Ohhh yes—Southern green beans are all about low, slow, and savory 😌
Tender beans, smoky pork, lots of flavor.
Classic Southern Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1½–2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4–6 slices bacon or 1 smoked ham hock (or ham pieces)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½–2 cups chicken broth (or water)
- Salt & black pepper (go easy—ham is salty)
- Optional: pinch of sugar, red pepper flakes, or apple cider vinegar
How to make
- Render the pork
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon until fat renders.
- Remove bacon (crumble later), leave the grease.
If using ham hock, skip this and just add it in step 3.
- Build the base
- Sauté onion in the bacon fat until soft.
- Add garlic, cook 30 seconds.
- Simmer
- Add green beans, broth, and ham hock or bacon.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 45–90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish
- Beans should be very tender (not bright green—that’s intentional!).
- Remove ham hock, shred meat, return to pot.
- Season with pepper, taste for salt.
- Add crumbled bacon back in if using.
Southern touches (optional but loved)
- Splash of apple cider vinegar at the end
- Tiny pinch of sugar to balance bitterness
- Crushed red pepper for heat
- Serve with cornbread to soak up the pot liquor 🫶
Shortcuts
- Canned green beans (yes, it’s a thing):
Drain one can, keep one can with liquid → simmer 30–40 min with bacon/ham.
If you want a no-meat, pressure cooker, or extra-smoky version, just say the word 😏
