Tender green beans are all wrapped up with a band of crispy bacon and brushed with a sweet and savory glaze. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time you want to show off a little!
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a plate with paper towels. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Place the bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the bacon for about 12 minutes until it is soft and starting to cook through but still very pliable. Transfer the bacon to the paper towel-lined plate and let rest until cool enough to handle. Leave the oven on. (You can also cook the bacon in a pan.)
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for about 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and run them under cool water in the colander to stop the cooking. Pat them dry with a clean dishtowel.
Gather groups of 10 to 12 green beans, lining them up fairly evenly. Wrap each bundle with a strip of partially cooked bacon. Place each bundle in a baking dish large enough to hold all 12 or so bundles with an inch or so between each bundle, or use two baking dishes.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, then add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant and begins to color. Then stir in the brown sugar, orange juice. Let it come to a simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring often.
Brush the green bean and bacon bundles with the sauce. Grind some pepper over the bundles. (They can sit at room temp for a couple of hours or be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.).Bake until the bacon is crispy, about 15 minutes. Serve hot or warm.
Notes
If you want to partially cook the bacon ahead of time, you can. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. Bring it to room temperature before wrapping the green bean bundles.
Place each bundle in a baking dish large enough to hold all 12 or so bundles with an inch or so between each bundle, or use two baking dishes.