Southern Green Beans are slow-cooked string beans with onion, garlic, and crisp bacon. The end result is heavenly: scrumptious, tender, melt-in-your-mouth green beans.
These are not to be confused with northern-style green beans, which are cooked crisp and tender, sometimes with crispy bacon or just a bit of butter, garlic, salt, and pepper.
My family adores these Southern Green Beans! Boy, do I love some Southern cooking!! Southern cooking brings comfort, like fluffy slippers, to cold feet. Southern cooking is a cure-all for whatever ails you and may be the best regional cooking ever!!! These Southern Green Beans are no exception to that rule. I could quite literally eat these with every meal, perhaps even breakfast. If you have never tried these, you MUST give them a whirl.
As with most good Southern comfort food, all you need is a little time as it simmers for an hour or so. Now, isn’t that how the South rolls, like a fine-oiled machine?! These Southern Green Beans combine fresh green beans, smoked bacon, and onion into the most mouth-watering side dish imaginable. Prep is a breeze, and your family will be singing your praises.
How to cook fresh green beans Southern-style
Folks, it does not get much easier than this. First, It takes a little patience while they cook, but I am sure you have other chores to attend to. Then brown your bacon, and add your onions and garlic. Remove these and set them aside. Add your trimmed green beans, chicken broth, and seasoning using the same pot without removing the bacon fat. Simmer for at least one hour and drain the chicken broth. Add the bacon, onion, and garlic to the green beans and heat over low for a few minutes.
How to season Southern Green Beans.
Seasoning can be very personal with people, so here are some options for my whole spectrum of readers. For those of you who like a lot of flavor (myself included), add some Cajun seasoning. You can include anything from a one-half teaspoon to a full teaspoon. Readers with a more sensitive palate that want to tone it down can add a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes and about a half teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper and salt. For those who like it toned way down, just one-half teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper and salt should be enough seasoning. Any combination of the above is also good, as most people know their seasoning tolerance.
What to serve with Southern Green Beans
Oh heavens. The possibilities are indeed endless.
- Fried chicken and mashed potatoes
- Oven-baked beef brisket and mac n cheese
- Honey ham and baked beans
- Smoked sausage and cheesy grits
- Barbecued ribs and corn on the cob
- Fried catfish and okra
- Pork tenderloin and macaroni salad
These amazing Southern Green Beans are easy, dependable, and delicious. What are you waiting for? They are a must-try. Put the ingredients on your shopping list today!
More Southern Recipe
Easy Southern Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 lbs fresh green beans trimmed
- 2 1/2 – 3-1/2 cups chicken broth
- Optional 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning please see notes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until almost completely browned. Add the onion and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and add garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Remove the bacon/onion mixture to a bowl using a slotted spoon. Reserve the bacon grease. Do not wash the saucepan.
- Add the green beans and enough chicken broth to cover the green beans. Add the Cajun seasoning.
- Bring to a low boil. Cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 1 – 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Drain chicken broth, return bacon/onion mixture, and heat for 1-2 minutes. Add butter, stir, and serve. If needed, season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Readers with a more sensitive palate that want to tone it down can add a couple of pinches of crushed red pepper and about a half teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper and salt. For those of you who really like it toned way down, just one-half teaspoon each of fresh cracked pepper and salt should be enough seasoning. Any combination of the above is good as well, as most people know their seasoning tolerance.
- Try adding a ham hock or smoked sausage to the simmering beans. Or chunks of red potatoes or new potatoes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Ellie
Could this recipe be adapted for a slow cooker ?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. Cook the bacon, onions, and garlic separately. Add half the bacon mixture, all the green beans, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning. Cook on high for 6-8 hours or until the beans are tender. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beans, bacon, and onion. Top with reserved bacon mixture and butter. Make sure you store your reserved bacon mixture in the fridge while the crock pot is cooking the beans.
Emily
Hi Beth, did you mean 6-8 hours on low in the crockpot? Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Yes. I will have to check to see if I reversed them.
Beth Pierce
Maybe I better look. Is it in a comment?
