Whether you are from the South, the North, Europe, Australia… OR you’re an alien from outer space- you NEED to try these Southern Style Green Beans. They are melt-in-your mouth delicious- super savory, slightly smoky, and the perfect side that will meet your craving for comfort food (while still being 100% real/unprocessed!).
The special ingredient that makes these extra decadent and delicious? BACON. Mmmm. Bacon. I do not believe there is anything tastier on the face of the planet than bacon.
The second secret ingredient that makes these extra scrumptious? Chicken stock. It adds a whole other level of super awesome amazing flavor that makes these green beans hard to stop eating.
Oh, and they are so, so easy to make! And use only four ingredients! Hip hip, hooray!
Basically, you need to stop everything you are doing right now and go make these. (But first read the rest of this post.)
OK I know- bacon isn’t the healthiest thing in the world. But green beans on the other hand? Super healthy. High in vitamin K, manganese, and fiber, as well as being a little-known source of beta-carotene! You know, the stuff found in bright orange veggies like carrots.
I love fresh green beans simply steamed and topped with some salt, pepper, and olive oil or butter- try that if you’re looking for lighter green bean fare. But if you’re looking for a life-changing green bean experience (who isn’t, really?) these Southern Style Green Beans are where it’s at.
First, cut up a few slices of bacon (I used four- but you can use more or less depending on how much of a bacon fanatic/how healthy you are) and cook them over medium-high heat until the fat has rendered out. I used my cast iron dutch oven for this. I almost always like using a heavy pot for things that need to simmer for a while, and it does a great job of cooking the bacon to a perfect even crispness.
Once the bacon has cooked and the fat has rendered, add some sliced onions to the mix. Wait for it- your house will smell amazing in approximately 7 seconds. There is nothing – NOTHING – like the smell of bacon and onions sauteing together in perfect harmony.
After the onions have softened a bit, add the green beans and stir to coat in all the yummy bacony oniony goodness. Then, add some chicken stock and salt/pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer partially covered for about a half an hour.
DIVE IN.
Ok but wait. Before you dive in, we need to talk about how delicious all the juices are in these green beans. When you get a spoonful of the green beans to put on your plate (or 4 spoonfuls…), I highly recommend topping it with a bit of the juices as well.
And, go ahead and add the juices to anything else on your plate. Mashed potatoes? Yep. Chicken? You betcha. It’s a delicious, smoky, salty sauce that will add a little somethin’ something’ to whatever else you happen to be eating!
OK. Now you may dive in :-) Recipe below!
Southern Style Green Beans
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon cut into small pieces
- 1 onion quartered and sliced
- 2 lbs. fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- 1.5 cups chicken stock/broth
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a heavy large pot or dutch oven until cooked and fat has rendered.
- Add the onion- stir to coat and cook until onion has softened and slightly browned, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add the green beans, stir to coat.
- Add the chicken broth (1.5 cups) and salt/pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, and simmer with lid slightly ajar for 30 minutes.
- When serving, spoon some of the juices over the green beans (or anything else on your plate!).
Notes
- The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using this calculator or by adding the recipe to Yummly.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and reflects one serving of the recipe (total servings indicated at top of recipe card). It does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
Pamela Thomas
Whenever I serve green beans cooked in this manner they’re always a huge hit! When we used to have family potlucks, this dish was always requested. The next time I make them, I will try adding the amount of chicken broth listed in the recipe. I hadn’t thought of using the sauce on other foods, so this will be a perfect twist to classics. It will almost be like creating a new dish, minus the work!
Elizabeth Lindemann
These are always a huge hit for me, too!