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SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS

Are you looking to make delicious Pot of Beans?  you have to try these flavorful Southern Green Beans and Potatoes.

What could be better than Beans made with potatoes, bacon, garlic, onion, chicken broth, pepper, and a hit of sugar? 

These Green Beans are the perfect side dish. They go with almost everything.

If you need to prepare green beans in a slow cooker to transport to a family gathering, you may want to check out these Slow Cooker Cheesy Green Beans.

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HOW TO MAKE THE BEST SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS with Potatoes and Bacon What could be better than Southern Green Beans made with potatoes, bacon, garlic, onion, chicken broth, pepper, and a hit of sugar? #greenbeans #beans #vegetables #Southern #recipe #Southerngreenbeans #easyrecipe #recipesforourdailybread

Being a Southern Girl, I was raised on these green beans.  Today, I still love these Southern Green Beans, and I prepare them on special occasions.  The only difference is I do not cook them until they are mushy like I grew up on.  I like them tender but not cooked to death.

Growing Up With Fresh Green Beans

My father would get bushels of green beans, purple hull peas, every summer. I not sure where he would get our green beans from but he always got a ton.  We would spend hours as a family stringing and snapping beans and peas.  Most meals included a fresh pot of green beans or peas and cornbread during the summer.

What is the difference between Bush Beans and Pole Beans?

Green beans, string beans, snap beans are all the same. The main difference is how they grow. There are two categories of green beans, bush or pole beans. This means the green beans either grow from a bush, low to the grown, or a pole. These types of green beans are climbers. If the green beans can grow without any extra support to hold them up they are called bush beans.

Another difference between the beans are Pole beans keep producing as you pick them. Most beans that are died are pole beans such as Navy beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Bush beans produce most of its beans at the same time and then they are finished producing for the season.

Snap beans should be picked when they reach four to five inches long. You should pick them before you start seeing the seeds or beans bulging out. They should also be able to snap which will indicate freshness.

Can I use something besides Bacon in these Green Beans?

Bacon is the most common seasoning for Green Beans but if you have a ham bone leftover it is perfect for these beans.  Boil the bone down using the chicken broth, water or a combination of the two until the meat falls off or pulls off easy.  If you are using a honey ham bone, you do not need to add the sugar to the beans.  They will be perfectly sweet enough.

Southern Green Beans with Bacon

First Step: Fry the Bacon

Normally, I prepare my bacon in the oven. It is the easiest way to cook bacon. If you have not tried it, read my full post about cooking Oven Bacon Here. For these green beans, I start by cutting my bacon into small pieces. Next, I fry the bacon pieces in a large dutch oven.

While the bacon is frying, snap your green beans into two-inch pieces or the size you prefer. Next, rinse your beans well. Submerge them in a pot or large bowl full of water. Drain the water and repeat.

Southern Green Beans with Potatoes

When you add potatoes to these green beans, it makes them a meal. The potatoes are not only filling but super flavorful. They are like sponges that soak up all the broth and seasonings you put in these green beans. You can leave them out of this recipe but you will be missing a fabulous treat.

Third Step: Potatoes

Wash the small red potatoes and remove any bad spots. Cut the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Next, add the potatoes, salt, pepper, and sugar in with the bacon.

Fourth Step: Green Beans

Add the green beans, chopped cooked bacon, and chicken broth to the stockpot. Plus, enough water to cover the beans halfway up the pot.

Sixth Step: Cook the Beans

  • Cook until beans are tender about 1 hour on low simmer heat.
  • TIME WILL DEPEND ON HOW HIGH YOUR HEAT IS ON YOUR STOVE.
  • DO NOT OVERCOOK GREEN BEANS! THEY WILL GET MUSHY
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Green Beans Were Finger Foods In My House

When my kids were at the age of eating finger foods, I would prepare a large pot of these Green Beans.  They loved them especially my twin boys.  I would cook them al dente and put them in a snack container for them to eat.  Not only did they eat them as a snack during the day but I carried green beans everywhere we went. They loved them!

Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

Cook these Southern Green Beans faster in your Pressure Cooker.

While competing at World Food Championships, I not only had an opportunity to cook with Gotham Steel Cookware but to learn about the company. Chances are you have seen some of their commercials and demonstrations like the ones below.  After watching their ads, you may have wondered if Gotham Steel cookware is really that good.  Are they really non-stick without any oil or butter?   You may even wonder if you can use a metal cooking utensils in them or if you can bake with them in your oven.   I was thrilled to test not only Gotham Steel Cookware but Bakeware too. #greenbreans #Southern #Southerngreenbeans #easyrecipe #beans

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

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  • Gotham Steel 10-Piece Kitchen Set with Non-Stick Ti-Ceramic Coating
  • Read my post about Gotham Steel.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS What could be better than Southern Green Beans made with potatoes, bacon, garlic, onion, chicken broth, pepper, and a hit of sugar? #greenbeans #beans #vegetables #Southern #recipe #Southerngreenbeans #easyrecipe #recipesforourdailybread
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4.06 from 34 votes

BEST SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS

What could be better than Southern Green Beans made with potatoes, bacon, garlic, onion, chicken broth, pepper, and a hit of sugar?
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr 30 mins
Total Time1 hr 20 mins
Course: side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beans, best green beans, green beans, sides, Southern green beans
Servings: 12
Calories: 149kcal
Author: Diane @Recipes for our Daily Bread

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds fresh green beans (fresh is better, but you can use frozen green beans)
  • 10 New potatoes washed and cut into bite sizes (or small golden potatoes)
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1 red onion diced small
  • One garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoons seasoning salt
  • One teaspoons black pepper
  • two teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
  • enough water to cover the beans halfway up the pot.

