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You are here: Home / Side Dishes / Southern Style Green Beans

Southern Style Green Beans

September 15, 2022 by Susanne Leave a Comment

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These Southern Style Green Beans are simmered on the stove until they are tender and full of delicious flavor. This is simple classic recipe made with onion, bacon and a few seasonings. You can’t go wrong with this recipe for the best green beans ever! 

A blue and white platter loaded with Southern Style Green beans.

Green Beans are a staple at my house, I bet we eat them three to four times a week. They are easy to make and there are so many ways to make them they are just almost a no brainer for me.  We love green beans recipes like these Green Beans with Roasted Red Peppers. I also like making them because they go with just about everything. From a pasta dish like Monterey Chicken Spaghetti to chicken thighs like these Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs or this easy Lemon Pepper version.

Green Beans in a white serving bowl being scooped by a wooden spoon.

How to Make Southern Style Green Beans: (full printable recipe card at the bottom of the page)

Ingredients:

  • green beans (fresh or frozen)
  • bacon
  • onion
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • chicken broth
  • salt and pepper 

Measured ingredients needed to make this recipe presented in clear glass bowls on a wooden table top.

Special Equipment: 

  • large heavy pot
  • colander
  • sharp knife and cutting board

Instructions: 

Step One: In a large dutch cook the chopped bacon until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. 

Step Two: Add the diced onion to the bacon drippings in the bottom of the pan and cook until tender or about 5-6 minutes. 

Step Three: Add the green beans to the onions and season with salt and pepper. 

Step Four: Pour in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce stir to combine. 

Step Five: Add back in half the cooked bacon and stir. 

Step Six: Bring the contents of the pot to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-minutes to an hour stirring occasionally. How long the green beans need to cook depends on how tender you’d like the green beans to be when done. 

How to Trim Green Beans: 

If you are cooking with fresh beans you will need to prep them before putting them on the stovetop. This can be done is two easy steps. 

  1. Using a colander throughly rinse the green beans under cold water. Let the beans drain or pat them dry with a paper towel. If using frozen thaw completely first.  
  1. Line up a handful of green beans on a cutting board and with a paring knife or chef’s knife cut away the stems. The stems of the green beans are not edible. You can leave the tapered end I prefer to cut them off but that is a matter of personal choice. 

     3.  Follow the recipe as written beginning at step one. 

Green beans on a cutting board.

My Notes and Tips:

  • Adjust the total cooking time to your preferences. If you like your green beans a bit firm thirty minutes will be ideal. If you prefer them really tender then you may want to cook them closer to an hour. I recommend checking the beans at 30 minutes and then every 15 minutes after until your desired consistency. 
  • Salt lightly at first then taste and season as you cook. With the chicken broth and bacon there is some saltiness so I recommend using a light hand when salting the green beans before cooking then adding salt if necessary while cooking. 

Southern Style Green Beans on a blue and white platter garnished with crispy bacon

Variations and Substitutions: 

  • Keep this recipe vegetarian friendly by swapping the chicken broth of vegetable broth. 
  • Add a little sweetness to the green beans by adding two teaspoons of sugar to the recipe. 
  • Make it spicy by adding some crushed red pepper flakes, a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning or a dash or two of your favorite hot sauce. 
  • Finish the recipe with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to add brightness to the recipe. 

Green beans in a while serving bowl with handles on a blue and white stripe dish towel.

Storage: 

Refrigerator: Store in an air tight container for up to three days. 

Reheating: To reheat place beans and remaining broth in microwave in one minute increments stirring between each until warmed through. 

Freezer: Cool green beans completely then place in a freezer safe container or freezer zip top bag and freeze for up to three months. 

Thawing and Reheating: Thaw the green beans overnight in the fridge or simply spoon out desired serving size and reheat in the microwave until warmed through and ready to eat. 

Happy Cooking Y’all!

Susanne 

Green beans with bacon on a wooden spoon.

What can I serve with Southern Style Green Beans?

Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes Sheet Pan

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole 

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole 

A blue and white platter loaded with Southern Style Green beans.
Print

Southern Style Green Beans

These Southern Style Green Beans are simmered on the stove until they are tender and full of delicious flavor. This is simple classic recipe made with onion, bacon and a few seasonings. You can’t go wrong with this recipe for the best green beans ever!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Southern Recipe Favorites, Southern Style Green Beans
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Calories 129 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 2 cups yellow onion diced
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans rinsed and trimmed (or frozen thawed)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large dutch cook the chopped bacon until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.
  2. Add the diced onion to the bacon drippings in the bottom of the pan and cook until tender or about 5-6 minutes.
  3. Add the green beans to the onions and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce stir to combine.
  5. Bring the contents of the pot to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes stirring occasionally. How long the green beans need to cook depends on how tender you’d like the green beans to be when done.

Recipe Notes

  1. If you like your green beans a bit firm thirty minutes will be ideal. If you prefer them really tender cook them closer to an hour. Check the beans at 30 minutes and then every 15 min to reach your desired consistency
  2. Salt lightly at first then taste and season as you cook.
  3. Nutritional information is estimated. Amounts will vary based on ingredient choices and serving sizes.
Nutrition Facts
Southern Style Green Beans
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 129 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 13mg4%
Sodium 581mg25%
Potassium 368mg11%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 793IU16%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 59mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Hi! I’m Susanne.

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Just a simple girl raised in the South who loves to cook. I've tried recipes for everything from ambrosia to zucchini. My favorite foods are the ones that bring family together. I love to spend time in the kitchen. I'm so excited to share my kitchen with you!

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