Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans

These Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans are going to knock your socks off! Green beans and bacon – how could you go wrong?!

I remember having rows of green beans growing in our East Texas garden when I was young. We planted, picked, snapped, cooked, and canned them. I will always remember sitting on the back porch in the evening with my family snapping those veggies into the perfect sized pieces. Those green beans were delicious. Returning to my roots, here is an amazing green bean recipe. Lots of flavor and super easy! ENJOY!

My favorite tips:

*The beauty of this recipe is the delicious blend of flavors from simple ingredients. An absolute favorite.
*You can reduce the calories significantly by reducing the bacon from 1 pound to 1/2 pound. It will bring a serving down to 289 calories. If you go vegetarian and eliminate the bacon, your calories will be 87 calories per serving. I have to say, though, the bacon is SO delicious in this side dish!
*This dish goes so well with Shrimp and Andouille Etouffee! It is tasty with any of your favorite southern foods. I also enjoy it as a side with my Favorite Jerk Chicken!
*As an alternative to olive oil, you may want to use a Tbsp of your rendered bacon fat in the skillet for cooking the onions and green beans. Delicious flavor!

*You can make this recipe in your slow cooker or in a multi-cooker on the slow cook setting. I love the programmable slow cooker because it will automatically switch to warm when the cooking cycle is done. 

*You will want to use a large skillet for the first part of the recipe. At least 12 inches to give yourself plenty of room. These are my favorite.  

Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans

Recipe by AmiessaCourse: SidesCuisine: SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

3

hours 

Calories

490

kcal

An instant favorite! Slow-cooked green beans with bacon. Delicious!

Ingredients

• 2.5 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed with ends snapped off

• 1 pound bacon, fried and crumbled into bits

• 1 small to medium yellow onion, chopped

• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  

• 5 sprigs fresh thyme

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

• salt and pepper to taste

• Garnish – lemon wedges

Directions

• Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat. Add onions. Cook until translucent.
• Add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to skillet. Add green beans. Cook approximately 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until beans are hot. They will still be crunchy.
• Add green beans to slow cooker. Add crumbled bacon, thyme sprigs, and vegetable broth. Stir well. Cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally. Add additional broth if additional liquid is desired.
• Remove thyme stems. Serve hot with your favorite main dish. Garnish with lemon if desired. ENJOY!

Notes

• You can reduce the calories significantly by reducing the bacon from 1 pound to 1/2 pound. It will bring a serving down to 289 calories. If you go vegetarian and eliminate the bacon, your calories will be 87 calories per serving. I have to say, though, the bacon is SO delicious in this Southern side dish!
• As an alternative to olive oil, you may want to use a Tbsp of your rendered bacon fat in the skillet for cooking the onions and green beans. Delicious flavor!
• This dish goes so well with Shrimp and Andouille Etouffee! It is tasty with any of your favorite southern foods. I also enjoy it as a side with my Favorite Jerk Chicken!
• You can make this recipe in your slow cooker or in a multi-cooker on the slow cook setting. I love the programmable slow cooker because it will automatically switch to warm when the cooking cycle is done. 
• You will want to use a large skillet for the first part of the recipe. At least 12 inches to give yourself plenty of room. These are my favorite.