Instructions

  • Cut the bacon in small pieces and fry it in a large dutch oven on medium heat
  • Remove the bacon.
  • Saute the garlic and chopped onions until the onions are tender
  • Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, and sugar
  • Add the green beans, bacon, and chicken broth
  • Plus, enough water to cover the beans halfway up the pot.
  • Cook until beans are tender about 1 hour on low simmer heat
  • TIME WILL DEPEND ON HOW HIGH YOUR HEAT IS ON YOUR STOVE.
  • DO NOT OVERCOOK GREEN BEANS! THEY WILL GET MUSHY

Notes

After fresh green beans are cooked you normally get two cups per pound. If a person eats 4 ounces, it should feed 4 people. Therefore, my recipe calls for three pounds of fresh green beans which should feed 12 people.

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 560mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 790IU | Vitamin C: 28.2mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1.8mg
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21 thoughts on “SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS”

  1. Hi Diane. Say your brother lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky? I live about 35 miles from Elizabethtown in Greensburg, Kentucky. So as a Southern says. Howdy Neighbor!

    Your Green Beans beans sounds delish. If I cook fresh green beans I cook them either in a CrockPot or on top of the stove like you do. If I use green beans from store…. For my potatoes I put them in microwave and cook until almost tender and add them to my store bought green beans which I drain the water off and add some chicken broth along with some bacon grease and cook them down until they almost burn!

    I love all your southern recipes. Keep up the good work. I also am trying to get a website done for my southern recipes. Hopefully in the near future!

    • Helen,

      Thank you for stopping by Recipes For Our Daily Bread to see my Southern Green Beans. After fresh green beans are cooked you normally get two cups per pound. If a person eats 4 ounces, it should feed 4 people. Therefore, my recipe calls for three pounds of fresh green beans which should feed 12 people.

      I hope this helps.
      Thank you again for visiting my blog.
      Get recipes sent to your email here. //recipesforourdailybread.com/southern-side-dishes/

      Many Blessings,
      Diane Roark

    • Dani,

      Thank you for stopping by to try my Southern Green Beans. YES, you still need chicken broth and water in your Slow Cooker Green Beans. Put enough liquid to cover the green beans half way up. The beans will cook down into the liquid.

      Many Blessings,
      Diane Roark
      Please follow my blog and receive a weekly newsletter here: //recipesforourdailybread.com/southern-side-dishes/

    • Jessica,

      Thank you for stopping by Recipes For Our Daily Bread and leaving me a comment about my Southern Green Beans. Yes, you can use any type of Pole, Snap Beans, or Bush green beans which are most beans. The beans have to be picked before the shell get tough.
      I hope you get a chance to try these flavorful green beans.

      Have a fabulous Easter week!
      Blessings,
      Diane
      God Bless You and your sweet class,
      Diane Roark
      Please follow my blog and receive a weekly newsletter here: //recipesforourdailybread.com/southern-side-dishes/

  6. 5 stars
    I Love Southern Cooking !!!
    My First Husband pass went home to be with our Lord he was from Greenville, Temnn,
    My second Husband he is from Bryson City, North Carolina and for me I am a Northern Gail from Maryland !!!

    • Bea,

      Thank you for stopping by to check out my blog, Recipes for our Daily Bread. I am thrilled you found it. If you ever need any help with my recipes, please do not hesitate to ask. If you try any of them, let me know how they came out. My husband is also from Tennessee and my brother lives not too far from Greenville in Elizabethtown. Again, I am glad you found my site.
      God Bless You and your sweet class,
      Diane Roark
      Please follow my blog here:
      //recipesforourdailybread.com/southern-side-dishes/

    • Lenore,

      Thank you for stopping by Recipes For Our Daily Bread and reading my Southern Green Bean recipe. Yes, a lot of the water will evaporate. This is especially true if you leave the lid off. Make sure the water in the pot is at least about half way up at all times.

      Thank you again for checking out my blog. I hope you enjoy the Southern Green Beans. They have been a staple in my house my entire life especially on Sundays and holidays.
      Many blessings,
      Diane Roark

    • Tammy,

      Thank you for stopping by my recipe blog, Recipes For Our Daily Bread.com, and leaving me a comment about my Southern Green Beans. These green beans are very flavorful and delicious. I hope you will give them a try. No, you do not need to precook the potatoes. They will cook with the green beans and soak up all the flavors.
      Many blessings,
      Diane Roark

    • Tina,
      Thank you for stopping by recipesforourdailybread.com I am sorry my Southern Green Bean recipe was a little confusion. I corrected it on my blog and copies it below. You can cover the green beans and they will cook faster. Be sure to check them and stir them often. Also, It is easier to leave the bacon in the dutch oven. Before the bacon is hard, add the garlic and onions. If you cook the bacon hard and remove it, simply add it back when you add the potatoes.

      Fry the bacon in a large dutch oven on medium heat
      Before the bacon is cooked hard saute the garlic and chopped onions until the onions are tender
      Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, and sugar
      Add the green beans and chicken broth
      Cover with a lid and cook until beans are tender about 1 hours on low simmer heat.

      Thanks for stopping by recipesforourdailybread.com If you every have any questions, please ask me.
      Blessings,
      Diane Roark

  11. My grandmother actually was a big believer in using bacon grease for a peas recipe she used to make for us. So, love that you use bacon in your green bean recipe as this reminds me of that and now am definitely going to try the next time I am going to make green beans for us here. So, thanks so much Diane for sharing here 🙂

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