Cracker Barrel-Style Green Beans

This version swaps seed oils and refined sugars with nutritious avocado oil and pure maple syrup for a guilt-free classic.

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb organic fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
  • 3 slices uncured, nitrate-free bacon, chopped (or 1/4 cup diced pancetta)
  • 1 tbsp grass-fed butter
  • 1/4 organic yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves organic garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup organic chicken broth or filtered water
  • 1 tsp Grade A maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

Clean swaps

How we upgrade the restaurant version with better ingredients.

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Shop the clean pantry

Reorder the shelf-stable staples for this recipe.

What you'll need

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until the fat renders and the pieces begin to crisp.
  2. Add the butter and diced onion and cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the green beans, broth, maple syrup, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine.
  5. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the beans are fully tender — soft, not crisp, is the Cracker Barrel texture.
  6. Uncover and cook a few minutes more to reduce the remaining liquid, then serve warm.

FAQ

Can I use olive oil instead of avocado oil?

While olive oil is a great choice, avocado oil has a higher smoke point and can provide a subtler flavor that works well with green beans.

What if I don't have maple syrup?

You can use honey or coconut nectar as a substitute to maintain natural sweetness without added sugars.

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