Southern Style Green Beans {Grandma's Recipe!} Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

My Southern style green beans are meltingly tender, butter, and deliciously smoky! These are vegetables your whole family will ask for. I predict they’ll quickly become a favorite in your house and in your regular dinner rotation!

If you’re from the South, I can almost bet your grandma made green beans just like these. My grandma used to serve these on almost every Sunday supper, right after church. This recipe is pure Southern goodness that will take you back right back to your grandma’s kitchen!

If you love green beans you’ll love my sweet and smoky Arkansas green beans, roasted green beans, green bean casserole, and, or my super easy air fryer green beans!

What I Love About This Southern Style Green Beans

Is there anything more wonderful than a green thing that your kids don’t scoff at? Dinner~winner in my book!

Kids love these!
BACON
Easy to make
Slow-cook flavor without the slow cooker

Southern Green Beans Ingredients

Bacon: I use nitrite and nitrate-free bacon. It’s a little more expensive but I think it’s worth it for the health benefits.
Green Beans: This recipe is best made with fresh green beans. Trim them and cut in half or in thirds depending on the length of the beans.
Chicken Broth: I like to use low-sodium broth so I can control the salt in the overall dish.
Salt + Black Pepper: The perfect simple seasoning to finish off these beans!

Tips

Dry: After rinsing the beans, it’s VERY important to dry them! When you add the beans to the hot bacon grease, you risk reactions like this one if you have excess water. Avoid the danger by drying your beans with a clean kitchen towel! Please!!
Onion:Try this recipe with a bit of onion! Chop up 1/2 cup of yellow onion and sauté it in the bacon drippings for about 5 minutes, with the heat on medium-low, before adding the green beans.
Fresh is Best: Use fresh green beans! You know that I love using convenience foods when the time is right, but this is NOT one of those times. You need the structural integrity of fresh beans to stand up to the long cooking time. Frozen or canned beans would just disintegrate!

Tools You’ll Need

The tools to make this country style green beans recipe are very straightforward:

A colander, for draining your beans.
A clean kitchen towel.
A large pan.
A spoon.

Storing + Freezing +Make-Ahead

How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? These Southern style green beans with bacon will last in the fridge for 4 days.
Can You Freeze This? Yes! This makes a great freezer meal to have on hand when you need a quick, delicious side dish. Portion out your green beans and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. The lack of dairy or other more perishable ingredients gives these southern green beans a long shelf life.
- To thaw, simply pop your containers in the microwave and hit the “thaw” setting!
Make-Ahead Tips: Since these beans have to simmer for at least an hour, they come with make-ahead built right in! Just start these beans an hour before you need them, and they’ll be ready and waiting for you. Or you can always make them ahead of time and store them overnight! Just reheat and serve.
Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.

Serving Recommendations

I love serving these Southern style green beans with bacon grease with just about anything! But they’re awesome with more Southern classics.

Try my smothered chicken, crockpot pork chops smothered in mushroom onion gravy, chicken lazone, blackened chicken, jambalaya, or my baked mac and cheese.

My grandma always had biscuits on the table for every Sunday dinner! Try my super quick and easy Bisquick biscuits!

More Really Delicious Vegetable Recipe!

Broccoli Salad
Sautéed Asparagus
Roasted Broccoli
Simple Roasted Peppers
Roasted Garlic Asparagus With Feta
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Carrot Salad
Fajita Veggies
Fried Cabbage And Bacon
Southern Collard Greens

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Southern Style Green Beans

Southern Style Green Beans aren't just for Easter anymore! Make them go with a summer BBQ or a family get together --they're a veggie treat!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 3 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

▢ 4 slices bacon cut into small pieces
▢ 2 pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed and snaped in half
▢ 2 cups chicken broth
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Rinse beans in a colander, thenwrap up in a clean dish towel to dry.
Cook bacon pieces (4 slices) in a large saucepanuntil crisp. Add greenbeans (2 pounds) tothe pan and continue to cook on medium heat, tossing beans well to coat in bacon dripping, until beans turn bright green about 3 minutes. Slowly add the chicken broth (2cups), then the salt (1/2teaspoon) and pepper (1/2teaspoon), and bring to a simmer.
Simmer on low, covered with the lid cracked just a bit, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, about 1 hour. Adjust seasoning. Remove to serving platter with a slotted spoon. Top with a splash or so of the cooking liquid and serve.

