Why You’ll Love These Southern-Style Green Beans
Slow-cooked in a bacon-infused broth until melt-in-your-mouth tender, these green beans deliver true down-home flavor with almost zero fuss. They’re perfect for weeknight suppers, holiday spreads, or any time you need a comforting Southern side dish that’ll have folks lining up for seconds.
Can I use canned or frozen green beans instead of fresh?
Yes, you can! Canned green beans are already soft, so they need less cooking time—just be sure to drain and rinse them first. Frozen green beans are a closer match to fresh and can go straight into the pot, but they may add extra moisture, so watch your liquid levels. Fresh is best for that true Southern texture, but either option works in a pinch!
Serve these Southern Style Green Beans with Crock Pot Beef Roast and Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole for a classic family dinner perfect for Sunday supper or entertaining.
What Kind Of Green Beans Are Best To Use?
Choosing beans that can withstand the long cooking process without turning mushy is important.
- Blue Lake Bush – is known for its crispiness and sweet flavor.
- Kentucky Wonder – easy to grow and great for canning or cooking fresh.
- Half Runners – a cross between a bush and green beans that are great to make “snap beans” cooked fresh or canned.
Ingredients Needed To Make The Best Green Beans
- Bacon: The heart of Southern comfort cooking, bacon brings an irresistible rich, smoky flavor.
- Fresh Green Beans: They bring a fresh, earthy flavor that balances beautifully with the richness of bacon.
- Vegetable or Chicken Stock: This flavor enhancer adds a light vegetable sweetness or a hearty chicken depth to the beans.
- Garlic Powder: A convenient and quick way to add a warm, slightly spicy undertone.
- Salt: Salt brings out the natural flavors of your ingredients. It is the essential seasoning that sharpens and defines all the other tastes in your dish.
- Black Pepper: Adds a slight kick and complexity, and pepper introduces a subtle warmth that perfectly complements the savory notes of bacon and the freshness of the green beans.
How To Cook Fresh Green Beans, Southern Style
- In a heavy-bottom pan or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Add green beans to the bacon drippings and sauté over medium-high heat until bright green. Pour in broth, then season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the cooked bacon.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve warm.
Flavor Boosters & Variations
Pot-luck trick: Keep beans warm on LOW in a slow-cooker set to “keep warm.”
Ham hock or smoked turkey neck for deeper smokiness
Dash of apple-cider vinegar right before serving to brighten rich flavors
Diced onion sautéed with the bacon for extra savoriness
How Long Should I Cook Green Beans On The Stove?
Southern-style green Beans get their distinct, melt-in-your-mouth texture and flavor from being slow-cooked on the stove. Generally, you’ll want to simmer the beans on a low heat setting for about an hour for the most flavor-infused results. This cooking duration allows the ingredients, to be thoroughly cooked into the dish, resulting in terrific flavor and great to serve with any main dish.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
Freeze: Beans freeze beautifully up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm as above.
Up to 2 days ahead: Cook completely, cool, and refrigerate in an airtight container.
Reheat: Simmer gently on the stove with a splash of broth or pop in a 325°F oven, covered, until hot.
Commonly Asked Questions
A slow cooker is a great tool for making Southern Style Green Beans. You can follow the same recipe, setting your slow cooker on low for about 4-6 hours, or until the beans are tender and flavorful.
If you don’t have bacon grease, season the beans with other fats like butter, olive oil, or even rendered sausage fat for a unique flavor. You can also use smoked turkey necks or ham hocks.
More Of My Favorite Green Bean Recipes
What To Serve With Southern Green Beans
There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal with these green beans, baby red potatoes, and Crock Pot Chicken Thighs. They’re also perfect for a Sunday supper buffet with Slow-Cooker Beef Roast, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Southern-Fried Corn, and Garlic Rolls.
More Classic Southern Recipes
If you tried this Southern Style Green Bean Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon – cut into ½″ pieces
- 1 ½ pounds green beans – washed, trimmed and snapped into about 2″ lengths
- 1 ½ cups vegetable or chicken stock
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon pieces in a heavy bottom pan until done. Remove the bacon from the pan and place on a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
- Add green beans to the pan and cook on medium-high heat. Toss beans in bacon drippings to coat. Continue to cook until beans turn bright green.
- Carefully pour in the stock and add garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate. Add bacon pieces back to the pot with beans.
- Turn burner to low, cover beans with lid – slightly off center, and cook for about 1 hour until beans are tender, stirring every 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Store any leftover seasoned green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- A slow cooker is a great tool for making Southern Style Green Beans. You can follow the same recipe, setting your slow cooker on low for about 4-6 hours or until the green beans are tender and flavorful.
- If you don’t have bacon grease, you can season the beans with other fats like butter, olive oil, or even rendered sausage fat for a unique flavor. You can also use smoked turkey necks or ham hocks.
Nutrition
My New eBook!
Top 25 Viral Recipes
Whether you’re cooking for two, feeding a busy family, or filling your home with friends, I’m cheering you on from my kitchen. I hope this eBook brings you comfort, creativity, and plenty of delicious moments around your table.
Southern Traditions: Timeless Recipes to Make, Share, and Love!
GET THIS FREE GUIDE: Southern dishes with easy prep and timeless flavor in every bite.
Made them for a Thanksgiving dinner at a friends house. People wanted to know right away who made the beans , these are damn good!! We had no left overs!
I used olive oil instead of the bacon grease and minced garlic. They were delicious!
Will this recipe be successful if I combine all the ingredients the day before, store in the refrigerator overnight, and slow cook in a crock pot the next day?
I’ve never tested the recipe that way but I’m sure it would work.
~Donya
It was absolutely delicious. I did mine in a crock pot with the same directions that you gave absolutely perfect it was a hit with everybody.
My go-to for green beans – they remind me of my grandmother’s and hers were my favorite.
Thank you so much!
~Donya
I made these today but want to serve tomorrow. Do I keep them in the juice overnight or separate the beans from the juice overnight and add the juice back in to reheat????
Keep everything together and reheat. They will turn out great. Thank you for the terrific rating.
~Donya
I have made my green beans just like this for years. Its got to be a southern comfort food! Especially at Thanksgiving!
Hey there Rubye!
I couldn’t agree with you more, these green beans are a classic southern comfort food and they’re ideal to serve around the holidays! I am so glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying this recipe, thank you so much for your kind words and your terrific rating, I really appreciate your support!
~Donya
My family loves the green beans – it is a favorite!
Hey there Elaine!
I am so thrilled to hear that y’all enjoyed this recipe! These green beans are a southern staple and a favorite in my house as well, so I am overjoyed that it’s become a favorite in your home. Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and your kind words, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to reach out!
~Donya
Will this dish reheat okay/still taste fresh the next day? I would love to make it the night before.
Hey there Leah!
Thanks for your interest in this recipe, I think you’re really going to like it! You can absolutely reheat this dish, personally I think these green beans taste better the next day. I really hope you enjoy the recipe, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya
It just gets better the next day with re-heating!
These were the very best green beans I have ever had. My husband just raved and raved on these. I have cooked green beans many times but these were the best. You have got to try this recipe. The only change I made was I added some minced garlic right before I put the broth in. Delicious!!
Hey there Terry!
Thank you so very much for your rating! Let me just tell you, I am thrilled you and your family liked this recipe, it is always a hit in my house too! The addition of minced garlic sounds delicious, thank you so much for your kind comment and your support!
~Donya