Southern Green Beans with Bacon is an old-fashioned soul food staple recipe. Crispy bacon meets tender green beans in a mouth-watering side dish that’s perfect for any meal. Serve this for Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving, or any holiday.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.
Do you wonder how to make green beans taste better? I receive this question about a lot of vegetables. Nothing beats down-home southern cooking! Flavored foods are our specialty.
This is a dish that was commonly served for Sunday dinners growing up! It’s also a part of the spread for every holiday. You may also enjoy my Air Fryer Garlic Roasted Green Beans.
If you want to switch up your holiday feast, check out our Thanksgiving Chicken recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Delicious Flavor: Bacon adds a smoky and savory flavor to the green beans that many find irresistible. The combination of bacon and green beans creates a delicious taste that’s both hearty and comforting.
- Southern Comfort Food: Southern cuisine is known for its soul-warming comfort food, and this dish is no exception. It’s a staple in Southern cooking and evokes a sense of nostalgia and tradition.
- Texture Contrast: The crisp texture of the bacon complements the tenderness of the veggies. beans.
- Easy to Make: This dish is so easy to prepare, making it accessible to both beginner and experienced cooks.
- Versatility: This can be served as a side dish for a wide range of main courses, making it a versatile addition to any spread.
What Type of Green Beans to Use? Fresh, Frozen, Canned?
I love to use fresh green beans! They just taste better in this recipe. If you are strapped for time, check out my Instant Pot Southern Green Beans. Same recipe, and ready in no time! For fresh green beans, remove the stems first.
For canned green beans, you can use cut or whole. A lot of people wonder what the best brand is. Del Monte is the most popular.
In terms of nutrition, in comparison to fresh green beans, canned green beans are similar in nutritional value and nutrients. Canned are preserved at their height of freshness, so they do retain nutrients.
In most categories, fresh green beans provide more nutrients, but not by much, except for when it comes to sodium. Canned green beans have more sodium than fresh green beans. In a recipe like this, that factors, because broth and bacon are added. You can read more about Canned Green Beans vs Fresh Green Beans here.
Canned green beans can be cooked for 20 minutes uncovered, or until the green beans reach your desired texture. Canned are already really soft.
If using frozen green beans, whole or cut is fine. Frozen will follow a similar cook time as noted in the recipe.
How to Season the Green Beans
These green beans get their flavor from bacon (see substitutes below) and Creole Seasoning. You can make your own Creole Seasoning with 1/4 teaspoon (each) of the following: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, white pepper, oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper.
How to Make Southern Green Beans With Bacon
Scroll to the recipe card below for full measurements and detailed instructions.
- Heat a Dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat. Add pieces of bacon and cook until the bacon crisps.
- Drain the excess fat from the pot.
- Add onions and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth and deglaze.
- Add in green beans, Creole seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
- Reduce heat to Low. Cover and cook.
Cook Time/How Long to Cook
This dish will cook on low for an hour to an hour and a half. You want to cook them until tender.
What Type of Pot to Use
I love to use a Dutch Oven. It will cook faster than a stock pot or soup pot, but you can also use those. I find the Dutch Oven usually saves me about 30 minutes.
How to Substitute Bacon
You can use anything you wish. Here are some ideas.
- Turkey Bacon
- Andouille Sausage
- Sausage
- Chicken Sausage
- Smoked Turkey Leg or Wing
- Ham
- Ham Hock
How to Make it Vegetarian or Vegan
Omit the bacon for a meatless dish. Use vegetable broth. Add in 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for flavor.
Pair This With These Southern Main Dishes
Cajun Roasted Turkey
Baked Turkey Wings
Southern Baked Ham With Pineapple
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Turkey
Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
More Side Dish Recipes
Southern Style Soul Food Mac and Cheese
Southern Cornbread Dressing with Chicken
Soul Food Cornbread Muffins
Instant Pot Gumbo
Roasted Okra
Smothered Okra
Southern Cornbread Casserole
Southern Cooked Cabbage
Seafood Mac and Cheese
Check out list of The Best Authentic Soul Food Recipes here.
Southern Soul Food Green Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices uncooked bacon sliced into small pieces
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound fresh green beans stems removed See notes for canned or frozen.
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Creole Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste I go light on the salt because the bacon and broth provide plenty of flavor for me.
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch oven or large pot on medium high heat. Add the pieces of bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes until the bacon crisps.
- Drain the excess fat from the pot. I reserved about a teaspoon of fat in the pot.
- Add the onions and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pot with a spatula. Scrap up all the bits of cooked bacon in the pot.
- Add in green beans, Creole seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
- Reduce heat to Low. Cover and cook for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours until the green beans are soft. If it's your first time making the dish, check in on the green beans often to be sure they reach your desired texture and you don't overcook them. Cook time will vary greatly based on the type of pot you use. Using my Dutch Oven, the beans reach my desired texture after an hour.
- Taste repeatedly and adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Serve with a slotted spoon.
Video
Notes
- Canned green beans can be cooked for 20 minutes uncovered, or until the green beans reach your desired texture.
- If using frozen green beans, whole or cut are fine. Frozen will follow a similar cook time as noted in the recipe.
- You can make your own Creole Seasoning with 1/4 teaspoon (each) of the following: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, white pepper, oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper.
Erica K
Friday 2nd of February 2024
Come one come all to this absolutely scrumptious green bean recipe! I used my brand new Dutch oven to cook these green beans to perfection. This recipe gives perfectly blended just like grandma used to make them goodness with a savory twist. I didn’t have any bacon but that didn’t take away from the flavorful taste of these beans. This will be my go to green bean recipe in the future! Don’t sleep on this recipe.
staysnatched
Saturday 3rd of February 2024
So good without bacon, too!
Lu
Tuesday 13th of June 2023
Very good! Made as directed and added petite carrots and fresh basil! Would difinetly make again!
staysnatched
Friday 16th of June 2023
So glad to hear it!
Kara
Tuesday 4th of January 2022
I’ve always loved green beans and this recipe made me love them more!! The garlic and onion addition add really awesome flavor! Thank you for sharing this with us!
staysnatched
Wednesday 5th of January 2022
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Hanna
Thursday 23rd of December 2021
Best green beans I’ve made!
staysnatched
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
I'm so glad to hear it!
Phyleia Battle
Tuesday 30th of November 2021
Made these vegetarian and they still had so much flavor! They were a hit with my family!
staysnatched
Tuesday 30th of November 2021
I'm glad they were a hit!