This easy and tasty Green Beans for a Crowd recipe gets its flavor from cooking them in bacon, onions, and apple cider vinegar.
Green beans make a healthy, easy side dish for large gatherings But hosting an event for 30 people can be tricky when figuring out quantities So how many cans of green beans do you need?
With some simple math and a few tips, you can determine the right amount of canned green beans for your group.
Figuring Out Servings When Cooking for a Crowd
When cooking for 30 people the typical serving size for green beans is around 1/2 cup per person.
So for a group of 30:
- 30 people x 1/2 cup per serving = 15 cups total
Since most standard cans contain approximately 3 cups of green beans, you’ll need:
- 15 cups total / 3 cups per can = 5 cans
Therefore, the minimum number of cans needed to serve 30 people is 5.
However, it’s always better to have extra rather than not enough food. I recommend purchasing at least 6-7 cans to be safe.
Keep in mind serving sizes may vary based on the appetites of your guests. If you want to offer larger portions, adjust the number of cans accordingly.
Buying the Right Amount Based on Can Sizes
Cans of green beans come in a few different sizes:
- 14.5 oz (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 15 oz (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 28 oz (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 29 oz (about 3 1/2 cups)
For ease, let’s assume the cans are 28 oz, containing 3 1/2 cups each.
- You need about 15 cups of beans total.
- Each 28 oz can has 3 1/2 cups.
- So 15 cups divided by 3 1/2 cups per can equals about 4 cans.
For 28 oz cans, buy 5-6 cans to safely feed 30 people. Go with more if you want larger portions.
Adjust as needed if using different can sizes, keeping the servings math in mind.
Purchasing Extra Cans for Leftovers or Picky Eaters
When cooking for groups, it’s smart to buy a couple extra cans even if your math indicates you need less. Here are some good reasons to purchase additional cans:
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Leftovers: Extra canned beans can be kept and reheated for another meal.
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Hearty appetites: Some guests may opt for larger servings, so more is better.
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Picky eaters: If some people avoid green beans, you don’t want to run short on the side dishes.
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Unopened cans keep well: Any unopened leftover cans can be stored in your pantry.
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Cheap insurance: Green beans are an inexpensive item, so a couple extra cans is good insurance.
Consider purchasing 7-8 cans for a group of 30 to be safe. Worst case, you have leftovers or non-perishable items for your pantry.
Tips for Preparing Canned Green Beans for a Crowd
Once you’ve purchased the canned beans, follow these tips for prepping and serving them to a large group:
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Drain and rinse the beans to remove excess sodium and liquid.
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Place beans in a large pot or slow cooker to heat through.
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Season with spices, herbs, garlic, or bacon as desired.
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Transfer heated beans to a serving bowl or platter for easy access.
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Consider keeping some beans warm in a slow cooker or chafing dish on a buffet table.
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Provide tongs, ladles, or spoons for easy self-serving.
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Refrigerate and quickly reheat any leftovers to prevent spoilage.
With the right calculations and a few extra cans, you’ll have plenty of delicious green beans for your guests. Adjust the quantities based on your specific needs, and enjoy the event!
Frequently Asked Questions About Canned Green Beans for Crowds:
How should I store and reheat any leftover canned green beans?
Place any leftover green beans in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags. Refrigerate for 3-5 days. To reheat, put them in a microwave-safe dish, add a bit of water, cover, and microwave until hot, 1-2 minutes. You can also reheat in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.
Can I prepare the green beans ahead of time?
Yes, you can drain, rinse, and heat the canned beans 1-2 days in advance. Allow to cool completely before refrigerating in airtight containers. When ready to serve, reheat gently until hot.
What are some good spices to add flavor to canned beans?
Try garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Add a pinch while heating and adjust seasonings to taste.
Should I make other sides along with the green beans?
It’s smart to offer 2-3 side dishes with the main course. Some good options are buttered corn, coleslaw, potato salad, roasted vegetables, or dinner rolls.
Can I use fresh or frozen green beans instead of canned?
Yes, you can substitute fresh or frozen green beans. Just ensure you purchase enough pounds and adjust cook times accordingly.
What if I need to accommodate gluten free or vegetarian guests?
Check labels to see canned bean ingredients. Choose low-sodium beans to suit dietary needs. Make sure other sides are inclusive of guest preferences as well.
How can I make the beans more festive or visually appealing?
Garnish with crispy fried onions, chopped parsley or cilantro, crumbled bacon, shaved almonds, lemon juice, or grated parmesan cheese. Use contrasting colors for a more vibrant look.
What are good main dishes to pair with the green beans?
Roasted chicken or turkey, glazed ham, meatloaf, fried chicken, burgers, ribs, salmon, pork chops, and pot roasts all pair nicely.
Should Bacon Be Cooked Before Adding to Green Beans?
The bacon should be fried and the last item added to the green beans.
Reserve the bacon drippings in the skillet and use them soften onions and stir in apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar and bacon grease add a lot of flavor to the beans as they cook, making them really tasty.
Recipe For Green Beans in a Roaster
For Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, a BBQ, or a big family get-together, roasting green beans is a quick and cheap way to make a vegetable side dish.
It only takes twenty minutes to make this green bean recipe for a lot of people. The roaster does the work, making the oven free for a big holiday party or get-together.
This recipe for large groups is easy to make in a roaster, while our bacon-onion green beans recipe is great for a small group.
To taste more like these Smoked Green Beans with Bacon add a few light dashes of liquid smoke.
Once cooked the beans will turn from bright green to a deeper, darker green color. Even in our own home we notice variation in our preference for how tender green beans should be.
We love this Easy Macaroni Salad for a Crowd recipe or this Pasta Salad for a Crowd recipe when we want to make a lot of a cold side dish.
- Before serving at a big event, make sure you test this recipe in your own roaster to see how it works with different brands and sizes.
- After the first hour, stir it every 30 minutes to keep it from burning and to make sure it’s done.
- There are many things that can change the cooking time, such as the amount of liquid, the type of beans, the quantity, and so on.
- If you need to move the roaster, make sure you have two people with you so that one person doesn’t have to handle the hot, heavy machine by themselves.
- It’s best to make beans and bacon from scratch the day you want to serve them. Toss the beans with the bacon grease, onions, and vinegar when the bacon grease is still warm and liquid.
- If you have extra or leftover green beans, put them in a freezer container or a self-sealing freezer bag. They freeze and reheat well.
- I tried putting pre-cooked bacon bits on green beans, and the quality is much worse than when I fried bacon and used the drippings.
- Even though they’ve been cooking for two hours, the beans are still a bit chewy.
- This recipe doesn’t call for putting the beans in water all the way through, because that would wash off some of the seasoning on top.
- When cooking with chunks of red potatoes, baby potatoes, and ham hocks, green beans can be put in water.
- For a stronger smoke flavor, you can add 2 to 3 drops of liquid smoke to the pan while the onions are cooking.
- You can add more chopped bacon for flavor while serving if you want to.
It’s possible to make a lot of our Arkansas Green Beans with soy sauce, brown sugar, butter, and bacon.