Real Southern Style Green Beans
Savor the soul-warming flavors of the South with this Real Southern Style Green Beans recipe—a true comfort food classic! Featuring tender, slow-simmered fresh green beans infused with the smoky richness of bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and aromatic garlic, this dish is a celebration of rustic, down-home cooking. Simmered to perfection in savory chicken broth with a hint of butter and a dash of red pepper flakes for gentle heat, these green beans are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Perfect as a hearty side dish for Sunday dinners, family gatherings, or holiday feasts, this slow-cooked masterpiece is as easy to make as it is satisfying to eat. With just 15 minutes of prep and simple ingredients, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dish brimming with Southern flavor.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh green beans
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic cloves
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Instructions
Wash the fresh green beans thoroughly and snap off the ends. Break the beans in half if they are particularly long.
Cut the bacon into small pieces using either kitchen scissors or a sharp knife.
Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic cloves.
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until it begins to crisp. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the diced onion to the pot and sauté it in the bacon fat until it softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, being careful not to let it burn.
Add the green beans to the pot and stir well to coat them in the bacon fat and onion mixture.
Pour in the chicken broth, ensuring the beans are mostly covered. If they are not, add more broth or water as needed.
Add the unsalted butter, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pot and stir gently.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid.
Simmer the green beans on low heat for about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until they are very tender and infused with flavor.
Taste the beans and adjust seasoning if necessary before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
139 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 6.9 g | 9% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.4 g | 17% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 18 mg | 6% | |
| Sodium | 805 mg | 35% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13.4 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.5 g | 16% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.2 g | ||
| Protein | 8.3 g | 17% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 79 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 2.1 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 531 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
