This Smothered Green Beans Recipe is made with fresh green beans (or canned), bacon, onions, and broth and is sure to become one of your most requested side dishes.
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Why This Recipe
This is one of those simple side dish recipes that just about everyone loves.
- One of the most well-known classic southern side dishes for both special occasions or just your average weeknight dinner
- Easy to make with ingredients you probably already have, yet full of flavor
- Easily customizable - see variations below
It's a must-have for us at potlucks, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and can even be eaten as a main dish with a dinner roll or slice of cornbread.
Ingredients
This green bean side dish uses minimal ingredients that come together to maximize flavor.
- Thick cut bacon
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Fresh green beans
- Chicken broth
- Brown sugar - light or dark is fine
- Butter
- Salt and pepper
See the recipe card at the bottom for quantities and directions.
Equipment
Here are my favorite kitchen items I use to make these green beans.
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Kitchen shears (optional) - I prefer to use these for chopping bacon
- Garlic press (optional) - I prefer to use instead of mincing garlic cloves
- Dutch oven - I also like this one as a more budget-friendly option
- Cooking spatula
- Colander
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Ladle
- Bowls for serving/eating
Substitutions, Additions, and Variations
- Bacon - these green beans can instead be made with ham hocks (will take a while to cook to soften), ham (great way to use leftover ham) sausages such as kielbasa, or smoked turkey
- Onion and garlic - while fresh has the best flavor, dried or frozen varieties can be used instead
- Fresh green beans - canned green beans can be used instead of fresh beans but will be softer in texture. You can drain or leave undrained if you want more pot liquor. I haven't tested with frozen green beans but I think they should work okay as well but I wouldn't thaw them first.
- Chicken broth - can use water and chicken soup base or bouillon; vegetable stock or other flavors of broth you prefer can also be substituted
- Potatoes - potatoes are another tasty addition, especially if you want to use this recipe as more of a main dish. Halved small potatoes or large potatoes cut into small pieces should take about 20 to 30 minutes to cook until fork tender. Additional broth or water may need to be added. Red potatoes or new potatoes are traditionally used.
Instructions
One thing I love about this recipe is that after cooking the bacon and onion, it's pretty much set and forget with an occasional stir.
Step 1: Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
Smart Savvy Tip: Start cooking the bacon in an unheated pan. This will help reduce excess splatter.
Step 2: Go through green beans: remove any poor-quality beans, string them if needed, and wash them.
Step 3: When bacon just starts to crisp, add in onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for about 1 minute or until fragrant.
Step 4: Stir in green beans, chicken broth, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt and pepper, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir.
Step 5: Bring to slight boil, cover, and lower heat to a gentle simmer.
Step 6: Cook until desired tenderness, anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours. Stir occasionally to make sure the beans aren't sticking or cooking too high.
Step 7: Stir in butter, taste for salt and pepper, then enjoy!
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
I haven't tried freezing these green beans as they never last long. I do think they have a chance to turn extra mushy when thawing.
FAQ
What adds flavor to green beans?
Green beans can be a bit plain on their own, but all of the other ingredients, especially the bacon, onion, and broth, in this recipe complement each other to add extra flavor.
Can I use canned green beans?
Yes. I've used canned green beans plenty of times for this recipe. You can choose to drain them or not. I'd use 3 15-ounce cans.
Should you rinse canned green beans if using them?
You don't have to rinse them unless you don't want excess liquid or if you want to reduce some of the sodium content.
More Side Dishes
Looking for more side dish ideas? Try these:
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with green beans:
Smothered Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or pressed)
- 24 ounces fresh green beans, washed
- 2 to 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted for your preference)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place chopped bacon in an unheated large Dutch oven and turn the heat to medium. Starting the bacon in an unheated pan will help prevent excess splatter. Cook until the bacon begins to crisp, stirring periodically.
- While the bacon cooks, go through the green beans removing any bad beans, and then wash them. String and break off the ends and snap into bite-sized pieces if needed.
- Add in the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring periodically. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant, stirring constantly.
- Add in green beans and stir. Pour in 2 to 3 cups of chicken broth, enough to almost completely cover the green beans. Add in 1 tablespoon brown sugar, a pinch of salt and pepper, and stir well, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any bacon fond.
- Bring to a gentle boil. Cover and lower heat to keep a gentle simmer but not a full-on boil.
- Cook until desired tenderness. If you want slightly crisp green beans you may need to only cook around 20 to 30 minutes. If you like the traditional southern very soft green beans cook for 1 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally to be sure the beans aren’t sticking to the bottom and that they aren’t cooking too high or low.
- After the green beans are cooked to your liking, stir in 2 tablespoons butter and taste for salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
Frozen green beans (24 oz) or 3 ~15-ounce canned of green beans can be used instead of fresh.
Please see the full article at https://smartsavvyliving.com/smothered-green-beans-recipe/ for recipe tips, substitutions, and more.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 100Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 370mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information may not be accurate. Optional ingredients, garnishes, and toppings aren't included. Nutrition information is calculated automatically by and provided by Nutritionix. Exact nutrition information depends on the specific ingredients, brands, and amounts you use. For more precise nutrition values please input the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts into your preferred nutrition calculator.