Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans are a German-inspired side dish. Canned green beans are enhanced with water chestnuts, onions and bacon and baked in a slightly sweet and tangy sauce. These can be eaten right away or prepped the night before for the perfect holiday green bean recipe.

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (1)

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Sweet and Sour Green Beans

I love these green beans with water chestnuts. End of story. Really, that’s all I need to say. They are downright scrumptious with the best flavor.

I made these for my little guy’s birthday party, and my family demolished the entire pan. Maybe it’s the bacon or the water chestnuts, or possibly the slightly sweet, slightly tangy sauce.

As the chef, I loved this Dutch bean recipe even more because it can be prepped ahead the night before. And, that’s exactly what I did. I made the entire recipe, refrigerated it. The next day, I warmed them up right before the party. That’s a major time-saver when you have many dishes to prepare. I even think these Dutch Beans with bacon tasted better the second day.

I also love that these Amish Green Beans use canned green beans instead of fresh. I’m a big fan of canned green beans; I often make this Crock Pot recipe for Christmas or Easter. I can’t wait to make these Holiday Green Beans part of our new tradition at the holidays.

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2)
Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (3)

Make Ahead Pennsylvania Dutch Green Bean Recipe

Who are the Pennsylvania Dutch?

This includes a large population of German Americans who immigrated to America over 200 years ago. And this recipe definitely has a German feel and flavor to it. My sister even commented that these reminded of something served at her favorite German restaurant.

This particular Make Ahead Green Bean Recipe comes from my Louisiana cookbook. Somehow, a German recipe ended up in Louisiana, and then landed in the hands of this particular Hoosier. I love how food travels and evolves from person to person, place to place.

Ingredient List

  • Canned Green Beans, (save broth from the can)
  • Cornstarch
  • Dry Mustard
  • Brown Sugar
  • Salt
  • Bacon
  • Small Onions, diced
  • Water Chestnuts
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How to Make Dutch Beans with Bacon

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Drain green beans, reserving the 2 cups of liquid.
  2. In a bowl, blend bean juice, cornstarch, salt, dry mustard, brown sugar and vinegar until smooth; set aside.
  3. Cook bacon until almost crisp over medium heat: remove bacon bits from the skillet onto paper towel, leaving the grease.
  4. Add onions and water chestnuts to bacon drippings; cooking until lightly browned.
  5. Pour the green bean juice mixture into the skillet with the onions and water chestnuts; cook, stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens.
  6. Add green beans and stir.
  7. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish; sprinkle with bacon crumbles. Serve immediately or refrigerate overnight or until ready to serve.
  8. If prepping ahead, bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until warmed through and bubbly, approximately 30 minutes.

For the full instructions for Pennsylvania Dutch Beans with Bacon, scroll to the bottom of this post.

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Recipe FAQs

  • Be sure to reserve the juices when draining the canned green beans. This recipe calls for 2 cups of juices.
  • The first step in the recipe involves making a slurry. The purpose of a slurry is to thicken a sauce usually using cornstarch or some other thickening agent.
  • Love water chestnuts? Try adding an extra can to this Dutch bean recipe.
  • These are great alternatives to green been casserole.
  • To make this a make ahead green bean recipe, make the recipe and refrigerate until ready to eat. Warm the pan of green beans in a 350 degree F oven until bubbly. (The taste is even better the second day.)
  • The combination of brown sugar and vinegar gives these green beans with water chestnuts a German flavor profile.
Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (7)

Recipe Variations

  • Red wine vinegar works too instead of regular vinegar. I’ve also subbed in white wine vinegar. and apple cider vinegar.
  • Potatoes would be a great addition.
  • Substitute bacon for leftover ham, or add a ham hock.
  • Water chestnuts could be omitted.
  • Sub in a squirt of yellow mustard for dry mustard, if needed.

More Holiday Dinner Recipes

Crock Pot Creamed Corn

Old Fashioned Cabbage Casserole

Grandma’s Deviled Eggs

Sweet Corn Casserole

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday.

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (14)

Print Recipe

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans are a German-inspired side dish. Canned green beans are enhanced with water chestnuts, onions and bacon and baked in a slightly sweet and tangy sauce. These can be eaten right away or prepped the night before for the perfect holiday green bean recipe.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Casserole, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dutch beans, dutch green beans, dutch green beans with bacon, green beans with water chestnuts, holiday green beans, make ahead green beans, pennsylvania dutch green beans

Servings: 16 people

Calories: 117kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 4 cans green beans (16 ounce cans)
  • 8 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 4 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons white vinegar
  • 12 slices bacon, cut into pieces
  • 2 small onions, diced
  • 8 ounces water chestnuts, drained

Instructions

  • Drain green beans, reserving 2 cups of the liquid. Add cornstarch, salt, dry mustard, brown sugar and vinegar to the juice, whisking until a slurry is formed.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (15)

  • Fry bacon pieces in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon but leave the grease in the pan.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (16)

  • Add diced onions and water chestnuts to bacon grease, sauteing until lightly browned.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (17)

  • Pour in the slurry mixture, stirring constantly until the mixture boils.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (18)

  • Stir in the beans.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (19)

  • Pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle top with bacon pieces.

