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    Soulfully Made » Sides » Southern Style Green Beans

    Southern Style Green Beans

    Nikki Lee Published:February 27, 2018 | Updated: August 17, 2021

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    Recipe Save Saved!

    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!

    Southern Style Green Beans topped with bacon crumbles

    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.
    a colander filled with fresh green beans
    • Cut bacon with kitchen scissors into bite size pieces. Saute in a heavy bottom pot until done.
    chopped bacon browned in a black cast iron skillet for southern style green beans
    • Add in green beans, chicken stock, salt, black pepper, garlic, red pepper (if desired) and give a big stir to mix up.
    a closeup of fresh green beans seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic
    • 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
    a white serving plate filled with these southern style green beans with crispy crumbled bacon

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    a white serving plate filled with these southern style green beans with crispy crumbled bacon

    Southern Style Green Beans

    Author: Nikki Lee
    4.95 from 18 votes
    Southern Style Green Beans are made with fresh green beans cooked low and slow flavored with salty bacon. 
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Save Saved! Pin Recipe Rate
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Sides
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 114 kcal

    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

    These are meant to be cooked rather low. Adjust your temperature according to your stove. 
    If necessary, you can add more liquid if it cooks out to quickly.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 1 serving Calories: 114 kcal Carbohydrates: 14 g Protein: 7 g Fat: 4 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g Cholesterol: 10 mg Sodium: 642 mg Fiber: 4 g Sugar: 6 g

    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.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    1. Rosemarie says

      September 24, 2021 at 9:59 pm

      5 stars
      Made these with dinner tonight. They are delicious. My husband ate a bowl full. Well worth the time it takes for them to cook.

      Reply
      • Nikki Lee says

        September 28, 2021 at 9:46 am

        Thank you, Rosemarie! I am so glad you all enjoyed them! I agree they are worth the time! So delicious!

        Reply
    2. Kellie says

      July 14, 2020 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      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!!

      Reply
      • Nikki Lee says

        July 20, 2020 at 4:49 pm

        Thank you Kellie! I am so glad you guys loved them! That makes my day!

        Reply
    3. deb says

      December 22, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        December 29, 2019 at 8:28 am

        Thank you so much Deb. And a compliment from another southern cook is the best in the world I truly appreciate it!

        Reply
    4. Candice Wilson says

      November 28, 2019 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      My great grandmother's recipe! So full of comfortable flavor.

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        December 08, 2019 at 3:03 am

        So glad to hear it was like your grandmothers. That means full of love and memories!

        Reply
    5. Jen says

      November 23, 2019 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      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).

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        November 27, 2019 at 8:07 am

        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!

        Reply
    6. Michael Ritchie says

      November 10, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        November 11, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        My mom did it that way too the bacon raw before cooking. I love it that way as well.

        Reply
    7. Norine Rogers says

      October 07, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      These are a favorite at our house. The perfect side for meatloaf!

      Reply
    8. Ashley says

      October 03, 2019 at 6:55 pm

      Do you drain the bacon grease?

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        October 03, 2019 at 6:58 pm

        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

        Reply
    9. Meghan l says

      June 04, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        June 07, 2019 at 7:48 pm

        Fantastic idea! Love the change up! Delicious idea!

        Reply
    10. Deneen says

      December 25, 2018 at 6:20 pm

      How much garlic?

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        December 29, 2018 at 7:35 am

        I use 2 cloves of garlic minced, you can add more to taste if you love it. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Christy says

      November 22, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        November 22, 2018 at 8:49 pm

        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. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Sherry says

      April 19, 2018 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      I love beans cooked this way but usually add baby potatoes in with them. YUM!

      Reply
      • [email protected] says

        April 21, 2018 at 2:53 pm

        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 😉

        Reply

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    Hi, I am Nikki. Faith, family, and food are my passions! I'm a Southern cook from Florida who loves sharing food and creating memories around the table with my family and friends. Welcome to my Kitchen where you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes!

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