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Southern-Style Green Beans
Tender and full of savory flavor.
Kristy Norrell
Kristy Norrell
Last Modified: January 14, 2025
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For most of my cooking years, I’ve made green beans pretty sparingly, but always cooked them the same way — steamed and then topped off with a pat of butter and a squeeze of lemon. But about a year ago, my daughter suddenly decided that she absolutely loved green beans and since I definitely want to encourage any enthusiasm about a vegetable, we’ve been eating them a lot more often and in a lot of new ways. One of my favorite ways is like this — where they’re slowly simmered in bacon and onion and broth until they’re transformed into a tender and savory treat.
Photo: 12 Tomatoes Creative Team
What Do You Need To Make Southern-Style Green Beans?
Not a lot! It’s a reasonably simple side. You’ll need:
Bacon. Thick sliced, please.
Yellow onion.
Garlic.
Red pepper flake.
Green beans, about two pounds, that you’ll want to trim and then chop in half.
Chicken broth.
Butter.
Photo: 12 Tomatoes Creative Team
How Do You Make Southern-Style Green Beans?
You’re going to start with the bacon, which then flavors everything that comes after it. First, chop your bacon and cook it until it’s nice and crispy, then remove it from the pot and set it aside, but leave the fat in the pot. The onions, garlic, and red pepper flake cook in that fat until they’re fragrant and the onions are soft…
Photo: 12 Tomatoes Creative Team
… and then the green beans join the party. You’ll want to add about two cups of broth and let it simmer for a good long while, 45 minutes to an hour, until the green beans are wonderfully tender.
Photo: 12 Tomatoes Creative Team
At that point, finish it off with butter, add the bacon back in, and adjust the seasoning with some salt and pepper. (I like a lot of pepper here.)
Photo: 12 Tomatoes Creative Team
These make a great side for so many meals, whether it’s a simple weeknight dinner or a holiday spread. They take some time to make, but the majority of the time is hands off, and the end result is so worth it!