Emily
I’m not sure! Mine have been cooking for 3 1/2 hours and look pretty tender already. So I’m guessing it’s supposed to be low 🙂👍🏻
lisa
I made this recipe and it’s delish! I added a little of the bacon grease and a dash of Tabasco. My extended family enjoyed it so much they decided I needed to make it for holiday get togethers.
Beth Pierce
That sounds like a great plan! Enjoy!!
Elena
Can you use the green beans that you cook in the bag for this recipe?
Beth Pierce
Yes you might need to reduce the cooking time a bit since I believe those are blanched already.
Anita
I tried this recipe about 5 months ago. I ate the whole pot myself of course not all at once. But probably could have if I tried. Great recipe will be cooking these green beans again. Didn’t add or subtract anything, thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Anita! So glad that you enjoyed them!!
Angela
After cooking the bacon & onion mixture, adding in the chicken broth & green beans do i put it on low heat or keep it at medium low heat? Also do I cook the green beans for 1hr to 1 1/2hr? Seems like while to cook green beans. I never made Southern Green beans before but your recipe looks delicious!! I want to this as a side long with your smother pork chop recipe!! Another recipe looks delicious!! Want to make sure I make your recipe correctly!!
Lupe
Bring to a slight boil and then cover and turn down to simmer, whichever setting that is for your stove. Yes cooking for 60 to 90 minutes helps give it the right texture and allows the flavors to fully penetrate the green beans. This truly is an amazing recipe. Its cooking at a low temperature for that amount of time with liquid in the pot. Trust me the time is definitely worth it.
SHARYN
This is a terrific recipe. great for potlucks, get-togethers Sunday dinners, or really anytime. I have been making this dish for over 50 years and I got this recipe from my mom. The only thing different we used potatoes.
Stan
I got a thick slice of smoky ham in the fridge. My gut says it would be ok instead of the bacon. …
from a Northerner who has finally freed himself from undercooked crispy green beans!
Beth Pierce
That would be great! Your gut instinct is correct.
CK
I’ve been using this recipe about once per week for quite a while now. I never get tired of green beans. I double the amount of bacon because it’s bacon. Lol.
Beth Pierce
We love this recipe too and I agree with you about the bacon!
Rob
Do you have a preference for what type of beans to use? I grew Kentucky Wonders last year and they were great. Thinking about trying Romano beans this year. I think that’s we used when I was little.
Rob
Beth Pierce
I use whatever green beans I can get that look fresh and smell fresh. You are a lucky dog to have access to all of those delicious beans!
Kim
Beth, I am always searching for new ways to make vegetables more exciting. Adding bacon is a sure way to achieve this. Perfect easy side dish. I appreciate this new recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kim! You are most welcome!!
Christie
Love,love, love these beans! I half the beans but use same amount of bacon, onions and add a bit more garlic. My hubby and I love garlic. Lol. I add minced garlic to the beans while they boil too. Delicious and won’t make them any other way! Thanks for a great recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Christie! So glad that you like them. We love garlic too and usually add a little more to every recipe.
Judith Shaw
This was really yummy. I made it twice, once as written as part of a cajun dinner, and then I made it a second time as part of an Italian dinner, swapping pancetta for the bacon, red onion for the yellow, and fresh Italian seasonings and red pepper flakes for the cajun spices. It was great both times.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Judith! I love the tips for the Italian beans. I will give that a whirl!
Casey
How do you reheat the next day if I wanted to make them day ahead? Can you just put them in saucepan on low? Do I need to add butter or some chicken brother to reheat?
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Beth Pierce
Yes you could reheat them on the stovetop on low with some butter. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Kelly Duffy
Best way to reheat?
Beth Pierce
Microwave at a reduced power until warmed.
Jeannine
Point on! Raised by a true Tennessee mother and these are perfectly delicious!
Cheryl
What Cajun Seasoning do you prefer? Can’t wait to try!
Beth Pierce
I use Tony Chachere’s original Creole Seasoning. Enjoy!!
Sarah S.
Love love loved this!! Thank you so much for sharing. I didn’t get a chance to make it to the store so unfortunately did not use fresh greens, I used canned instead and they still turned out amazing! Will be using this recipe for now on.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Sarah! So glad that you liked it. It is my favorite way to eat green beans!