Fans Also Made:

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole
Southern Collard Greens Recipe
See Also
Divinity Candy Recipe 28 Old-School Jewish Recipes Your Grandma Used to Make, from Latkes to Matzoh Ball Soup
Three Bean Salad Recipe

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Notes

Dry:After rinsing the beans,it’s VERY important to dry them!When you add the beans to the hot bacon grease, you riskreactions like this oneif you have excess water. Avoid the danger by drying your beans with a clean kitchen towel!Please!!
Onion:Try this recipe with a bit of onion! Chop up 1/2 cup ofyellow onionand sauté it in the bacon drippings for about 5 minutes, with the heat on medium-low, before adding the green beans.
Fresh is Best:Use fresh green beans! You know that I love using convenience foods when the time is right, but this is NOT one of those times. You need the structural integrity of fresh beans to stand up to the long cooking time. Frozen or canned beans would just disintegrate!

Nutrition

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Bailey says
February 22, 2024 at 4:15 pm

Can I put potatoes in this too?
Reply
- Kathleen says
  February 23, 2024 at 10:38 am
  
  Hi, Bailey. I think that’ll do well. I also have sausage potato green bean casserole, here’s the link.
  Reply
Jerry Wilburn says
January 18, 2024 at 9:56 am

I’m in my 70’s and have cooked green beans this way since I learned how watching my mother when I was about 6 years old sitting on the counter while she cooked. She learned as a young girl from her mother as well. Bacon and onion have always been part of how they been cooked. I’ve also added mushrooms on occasion for a bit of a different taste. Not always, just occasionally. BTW, not that it matters, I’m a male person. Thanks Kathleen for putting your recipe out there. It’s definitely a good one to have. Simple and delicious.
Reply
- Kathleen says
  January 18, 2024 at 2:34 pm
  
  Jerry, I love to hear that this recipe is like you Mothers!!! That makes my day. I try to capture all of my Grandmas and other family members recipes here, so if you didn’t happen to get the written recipe from your family, you have a place to find it! Happy cooking my friend!
  Reply
Joe says
January 6, 2024 at 6:32 pm

Perfect! My Southern wife loves them. They take her back home. Served with pan seared pork tenderloin and roasted potatoes. A hit!!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  January 6, 2024 at 11:21 pm
  
  Wow, that’s super amazing, Joe! I’m so happy it was a hit and you paired it perfectly! 🙂
  Reply
Gary West says
August 9, 2023 at 7:42 am

You can also use beef flavored broth
Reply
- Kathleen says
  August 10, 2023 at 8:56 am
  
  Agreed! 🙂
  Reply
Valori Moore says
June 24, 2023 at 5:52 am

THANK YOU! My family will usually not eat green beans but there wasn’t one left! Followed recipe exactly. So easy and so good!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  June 24, 2023 at 11:12 am
  
  OMG, that’s so great! I’m glad they like this. Thanks for the review 🙂
  Reply
Barbara Williams says
February 28, 2023 at 5:41 pm

Thank you I give this one a 10
Reply
- Kathleen says
  February 28, 2023 at 7:15 pm
  
  So happy you enjoy these beans, Barbara! My Grandma would truly be proud!! <3
  Reply
Kim says
April 13, 2022 at 5:15 am

This is the only recipes I use for green beans! Absolutely love it!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  April 17, 2022 at 6:17 pm
  
  Yaaay! Thank you so much, Kim! 🙂
  Reply
Kathi says
February 22, 2022 at 1:32 pm

I have always made my green beans like this – but added 1 tablespoon of garlic powder to them. Yum!!!!!!! Only way to make them in CA too.
Reply
- Kathleen says
  February 23, 2022 at 8:09 am
  
  Hi, Kathi! Yes to garlic powder! Thank you 🙂
  Reply
Caitlin says
November 21, 2021 at 8:12 am

