Southern Green Beans (2024)

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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!

Other Southern recipes you will love!

Southern Pimento Cheese
Custard Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Key Lime Pie
Southern Collard Greens
Pecan Pie

Easy Southern Green Beans Recipe

Now, these easy Southern Green Beans combine fresh green beans, smoked bacon, and onion into the most perfect side dish imaginable.

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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Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on this site should be used as a general guideline.