Southern Style Green Beans Recipe {Video}

These Southern-style green beans cooked with bacon make an epic side dish everyone will love!

Southern Style Green Beans Recipe

We love this easy southern green beans recipe with bacon. I made this for my husband's grandmother to go with a stovetop meatloaf I made for them, and my dear husband walked into the kitchen when I wasn't looking and devoured half the bowl.

I made three batches of these Southern green beans in one afternoon for enough servings to last a while.

This green bean side dish paired perfectly with the meatloaf and the Ritz Chicken Casserole I made that day.

Who knew a vegetable could be a comfort food.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make epic Southern-style green beans! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Bacon and Bacon Grease
• Green Beans
• Chicken Stock/Chicken Broth
• Garlic Powder
• Salt and Pepper 

Bacon Grease - If I know I am going to make these green beans in the afternoon for dinner. I will cook bacon for breakfast and leave the grease in the pan until the afternoon and reheat it. You can also use a bacon grease container to store bacon grease/bacon drippings in the refrigerator if you want to have it on hand and ready.

Green Beans - We make these southern green beans with bacon year-round so I use canned green beans most of the time with this recipe. You can easily switch out the canned green beans for fresh green beans if you have them available.

Chicken Stock - You can also make this with vegetable stock if you want to. Either chicken or veggie stock will taste great in this recipe.

Garlic Powder - Feel free to reduce or add garlic powder based on how much you love garlic.

Equipment needed

• Cast Iron Pan/Frying Pan: You will want to use a large pan that fits all the ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon/Slotted Spoon

How to Make Southern-Style Green Beans

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

1. Cook bacon and place on a paper towel to drain; keep bacon grease in the pan.
2. Add in green beans and toss them to coat them in the bacon grease. Let them cook for a few minutes in the bacon grease.
3. Pour in chicken stock, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir. Top with bacon pieces
4. Turn the burner on low and cover the pan with the lid slightly off-center so the moisture evaporates. Cook green beans stirring a few times while cooking.

Preparation and Storage

Make-Ahead: There are a few ways to make these Southern-style green beans beforehand! You can make the bacon beforehand and save it for this recipe, or you can use frozen or canned green beans so you don’t have to simmer fresh green beans.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within three to five days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: You can portion the green beans into an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to three months. When ready to serve them, just thaw them out and heat them in the microwave.

How to Reheat: You can reheat leftovers using your microwave or skillet, depending on how many portions you prepare.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

We make these Southern green beans with bacon year-round, so I usually use canned green beans with this recipe. You can easily switch out the canned green beans for fresh green beans if you have them available.

You can also make this recipe with vegetable stock if you want to. Either chicken or veggie stock will taste great in this dish.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Replace the bacon, chicken stock, and bacon grease with plant-based alternatives to make this recipe vegetarian and vegan.

Gluten-Free: The ingredients in this green bean recipe are typically gluten-free, making the recipe gluten-free. Check for a gluten-free label on each package if you are highly sensitive.

Alcohol-Free Option: We haven’t seen any boozy versions of these Southern-style green beans, and we don’t use alcohol in this recipe.

Smaller Serving Size: The written recipe makes seven servings. Scale it up or down to your desired yield.

Make It Spicy: Add a bit of spice by adding ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Larger Group/More Servings: You can easily double or triple this recipe, depending on how many people you serve. I like using a large Dutch oven or large pan for huge batches to ensure the green beans have enough space to simmer on the stovetop.

Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 5 grams of sugar per serving. Use a sugar-free bacon and chicken stock to make it sugar-free.

Tips for the Best Southern-Style Green Beans

• When cooking fresh green beans Southern-style, you want to plan for them to cook low and slow. The longer they cook, the more flavor they have.
• Make sure to trim the fresh green beans before cooking them after they are rinsed and dried. Dry the green beans before you start so they don't react with the bacon grease and cause grease splatters.
• If I know, I will make these green beans in the afternoon for dinner. I will cook bacon for breakfast, leave the grease in the pan until the afternoon, and reheat it. You can also use a bacon grease container to store bacon grease/bacon drippings in the refrigerator if you want to have it on hand and ready.
• Feel free to reduce or add garlic powder based on how much you love garlic.
• Add a tablespoon before serving if you like a butter flavor on your green beans.
• We skip adding onions, but if you love the flavor, add a medium-sized diced onion.
• These work great barbecued in a cast-iron pan. They would also be fantastic on a campfire in a cast iron pan; though they smell so amazing, they may attract people to visit.

What to Serve with Southern-Style Green Beans

This Southern take on classic green beans is bacon-lover-approved! Here are some menu planning suggestions for your next Easter, Christmas, or holiday feast.

Sides: Pineapple Stuffing, Carrot Soufflé, Creamed Corn Casserole, Slow Cooker Mashed Cauliflower, Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes, Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Main Dishes: Crock Pot Turkey, Crock Pot Bourbon Maple Pork Loin, Crock Pot Guinness Corned Beef & Cabbage, Crock Pot Chicken & Stuffing, Crock Pot Orange Glazed Ham, Crock Pot Coke Glazed Ham, Bourbon Baked Ham

Desserts: Eggnog Cookies, 4 Ingredient Christmas Crack, Easy Holiday Reindeer Chow, Church Window Cookies, No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Dip, Easy Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Glaze, Ambrosia Salad, Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball, Cranberry Fluff Salad

Drinks: Jelly Donut Shot, Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot, Bay Breeze Cocktail, RumChata Pudding Shots, Pomegranate Breeze Martini, Mulled Cherry Cider Cocktail

When to Serve

• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Easter
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Any Holiday Dinner!

Great Side Dishes

Carrot Soufflé

Creamed Corn Casserole

Easy Fried Rice

Broccoli Casserole

Cheesy Ranch Potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato

Easy Macaroni Salad

Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams

Check out these great sides for ribs!

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