This Southern Green Beans Recipe is a savory and tender recipe, which features smoky chopped bacon and convenient canned green beans. It’s a classic Southern staple, ready in about 55 minutes.
Jump to RecipeSouthern Green Beans Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ lb bacon, chopped
- 42 oz canned cut green beans, drained
- ¼ cup white onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
How To Make Southern Green Beans Recipe
- Render the bacon: Toss the chopped bacon into a large saucepan or pot. Cook over medium heat until the fat has rendered and the bacon is soft and browned, but not crispy. You want the texture to remain meaty.
- Add beans and seasoning: Pour the drained green beans into the pot with the bacon and grease. Stir in the sugar, salt, and black pepper gently to combine without mashing the beans.
- Layer the onions: Sprinkle the finely chopped white onion evenly over the top of the beans. Crucial Step: Do not stir the onions in. Let them sit on top to steam gently during the cooking process.
- Simmer: Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the liquid at the bottom to a light boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes. This long cook time transforms the texture of the canned beans.
- Stir and serve: Right before serving, remove the lid and stir the onions gently into the beans. Plate them up next to mashed potatoes or anything fried.
Recipe Tips
- Why not crispy bacon? In this style of green bean recipe, the bacon is meant to be a soft, savory component that melds with the beans rather than a crunchy garnish. Cooking it just until browned ensures the fat flavors the beans while the meat stays tender.
- The “Don’t Stir” Rule: Leaving the onions on top allows them to steam and sweat their flavor down into the beans without falling apart or becoming mushy at the bottom of the pot.
- Why add sugar? A teaspoon of sugar doesn’t make the beans sweet; it highlights the natural sweetness of the vegetable and balances the saltiness of the bacon grease and canned beans.
- Canned vs. Fresh: This recipe is specifically designed for canned beans to achieve that soft, “stewed” Southern texture. If using fresh beans, you would need to add water or broth and cook them significantly longer.
What To Serve With Southern Green Beans
This side dish is the backbone of a “Meat and Three” style meal.
- Fried Chicken: The salty beans cut through the breading.
- Meatloaf: A classic comfort food pairing.
- Mashed Potatoes: Mix the bean “pot liquor” (juice) with the potatoes.
- Cornbread: Perfect for soaking up the bacon broth.
How To Store Southern Green Beans Recipe
- Refrigerate: Store the cooled beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavor actually improves the next day as the bacon fat infuses the beans further.
- Reheat: Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave.
- Freeze: You can freeze these beans with their liquid in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Southern Green Beans Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 110
- Total Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 450mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 8g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 4g
Nutrition information is estimated per serving based on 6 servings.
FAQs
Yes, but turkey bacon has less fat. You will need to add a tablespoon of butter or vegetable oil to the pan when cooking the turkey bacon to ensure there is enough fat to flavor the beans.
Usually, the moisture remaining on the drained beans and the steam created inside the covered pot is enough. However, check it halfway through; if the pot looks bone dry, add a splash (1/4 cup) of water or chicken broth to prevent burning.
Canned beans are already cooked, but simmering them for 45 minutes allows them to break down slightly and absorb the bacon and onion flavor, changing them from “metallic” tasting to “home-cooked.”
Southern Green Beans Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: Southern AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalA traditional method for doctoring up canned green beans with bacon grease, onions, and a slow simmer for a tender, savory side dish.
Ingredients
¼ lb bacon, chopped
42 oz canned cut green beans, drained
¼ cup white onion, finely chopped
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Directions
- Fry chopped bacon in a saucepan over medium heat until soft and browned (not crisp).
- Add drained green beans, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to coat.
- Sprinkle chopped onions on top. Do not stir.
- Cover pot. Bring to a light boil, then reduce to low.
- Simmer for 45 minutes.
- Stir gently to incorporate onions and serve.
Notes
- Bacon Grease: If you have a jar of saved bacon grease, feel free to add an extra tablespoon for even more flavor.
- Salt: Canned beans vary in saltiness. Taste before serving and adjust the salt if necessary.
- Pot Liquor: The liquid left at the bottom of the pot is full of flavor; pour it over the beans when serving.
