil, or a plant-based butter alternative. The rich flavor from the bacon fat ensures you won’t miss the dairy.
- **Keto-Friendly Adjustments:** For those following a ketogenic diet, this recipe is already largely low-carb. The only modification needed is to substitute the granulated sugar. Sweeteners like monk fruit, erythritol, or Swerve (granular type) work perfectly as a 1:1 replacement, providing that essential touch of sweetness without impacting your carb count. You can also choose to omit the sweetener entirely if you prefer a less sweet profile, as the other ingredients will still provide ample flavor.
- **Low Sodium Considerations:** If you are monitoring your sodium intake, opt for low-sodium chicken broth. Additionally, taste the green beans before adding the specified ½ teaspoon of salt. The bacon and broth already contribute sodium, so you might find you need less, or even no additional salt, depending on your preference.
**Achieving Perfectly Crispy Bacon:** Start with a cold skillet and heat it gradually over medium-high heat. This allows the bacon fat to render slowly, resulting in crispier bacon. Stir the chopped bacon frequently to ensure even cooking and prevent it from sticking or burning. Once the bacon is golden brown and crisp, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the skillet, leaving the rendered fat behind. This flavorful bacon fat will be the foundation for the rest of your dish.
**Sautéing Onions and Garlic to Perfection:** Don’t rush this step! Sautéing the diced white onion in the bacon fat until it’s soft and translucent (about 5 minutes) develops a foundational sweetness and aroma that is crucial to the dish’s overall flavor. Add the minced garlic towards the end of the onion sauté, cooking it for just 1 minute until fragrant. This prevents the garlic from burning, which can turn its flavor bitter.
**Balancing Sweet and Tangy:** The combination of granulated sugar and red wine vinegar is what gives Texas Roadhouse green beans their distinctive sweet and tangy kick. Start with the recommended amounts, but don’t hesitate to adjust to your personal preference. If you like a little more tang, add another splash of vinegar. For a sweeter profile, a pinch more sugar can be added. Taste and adjust before serving.

Close-up of savory Texas Roadhouse green beans, cooked with bacon and onions, served warm in a cast iron skillet.

Explore More Delicious Side Dish Recipes

If you’re a fan of flavorful side dishes that complement any main course, then you’ll love exploring these other fantastic recipes from our collection. From hearty potatoes to vibrant vegetables, there’s something for everyone:

Southern Fried Potatoes: A classic comfort food, perfectly crispy and tender.
Creamy Scalloped Sweet Potatoes: A decadent and sweet alternative, ideal for holiday gatherings.
Roasted Air Fryer Carrots: Quick, easy, and deliciously caramelized carrots.
Italian Rice: A simple yet flavorful rice dish that pairs well with many mains.
Sous Vide Asparagus: Perfectly cooked asparagus with vibrant color and crisp-tender texture.
Simple French Green Lentils Recipe: A healthy and earthy side, packed with protein.
Instant Pot Cornbread: Effortless and moist cornbread, a Southern staple.
Mom’s Cheesy Potato Casserole: The ultimate cheesy, comforting potato dish for any potluck or family dinner.
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes: Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and incredibly easy.
Sweet Potato Cornbread with Cinnamon Honey Butter: A unique and flavorful cornbread with a delightful sweet twist.
Gluten Free Onion Rings: Crispy, golden onion rings that everyone can enjoy.
Cajun Fries: Spicy and savory fries, perfect for a kick of flavor.
Roasted Potato Salad: A warm and herbaceous take on classic potato salad.

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4.98 from 43 votes

Texas Roadhouse Green Beans

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Unlock the secret to the incredibly flavorful Texas Roadhouse green beans right in your own kitchen! This at-home copycat recipe delivers the signature savory, sweet, and tangy taste with tender green beans and crispy bacon, making it a perfect restaurant-quality side dish for any meal.

