Southern Style Green Beans are made with fresh green beans cooked low and slow flavored with salty bacon. This traditional southern side is served on just about every table in the south!
Home cooked vegetables are a staple in the south. They most always are cooked with some type of fat. It's either ham hocks, butter, or some type of pork! I grew up cooking green beans with bacon! I mean really is there any other way?
Well I know there are a thousand ways, like my Instant Pot Garlic Butter Green Beans (they are bacon free), but for these beans they just have to have bacon. Bacon glorious bacon!
There is much talk about how people like their green beans! Crisp, crunchy, soft, cooked to death, or just in the middle! They can get quite passionate over these little fellas! Personally, I like them cooked all kinds of ways, but this is one of my favorites. And I sure hope you enjoy them as well!
These are a traditional Southern Style Green Bean. Cooked until soft, infused with bacon, salty with a peppery note. I also add some red pepper that gives them a little extra kick. We like a little spice to ours. But if you don't like that spice, this can totally be omitted. After all, my momma never used red pepper!
How to make Southern Style Green Beans
- Wash, drain, and snap ends off fresh green beans.
- Cut bacon with kitchen scissors into bite size pieces. Saute in a heavy bottom pot until done.
- Add in green beans, chicken stock, salt, black pepper, garlic, red pepper (if desired) and give a big stir to mix up.
- Bring to a boil, cover with lid, and then turn down to medium to medium low heat and cook for 1 to 2 hours. All stoves cook different, you know your settings but you want to cook these low and slow. I like them at about 1 to 1.5 hours for my preference.
Serve these with a little extra crumbled bacon on top to make them extra delish!
Remove from the pot and place in serving dish with a little extra crumbled bacon on top if you want to get a little fancy! Maybe when you have company coming! At home we just dish them out of the pot from the stove top most of the time!
These are also great for pot lucks, church suppers or taking a side to BBQ! Just put them in a covered dish and you are all set!
6 southern recipes that go great with green beans
- Southern Fried Pork Chops
- Baked Mac N Cheese
- Instant Pot Beef Tips
- Meatloaf and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
- Mississippi Pot Roast
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Southern Style Green Beans
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, cut into pieces
- 2 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed and ends snapped
- 2 cups chicken stock or water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- dash red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cut bacon with kitchen scissors into bite size pieces. Saute in a heavy bottom pot until done.
- Add in green beans, chicken stock, salt, black pepper, garlic, red pepper (if desired) and stir.
- Bring to a boil, cover with lid, and then turn down to medium to medium low (simmer) and cook for 1 to 2 hours.
- Serve with crumbled bacon on top if desired.
✱ Nikki's Tips
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Rosemarie says
Made these with dinner tonight. They are delicious. My husband ate a bowl full. Well worth the time it takes for them to cook.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Rosemarie! I am so glad you all enjoyed them! I agree they are worth the time! So delicious!
Kellie says
Used this recipe to successfully make my first batch of green beans!! I have been trying for years and years and burnt them everytime, even in a crock pot! These were so good my 7 yr old who got burnt out on green beans loved them! Thank you so much!!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you Kellie! I am so glad you guys loved them! That makes my day!
deb says
the best southern green bean recipe on the planet! Made 'em for Thanksgiving and will do again for Christmas (may add some little fingerling potatoes this time).....I'm a "Georgia Peach" and I know southern cookin'. Thanks for making your collection of recipes available.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much Deb. And a compliment from another southern cook is the best in the world I truly appreciate it!
Candice Wilson says
My great grandmother's recipe! So full of comfortable flavor.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
So glad to hear it was like your grandmothers. That means full of love and memories!
Jen says
This is the only way I make green beans now! When I don't have much time, I used frozen green beans and cook with these ingredients, according to the directions on the bag. Omit one cup of the water/broth, as the frozen green beans have excess water. I also add bacon bits and 1 TBSP bacon grease, instead of cooking the bacon (when time doesn't allow).
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
They are so good like this I have eaten them this way as long as I can remember. I love you tips for frozen ones and using bacon bits in a crunch!
Michael Ritchie says
This is the exact same recipe i have followed for years, with the exception of frying the bacon. I usually add the raw diced bacon to the beans as the first start boiling
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
My mom did it that way too the bacon raw before cooking. I love it that way as well.
Norine Rogers says
These are a favorite at our house. The perfect side for meatloaf!
Ashley says
Do you drain the bacon grease?
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
No I do not. It gives it extra flavor. But if you have more that you want in the dish, you could take some out if you desire. Hope you enjoy - Nikki
Meghan l says
I used beef stock instead of chicken and it turned out really good the beef flavor adds a good steakhouses taste to it I think, I also added some steak seasoning to it when serving turned out really good
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Fantastic idea! Love the change up! Delicious idea!
Deneen says
How much garlic?
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I use 2 cloves of garlic minced, you can add more to taste if you love it. 🙂
Christy says
I just tried this for Thanksgiving, and 2c of liquid is not nearly enough for this many green beans. All the liquid quickly cooked out even on medium and it all burned on the bottom.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
I am so sorry you had trouble with them. I tried to note in the recipe to cook them low and slow and each stove does vary. I cook them often and haven't had an issue. You can always add liquid if needed or adjust the temperature. 🙂
Sherry says
I love beans cooked this way but usually add baby potatoes in with them. YUM!
[email protected] says
Oh I do too! Baby potatoes are so good in them too! I need to do a post for green beans and potatoes! Now I have a hankering for some 😉