Can you remove the bacon after cooking and add it to the finished dish so it stays crisp? thx!!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  November 21, 2021 at 9:42 am
  
  Hi, Caitlin! Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you!
  Reply
Angie says
September 8, 2021 at 10:19 pm

This is a family favorite. I use whatever broth I have on hand or bullion cubes in a pinch. I also sauté diced onions in the bacon grease.
Reply
- Kathleen says
  September 9, 2021 at 6:09 am
  
  Hi, Angie! That’s perfect 🙂
  Thank you for your positive review!
  Reply
Shari says
August 17, 2021 at 8:16 pm

I bought fresh green beans for the first time and wasn’t sure how to make them. Your recipe took me right back to my folks house where my Mom made green beans just like these! Thank you so much for a recipe that is easy to follow and brings back sweet memories of many days gone by!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  August 17, 2021 at 10:16 pm
  
  Oh, Shari, you’ve made my day! I love when my recipes remind you of Mama’s cooking. I’ve got lots down-home recipes so I hope you find many more you like!!
  Reply
Kimberly A Wilson says
December 17, 2020 at 5:49 pm

I grew up on fresh green beans and my mom made the BEST! This is now my go to recipe every time I serve green beans. Absolutely LOVE it!
Reply
- Kathleen says
  December 17, 2020 at 8:13 pm
  
  I’m so happy to hear that, Kimberly! So glad you loved these green beans <3
  Reply

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Southern Style Green Beans {Grandma's Recipe!} Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

FAQs

What seasoning is best for green beans? ›

Spices and Herbs that Pair Perfectly with String Beans (These are Organic Too):

Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
Onion (minced, powder or granules)
Parsley as a finisher with some lemons squeezed on top.
Toasted sesame seeds.
Classic black malabar pepper and salt.
Basil.
Oregano.
Thyme.

More items...

Feb 24, 2021

Learn More Now ›

Why do people snap the ends off of green beans? ›

Cooks snap off the end of green beans so that they can cook evenly and be more tender. Unless the green beans are already tender, then you don't have to worry about snapping the end off because the end only needs snapped off to help develop the beans on the inside of the green bean.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it better to steam or boil fresh green beans? ›

Steaming is slightly healthier because it keeps some of the nutrients intact, but is also a more risk-free cooking method since they're less likely to overcook.

Read The Full Story ›

Can I freeze fresh green beans? ›

Green beans can be frozen in their raw state, but consider blanching and shocking them for the best results. Not only does cooking them this way lock in their vibrant green color, but Registered Dietitian and Chef Abbie Gellman says it also eliminates surface microorganisms and dirt, preventing deterioration.

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What makes green beans taste better? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

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How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

Dried beans cooked with sea salt and water are delicious, but adding an onion, garlic, or other aromatics to the pot will make them even more flavorful!

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How long do green beans take to boil? ›

The perfect green bean should be a nice bright green (unless it's the yellow or purple variety), with no blemishes. They should be firm and snap when bent in half. A 3–5 minute boil or steam will cook the beans whilst retaining their crunch.

Know More ›

Are canned green beans better than fresh green beans? ›

Don't worry — they're still nutritious. “Canned green beans have a similar nutrient content to fresh or frozen,” says Whitson. “But choose low-sodium varieties, or rinse them before cooking to remove any added salt.” Canned beans are already soft, so they don't require much cooking.

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Why are my boiled green beans tough? ›

On a cooking note, regarding tough green beans, you may be undercooking them.

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What happens if you don't blanch before freezing? ›

Freezing vegetables without blanching them first results in faded or dulled coloring, as well as off flavors and textures.

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How long do green beans last in the fridge? ›

It's best to store your fresh green beans in the fridge, otherwise store green beans in the freezer if you want them to last longer. You can also store unwashed and unblanched green beans in the refrigerator for up to about seven days before you need to store your green beans in the freezer.

How to keep green beans crisp? ›

How to Store Green Beans. Green beans should be stored unwashed in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If they came in a bag, keep them in the bag when storing. If they came in a small berry box from the market, transfer them to a reusable storage or plastic bag before storing them in the fridge.