Description
These Southern-style green beans are simmered low and slow with smoky bacon, sweet onions, and savory broth until tender and bursting with flavor. It’s the kind of recipe that brings warmth to your table — simple, hearty, and absolutely irresistible. Perfect for Sunday dinners, holidays, or any night you crave comfort food, these beans taste like home with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or splash of apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon, leaving drippings.
- Sauté onion in bacon fat until softened, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add green beans and toss to coat in the bacon fat and onions.
- Pour in chicken broth to just cover beans. Add seasonings.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in butter and cooked bacon before serving. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Notes
- Add a splash of vinegar at the end for brightness.
- For a vegetarian version, use olive oil and smoked paprika instead of bacon.
- Make ahead — the flavor deepens overnight.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop simmer
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 20mg