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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6 servings

Ingredients

▢ 6 slices bacon chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
▢ ½ cup diced white onion approximately half of 1 medium onion, finely diced for best flavor
▢ 2 16-ounce cans green beans thoroughly drained and rinsed
▢ ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for a non-meat option
▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic approximately 3 large cloves, fresh is best!
▢ 1 tablespoon butter can substitute with oil for dairy-free
▢ 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar for that essential tang
▢ 1 teaspoon granulated sugar see Notes for keto option
▢ ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste, adjust for broth type
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper more or less to taste, adds depth

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Equipment

Large skillet with a tightly fitting lid, preferably cast iron for even heat distribution and flavor development
large wooden spoon or spatula for stirring and scraping the delicious fond from the pan

Instructions

Begin by heating a large, sturdy skillet (cast iron works beautifully) over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the 6 slices of chopped bacon. Cook the bacon, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even crisping, for approximately 5 to 6 minutes until it reaches a beautiful crispy, golden-brown state. Remove the cooked bacon bits from the skillet using a slotted spoon, leaving behind the rendered bacon fat. Set the crispy bacon aside for later.
With the bacon fat still in the skillet, add the ½ cup of diced white onion. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until it has softened significantly and become translucent. This step helps build a sweet aromatic base for your green beans.
Now, add the main components to the skillet: the 2 16-ounce cans of green beans (which you’ve already drained and rinsed), ½ cup of low-sodium chicken broth, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of butter (or your dairy-free alternative), 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper. Stir all these ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined and the green beans are evenly coated in the flavorful mixture.
Once all ingredients are fully incorporated, reduce the heat under the skillet to low. Cover the skillet with its lid to trap the steam and flavors, then allow the green beans to simmer gently. Continue cooking for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating and prevent any sticking. This simmering period allows the green beans to become wonderfully tender and absorb all the savory, tangy, and sweet notes from the broth and seasonings.
After the 10-minute simmering time, remove the lid and taste the green beans. This is your chance to adjust the seasoning to perfection. Add additional salt and/or pepper as needed to suit your personal preference. When you are completely satisfied with the flavor profile, transfer the flavorful green beans to a beautiful serving dish, or divide them directly into individual portions. Serve warm, topped with the reserved crispy bacon bits, and enjoy your homemade Texas Roadhouse experience!

Notes

**Green Beans – The Authentic Choice:** As mentioned in our Chef’s Tips, Texas Roadhouse famously uses canned green beans for their distinctively soft, tender texture that readily absorbs flavors. We follow this tradition for an authentic copycat experience. If you prefer to use fresh or frozen green beans, you certainly can, but be aware that the cooking time and final texture will differ. Fresh beans will require blanching or a longer simmering period, and frozen beans should be thawed and drained before adding. The flavor profile will still be delicious but will have a slightly different character than the restaurant original.
**Salt – Taste Before You Add:** The amount of salt needed can vary significantly depending on your choice of broth and bacon. If you opt for regular (not low-sodium) chicken broth, or if your bacon is particularly salty, you may find that you need less, or even no additional, ½ teaspoon salt. Always taste the green beans before adding more salt, ensuring you achieve the perfect balance without over-seasoning.
**Make it Keto/Low-Carb:** To make this recipe perfectly suitable for a ketogenic or low-carb diet, simply replace the granulated sugar with a sugar substitute such as granular Swerve, erythritol, or monk fruit sweetener. These substitutes offer the desired sweetness without adding carbohydrates. Alternatively, you can omit the sweetener entirely if you prefer a less sweet profile, as the tang from the vinegar and savory notes from the bacon and broth are prominent enough to carry the dish.
**Storage and Reheating:** Leftover Texas Roadhouse green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm them in a skillet over medium-low heat, or in the microwave, until heated through. Add a splash of chicken broth if they seem a little dry during reheating to restore moisture and flavor.
**Spice It Up!** For those who enjoy a little heat, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings. This will introduce a subtle warmth that complements the savory and tangy notes beautifully.

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used. For precise dietary information, it is recommended to calculate based on the specific products you use.

To accurately determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Once the recipe is complete, weigh the entire finished dish (excluding the weight of the container). Then, divide the total weight by your desired number of servings to find the precise weight of a single portion.