The Country Style Green Beans are made with fewer than 5-ingredients and are so delicious. These are true Southern Style Green Beans!
The easy-to-make Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon recipe is finally here! Cooking with green beans is a staple at our home. This is an easy "set it and forget it" side dish; you'll have more time to spend on the rest of the meal or just visiting with your guests.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Set it and forget it - Just a little prep, then the slow cooker does all the work. It's the perfect hands-off dish for busy days.
- Easy pantry items - Made with simple, budget-friendly ingredients you might already have on hand.
- Perfect for any occasion - Cooking with green beans is perfect for a holiday meal, potluck, Sunday dinner, or weeknight side dish. This recipe always fits right in.
- Big, comforting flavor - Slow cooking the green beans with bacon creates a rich, savory flavor.
Tim's ProTip: Sautéing the onions makes all the difference; it adds layers of flavor.
Ingredients
- Green Beans: I used frozen for this recipe.
- Onion: I prefer a sweet onion, but honestly, any will work.
- Bacon: To add all the delicious bacon flavor.
- Salt & Pepper: For enhancing flavor!
How to make Southern Style Green Beans
Step 1: Dice the onion and chop the bacon.
Step 2: In a small skillet, sauté the onion with 2 slices of the chopped bacon until softened. Note: You can substitute with oil if you prefer not to use bacon grease.
Step 3: Add the green beans, remaining uncooked bacon, water, and sautéed onions to the crockpot or slow cooker.
Step 4: Cover and set on low for 7 hours. Stir, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue cooking for another 2 hours. You can extend the cook time for up to 10 hours for extra-tender green beans.
Substitutions and Variations
- Types of Green Beans - I used frozen, but you can use fresh french style green beans, or even canned green beans.
- Oil Source - If you're not using bacon grease, you can sauté the onions in olive oil, butter ir any neutral cooking oil you prefer.
- Add Potatoes - Red potatoes are my favorite addition! Just cut them into small pieces so they cook evenly.
- Replace the bacon - You could use ham, sausage, or smoked turkey. You could even add in a ham hock while the green beans cook for extra smoky flavor.
Tim's Expert Tips
- If you want to add some heat, add in some chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or chipotle peppers.
- If your green beans seem a little dry while cooking, just add a splash of chicken broth to keep everything saucy.
- Taste before serving - Sometimes a little extra salt and pepper right at the end bring everything together perfectly.
- Don't add too much liquid at the start. The green beans will release some moisture as they cook. You only need enough to get things going.
What to serve with Country-Style Green Beans
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate - Store cooled leftover Southern-style green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer - These green beans can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results before reheating.
- Reheat - Reheat green beans in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until heated through. You can also reheat them on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water if needed.
Faq:
Yes, you can use canned green beans in a pinch. If you do, make sure to drain off the liquid and rinse them well with fresh water. Rinsing helps remove that metallic "canned" flavor and gives you a much cleaner, fresher taste once they're cooked.
Yes. If you don't have all day, you can cook them on high for about 4-5 hours instead of low and slow. That said, this is one of those recipes where the longer it cooks, the better the flavor gets.
To make these vegetarian, simply omit the bacon and sauté the onions in olive oil instead. For extra flavor, I also recommend adding a little fresh garlic along with the onions. It helps replace the flavor you would get from the bacon.
More Vegetable side dishes
What are the "must-haves" on your family menus? Let me know your family's favorite recipes in the comments! I love gathering ideas from fellow cooks!
Recipe
Country Style Green Beans
Ingredients
- 5 bags Cut Green Beans 12 oz frozen
- ¾ cup Onion diced
- 4 slices Bacon chopped
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Dice the onion and chop the bacon. ¾ cup Onion 4 slices Bacon
- In a small skillet, sauté the onion with 2 slices of the chopped bacon until softened. Note: You can substitute with oil if you prefer not to use bacon grease.
- Add the green beans, remaining uncooked bacon, water, and sautéed onions to the crockpot or slow cooker. 5 bags Cut Green Beans 2 tablespoon water
- Cover and set on low for 7 hours. Stir, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue cooking for another 2 hours. You can extend the cook time for up to 10 hours for extra-tender green beans. 1 teaspoon Salt ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Notes
- If you want to add some heat, add in some chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or chipotle peppers.
- If your green beans seem a little dry while cooking, just add a splash of chicken broth to keep everything saucy.
- Taste before serving - Sometimes a little extra salt and pepper right at the end bring everything together perfectly.
- Don't add too much liquid at the start. The green beans will release some moisture as they cook. You only need enough to get things going.
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate - Store cooled leftover Southern-style green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer - These green beans can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results before reheating.
- Reheat - Reheat green beans in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until heated through. You can also reheat them on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water if needed.
Nutrition
Tim's Cookbook - Available Now!
It's finally here! Experience the recipes that Chef Tim's family has been raving about! Over 40 family-approved recipes that are easy to follow and easy to eat.
Tim specializes in homestyle cooking with a bit of global flare inspired by his travels to over 60 countries while working as a missionary. We hope you and your loved ones love these recipes as much as our family does.
*This post may contain affiliate link(s), so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Sheryl Lambert says
The best ever! Thank you for the tasty, easy recipe.
CookitwithTim says
You are so welcome, I am glad that you enjoyed them.