These Southern green beans are tender, savory, and infused with smoky bacon flavor—just like Grandma used to make. Perfect for Sunday dinners, BBQs, or holiday meals.
⏱ Prep Time
-
Prep: 10 minutes
-
Cook: 45–60 minutes
-
Total: ~1 hour
Servings: 4–6
🍳 Equipment
-
Large pot or Dutch oven
-
Knife & cutting board
-
Wooden spoon
🥘 Ingredients
-
1 lb (450g) fresh green beans, trimmed
-
4–6 slices bacon, chopped
-
1 small onion, diced
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
3 cups chicken broth (or water)
-
1 tsp sugar (optional, Southern-style touch)
-
½ tsp black pepper
-
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
-
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
-
1 tbsp butter (optional, for richness)
👩🍳 Instructions
-
Cook the bacon
In a large pot, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and leave the fat in the pot. -
Sauté onion & garlic
Add diced onion to the bacon fat and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. -
Add green beans & broth
Add green beans and chicken broth. Stir well. -
Season
Add sugar, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes. -
Simmer low & slow
Cover and simmer on low heat for 45–60 minutes, until beans are very tender and flavorful (Southern beans are NOT crunchy). -
Finish
Stir in butter and crispy bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
-
Serve with fried chicken, cornbread, mashed potatoes, or BBQ ribs
-
Great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Sunday dinners
🧾 Nutrition (Approx. per serving)
-
Calories: 150
-
Protein: 4g
-
Fat: 12g
-
Carbs: 7g
-
Fiber: 3g
💡 Tips & Variations
-
No bacon? Use smoked turkey legs or ham hock
-
Spicy version: Add jalapeños or extra red pepper flakes
-
Slow cooker: Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours
-
Instant Pot: Pressure cook 10 minutes, quick release
-
Keto version: Skip sugar
