Southern style green beans are fresh beans simmered for an hour with diced bacon, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and a touch of Cajun seasoning until they are meltingly soft and full of savory flavor. The recipe takes ten minutes of prep, sixty minutes on the stove, and serves six.
The beans are cooked well past the snappy stage on purpose, so they relax and soak up the smoky bacon and broth. The result is a classic side with a rich pot liquor that tastes even better the next day. Once the pot is simmering, it needs only an occasional stir, so you can focus on the rest of the meal.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love Southern Style Green Beans
A slow simmer builds deep flavor.
Bacon and broth season every bean.
Once started, the pot needs little attention.
What You Need for Southern Style Green Beans
- The beans are one pound of fresh green beans, washed and trimmed, with four slices of diced smoked bacon, one chopped medium onion, and three minced garlic cloves.
- The liquid is two cups of chicken broth, with one teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and a spoonful of fresh chopped herbs stirred in at the end.
Bacon. It gives smoke and richness.
Onion and garlic. They create the savory base.
Chicken broth. It simmers into a flavorful pot liquor.
Cajun seasoning. It adds mild heat and spice.
Fresh herbs. They freshen the finished beans.
Simmering Southern Style Green Beans Step by Step
1. Prep. Wash the beans, trim the ends, and chop the onion and garlic.
2. Render the bacon. Cook the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, then leave the fat in the pan.
3. Soften the aromatics. Add the onion and garlic to the fat and cook until soft and fragrant.
4. Simmer. Add the beans, broth, and Cajun seasoning, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook, partly covered, for about sixty minutes.
5. Finish. Stir in the herbs, taste, adjust the seasoning, and serve with the pot liquor.
Use a deep skillet or a wide pot so the beans cook in an even layer. A crowded pot cooks unevenly and leaves some beans firm while others fall apart. Keep the heat at a lazy simmer, with only a few bubbles breaking the surface, and stir every fifteen minutes.
Do not salt the pot early. Bacon and chicken broth already add a lot of salt, and the liquid reduces as it cooks, which concentrates it further. Wait until the end to taste the beans, then add salt or a splash of vinegar to balance the richness. A spoonful of the pot liquor over rice or cornbread is the favorite part for many cooks.
Notes and Swaps for Southern Style Green Beans
Flag the allergens. Check the labels on the bacon, broth, and Cajun seasoning, since they may be processed with other allergens.
Cook the bacon fully. Cook it until crisp and wash your hands and tools after handling raw bacon.
Reheat safely. Reheat leftovers until they reach 165 degrees F.
Add smoked sausage. It turns the pot into a meal.
Add potatoes. Small diced potatoes make it filling.
Use a thick pot. It holds an even heat.
Add vinegar. A splash balances the richness.
Check trusted guidance. Read the Purdue Extension guide to storing leftovers for safe storage of cooked vegetables.
For a lighter version, use turkey bacon and low sodium broth. Frozen green beans work too, though they soften faster, so start checking them after about forty minutes. A pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes adds a little more depth.
If you like a firmer bean, cook them for only thirty minutes, though the flavor will be milder. You can also bake the pot, covered, at 350 degrees F for about an hour. Whichever method you choose, the beans are done when they are very soft and the broth has reduced by half.
Storing Southern Style Green Beans
Cool the beans and store them in their liquid in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat them on the stove over medium heat until steaming. They also freeze well for up to three months, and the flavor deepens after a night in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Southern Style Green Beans
Serve the beans hot with the pot liquor alongside meatloaf, baked ham, or fried chicken. For more dishes, try crockpot beef and bean chili, homemade crusty bread loaves, cheddar jalapeno corn pudding, or herb seasoned beef meatloaf.
Questions About Southern Style Green Beans
How long do southern style green beans take to cook?
About one hour on a gentle simmer.
Can you make southern style green beans ahead of time?
Yes. The flavor improves overnight.
Can you freeze southern style green beans?
Yes, for up to three months.
Can I use canned green beans?
Yes, with a shorter cook time.
Can I skip the bacon?
Yes. Use olive oil and smoked paprika.
Southern Style Green Beans
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Spoon
- Cutting board
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans trimmed
- 4 slices smoked bacon diced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp fresh herbs chopped
Instructions
Cooking
- Prep. Wash and trim the beans, and chop the onion and garlic.
- Render. Cook the bacon until crisp.
- Soften. Cook the onion and garlic in the fat.
- Simmer. Add the beans, broth, and seasoning and simmer about 60 minutes.
- Finish. Stir in the herbs and serve.
