Oh yes — Southern-Style Green Beans 🫘💚
Slow-simmered, savory, and nothing like crisp steamed beans. These are meant to be tender, smoky, and full of flavor.
Southern-Style Green Beans (Classic)
Ingredients (4–6 servings)
- 1½–2 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4–6 slices bacon, chopped
or 1 smoked ham hock / ham shank - 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional but common)
- 3 cups chicken broth (or water)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Optional: pinch of sugar or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the bacon
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy.
Remove bacon bits and set aside, leaving the fat. - Sauté onion
Add onion to the bacon fat and cook until soft and lightly golden (5–7 minutes).
Add garlic if using; cook 30 seconds. - Add green beans & broth
Add green beans and broth (or water).
If using a ham hock, add it now. - Simmer low and slow
Bring to a boil, then reduce to low.
Cover and simmer 45–60 minutes (or longer) until beans are very tender. - Finish
Remove ham hock, shred meat, and return to pot.
Stir in bacon bits.
Season with salt, pepper, and optional sugar or red pepper flakes.
What makes them Southern
- Long simmering time
- Smoky pork flavor
- Soft, silky texture (not crunchy)
Tips from Southern kitchens
- The liquid (“pot liquor”) is gold — serve beans with a little broth
- Taste before salting (ham/bacon can be salty)
- Even better the next day
Variations
- Pressure cooker / Instant Pot: 15 minutes + natural release
- Slow cooker: 6–8 hours on LOW
- Vegetarian: Use smoked paprika + onion + veggie broth (different but tasty)
If you want, I can give you:
- 🥓 Old-fashioned ham hock version
- 🫛 Canned green bean method (Southern pantry style)
- 🍎 Sweet-and-savory Appalachian twist
Just say the word 😄
