The Ingredient Addition For A Rich, Tangy Upgrade To Canned Green Beans

Canned green beans get a bad reputation — and fair enough, straight from the can they can be a little flat or one-note. But with one simple pantry or fridge staple, you can transform them into a dish that might just steal the show. Think about adding barbecue sauce to your canned green beans to transform them into a side dish that's smoky, tangy, and eminently satisfying. The pairing works because barbecue sauce brings a lot to the table that a plain can of beans is missing: depth, sweetness, acidity, and body. Think of it as a riff on baked beans — that sweet-smoky flavor profile everyone loves — but built around a green veggie instead. The result is something you'd want to bring to impress at the next get together — not just a quick side poured from a can and heated on the stove.

To make your barbecue sauce green beans, drain the canning liquid to get rid of the tinned taste, and it may not be a bad idea to rinse them with water to remove any excess sodium flavor. For a quick and easy side, you can cook them on the stovetop and simply add a couple dollops of your favorite grocery store barbecue sauce until nice and hot. But with a little extra work, you can make these green beans really shine. And it's definitely one of the canned food combinations you'll wish you knew about sooner.

While the stovetop is the fastest method to heat barbecue green beans, they should still simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, to allow the sauce to set in and cling to the beans. If you have time, and don't want to keep an eye on the process, you can let them get a full caramelization in a slow cooker for four to five hours, so the beans really take on the flavor. In the oven, about 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit should do it, although they may not pick up quite as much flavor.

If you want to expand the taste, bacon is a classic addition here — cook it first, then use the rendered fat to sauté diced onions before adding the sauce and beans. A splash of Worcestershire sauce and pinch of brown sugar rounds out the flavor nicely. Let the sauce cook down until it's thick and coating the beans. And if you're someone that tends to hold onto leftover fast food chain sauces, why not throw in a packet or two from your favorite locale? While barbecue sauce can be the perfect addition to canned beans, you can spread your wings a little and season them with whatever you might have in the pantry. A good rinse, a little extra flavor, and those plain canned beans can become a whole new perfect side for dinner.