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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Sue-Tanya Mchorgh
I absolutely love your Southern Green Beans! The tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture is truly delicious. It’s interesting to note the distinction from northern-style green beans, which are cooked crisp and tender. Thank you for sharing this scrumptious dish!
Indu
I paired these green beans with air fried potatoes. The family loved it. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Tammy
I love me some southern green beans. Pick and snap the beans that day and get them in the pot!! Brings back loads of memories of sitting and snapping beans with family growing up and my mom canning green beans.
Beth Pierce
Food can bring back wonderful memories!
Yvette
I really do love green beans they are a favourite here. I loved making these with the additon of the bacon which just added that extra flavour and texture to the dish.
Karen
I love these southern style beans…They have become a family favorite and a tradition. Thank you, Beth!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karen!
Stephanie B
Such a great way to serve up some delicious green beans. Thanks for another amazing recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Stephanie!
Janey Price
I really need to up my green bean game! This sounds like a fantastic way to eat green beans.
April
Such a classic recipe – absolutely delish!
Sandra
This was very easy to make and turned out so good! Even my kids enjoyed them!
Catalina
The Southern Green Beans were fantastic! They were so flavorful and cooked to perfection. They reminded me of the green beans my grandmother used to make.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked them, Catalina!
Erin
Finally tried it and I’m so glad I did! It’s pure comfort food, I could seriously eat them everyday! This dish will be on my cooking rotation!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Erin! I am so glad that you liked them!
Krystle
The best green beans I’ve had. Bacon and chicken broth is a flavor explosion. Even the kiddos devoured them.
Beth Pierce
Thank you Krystle!
khoin
This is my favorite way to make green beans! The very best way ever! Thanks for the inspiration!
Vicky
Wow, your Southern-style green beans were absolutely delicious! Slow-cooked with onion, garlic, and bacon, they were bursting with flavor and perfect as a comforting side dish to my chicken fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Vicky! So happy that you enjoyed them!
Hannah
These look like the best green beans I have ever seen and I have had a lot over the years! We eat green beans about once a week in our household.
rosey
I think southern style green beans would be awesome. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had them.