Description
The Southern Crockpot Green Beans Recipe is a flavorful, easy-to-make side dish featuring tender green beans slow-cooked with smoky bacon, onions, garlic, and simple seasonings in a crockpot. Perfectly soft yet textured, this classic Southern dish complements a variety of main courses and is ideal for busy days and entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into uniform pieces
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1 medium onion, sliced or diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Green Beans: Wash and trim the ends of fresh green beans, then cut them into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and a pleasant texture.
- Cook the Bacon: In a skillet, cook diced bacon over medium heat until it’s crispy; then set it aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan for added flavor.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add sliced onions and minced garlic to the bacon fat in the skillet, cooking until they soften and release their natural sweetness, about 3-5 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients in the Crockpot: Transfer the bacon, onions, garlic, and green beans to your slow cooker. Pour in chicken broth and season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle heat.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the green beans are tender but not mushy, and all flavors have melded beautifully.
Notes
- Choose fresh, firm green beans for the best texture.
- Do not skip the bacon, as the rendered fat infuses authentic Southern flavor.
- Check seasoning near the end of cooking and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Avoid overcooking to prevent mushy beans; cook just until tender.
- Use low or high crockpot settings wisely depending on your timeline.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Southern green beans, crockpot green beans, slow cooker green beans, easy green beans side dish, Southern side dish, crockpot recipe, gluten free side