Texas Roadhouse Copycat Green Beans: A Must-Try Southern Side Dish for Family Dinners
If you’ve ever visited Texas Roadhouse, you know their menu is full of bold, comforting flavors—juicy steaks, warm rolls, cinnamon butter, and hearty sides that taste like home. Among these favorites, one humble side dish consistently surprises everyone with its incredible flavor: Texas Roadhouse Green Beans. Savory, smoky, slightly sweet, and perfectly tender, these green beans win over even the pickiest eaters.
Today we’re bringing that famous flavor straight to your kitchen with the ultimate Texas Roadhouse Copycat Green Beans recipe—easy, fast, and perfect for family dinners, potlucks, holiday meals, or your next backyard barbecue. If you want a side dish that tastes restaurant-quality but requires minimal effort, this is it.
⭐ Why You’ll Love These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Green Beans
These green beans are not your typical steamed vegetable. They’re:
✔ Smoky – thanks to crispy bacon
✔ Savory and flavorful – onions, garlic, and chicken broth build the perfect base
✔ Slightly sweet and tangy – brown sugar + apple cider vinegar = balanced flavor
✔ Tender but never mushy
✔ Budget-friendly and beginner-friendly
✔ A perfect match for any Southern or homestyle meal
This recipe captures EVERYTHING people love about Texas Roadhouse green beans—and makes them even better.
🥘 Recipe Snapshot
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 4
🧄 Ingredients You’ll Need
To recreate the full restaurant experience, gather the following:
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
For the Broth & Seasoning
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
These simple ingredients blend into a flavor-packed Southern side dish that tastes like it simmered all day.
🍳 How to Make Texas Roadhouse Copycat Green Beans
Follow these step-by-step instructions for perfect results every time.
1. Prepare the Green Beans and Aromatics
Trim the Beans
Rinse the green beans, remove the ends, and pat them dry. Fresh beans give the best texture, but canned beans can be used as a shortcut.
Prep Flavor Ingredients
Chop bacon into small pieces, dice the onion, and mince the garlic. These ingredients pack in serious flavor and are essential for the Texas Roadhouse taste.
2. Cook the Bacon
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy—about 7–8 minutes.
Remove the bacon and set it aside but keep the drippings in the pan. They serve as the base of the dish’s smoky richness.
3. Sauté the Onion and Garlic
To the bacon drippings, add:
- diced onion
- minced garlic
Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are soft and fragrant. This layer of aromatics deepens the flavor of the final dish.
4. Simmer the Green Beans
Add the trimmed green beans to the skillet and stir to coat them in the flavorful mixture.
Pour in:
- Chicken broth
- Brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
These ingredients strike the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy.
5. Season and Cook
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Cover the skillet and let everything simmer for 20–25 minutes on medium-low heat.
The beans should be soft but still slightly crisp—never mushy.
6. Serve with Bacon on Top
Once the green beans reach the perfect tenderness, sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon on top.
This adds:
- Texture
- Smokiness
- A burst of salty goodness in every bite
It’s the finishing touch that brings the whole dish together.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These copycat Texas Roadhouse green beans pair perfectly with:
- Grilled steak
- Barbecue ribs
- Smoked chicken
- Pan-seared pork chops
- Burgers and hot dogs
- Holiday turkey or ham
They’re versatile, comforting, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at any meal.
💡 Why This Recipe Works
This dish succeeds because it layers flavor on flavor:
Bacon drippings
Provide the smoky foundation.
Aromatics (onion + garlic)
Enhance savory richness.
Chicken broth + sugar + vinegar
Deliver the signature sweet-tangy Southern flavor profile.
Slow simmering
Allows everything to soak into the beans, creating tender, flavorful results.
This recipe is simple but thoughtful—just like true Southern cooking.
🔥 Pro Tips for the Best Texas Roadhouse Green Beans
✔ Use fresh green beans for the best texture
Canned beans work but cook them much less (about 8–10 minutes).
✔ Don’t skip the vinegar
It balances the richness and adds signature depth.
✔ Taste as you go
Adjust seasoning to your preference.
✔ Make them ahead
They reheat beautifully and often taste even better the next day.
❓ FAQs
Can I use canned green beans?
Yes! Just reduce simmer time since they’re already soft.
How long do leftovers last?
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Are these green beans spicy?
Only if you add the red pepper flakes. Adjust to taste.
⭐ Conclusion
You don’t have to visit Texas Roadhouse to enjoy their famous green beans—now you can make them at home anytime! With smoky bacon, tender green beans, and a perfectly balanced broth, this dish brings comfort, nostalgia, and Southern warmth to your dinner table.
Whether you’re serving a weeknight meal or preparing a holiday feast, this recipe transforms everyday ingredients into something extraordinary.
Save it, share it, and make it part of your family’s rotation—you’ll be asked for the recipe again and again!