  • Eat immediately or refrigerate overnight until ready to serve.

  • If prepping ahead, remove lid and cook in a preheated 350 degree F oven until warmed through, approximately 25 minutes.

    Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (20)

Notes

  • Be sure to reserve the juices when draining the canned green beans. This recipe calls for 2 cups of juices.
  • The first step in the recipe involves making a slurry. The purpose of a slurry is to thicken a sauce usually using cornstarch or some other thickening agent.
  • Love water chestnuts? Try adding an extra can to this Dutch bean recipe.
  • To make this a make ahead green bean recipe, make the recipe and refrigerate until ready to eat. Warm the pan of green beans in a 350 degree F oven until bubbly. (The taste is even better the second day.)
  • The combination of brown sugar and vinegar gives these green beans with water chestnuts a German flavor profile.
  • Looking for a Crock Pot Green Bean recipe? We’ve got one of those too!

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 406mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 458IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (21)

Pennsylvania Dutch Green Beans Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat too many green beans? ›

Green beans contain phytic acid that can bind with certain minerals such as iron and prevent them from being absorbed. Those who have a mineral deficiency should consult a doctor before consuming additional green beans. Apart from this, green beans are good for you and very healthy.

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

Green beans from a can have already been cooked to death right in the can and harbor plenty of sodium that could make your casserole too salty. Frozen French-cut green beans are a better option. They hold their texture better than canned, and you can cook them straight from their frozen state.

How do you can green beans the old fashioned way? ›

directions
  1. Pack beans loosely in sterilized jars, leaving an inch of headroom.
  2. Bring remaining ingredients to a boil in a large pot.
  3. Pour over beans, to within 1/2 inch of the top. ...
  4. Process in hot water bath for 30 minutes.
  5. Can be served heated in the liquid from the jar or drained and rinsed, then heated.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

What happens when you cook green beans with baking soda? ›

Because baking soda lessens the acidity of the cooking water, it also slows down the chlorophyll dulling process, thereby keeping the veggies greener for longer.

When should you not eat green beans? ›

Always discard any that smell foul or that are very wet and slimy. If your beans have a few brown spots, they are OK to consume. Just cut off the brown areas before cooking and eating.

Do green beans have a laxative effect? ›

Beans contain a fibre-like starch that can increase your stool's transit time in the colon. Aside from its mild laxative effect, they also help balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut. A cup of beans may provide more fibre than a lot of leafy greens.

What do green beans do to your body? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

Why is my green bean casserole bland? ›

The Casserole Is Bland

Another one of the most common green bean casserole mistakes is to choose a recipe that's a bit too simple, which can result in a bland dish.

What are French style green beans? ›

French green beans (also called Haricots Verts) are slightly longer and skinnier than regular green beans and may be a little bit more expensive. They are harvested earlier then regular green beans, so they are thought to be more tender and more flavorful.

Why do Americans eat green bean casserole? ›

How It Became a Holiday Staple. Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook green beans? ›

To make the salad, blanch the beans by plunging them in boiling salted water for 1½ minutes until their rawness has been removed but they are still crunchy. Refresh immediately in cold water, then remove and put onto kitchen paper to absorb the moisture.

What is water bathing? ›

What Is Water Bath Canning? Water bath canning is a method of food preservation for acidic foods that uses pressure, created by boiling water, to create an environment within glass jars which prevents harmful bacteria from growing on the food.

How do you cook over mature green beans? ›

“For a side dish, boiling them for 20-30 min. until fork tender in a broth with added ingredients such as onions, garlic, peppers, and other seasonings is a common method of preparing them down south. They can also be baked, added to soups and stews, etc.

What adds flavor to green beans? ›

Soy sauce is one of the easiest answers to how to flavor green beans. You can throw in some of this soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, ginger, and garlic and pan fry until glassy and green and you may never want to eat green beans any other way again.

Do fresh green beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Should I Soak Green Beans Before Cooking? Fresh green beans do not need to be soaked. To help tenderize the beans, blanch them in a large pot of salted water.

What is the difference between French style green beans and regular green beans? ›

French green beans (also called Haricots Verts) are slightly longer and skinnier than regular green beans and may be a little bit more expensive. They are harvested earlier then regular green beans, so they are thought to be more tender and more flavorful.

What is the difference between green beans and Italian green beans? ›

What is the difference between regular and Italian beans? In terms of varieties, string beans or regular beans are long and rounded in shape. Italian, or Romano, are flat and wide with more of a nutty flavor.

References

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