Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans
Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans are an easy side dish that pleases a crowd. It’s a perfect side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or a weeknight meal!
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Why You’ll Love These
So much flavor with so few ingredients makes this Southern Green Beans recipe a delicious side dish!
It’s an easy recipe that’s a set-and-forget side dish made in a slow cooker.
Crockpot green beans for any weeknight or holiday meal leave the stovetop open for other dishes!
Key Ingredients
Please see the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Fresh Green Beans – Fresh green beans washed and trimmed. Choose green beans that are all close in size for even cooking.
- Seasonings – Chicken broth or chicken stock, 6 slices of bacon, sweet onion (such as yellow onion or Vidalia onion), kosher salt, and black pepper.
How To Purchase Fresh Green Beans
Choose green beans that are bright green without discoloration or blemishes. They should have smooth skin and be firm and crisp enough that they snap when you bend them.
How to Make Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans
Wash and trim the green beans if they haven’t already been done for you.
Serve topped with the reserved bacon bits.
Tips
- There is no need to spray the crock with cooking spray. The green beans will not stick I promise.
- You don’t need to saute the onions in olive oil before adding them to the slow cooker. The long cooking time will soften the onions.
- Test the beans for your desired tenderness during the cooking process. Some people like them firmer and some like them a bit softer.
- Add a little unsalted butter for an extra bump of richness if you desire. We find the bacon really flavors these well.
- To make this side dish vegetarian swap vegetable broth for chicken stock and omit the bacon.
- Save a step by purchasing prewashed and trimmed green beans, like the ones in the ingredient photo.
Variations
- Add a large diced russet potato or red potatoes.
- Toss in a can of diced tomatoes.
- Add a clove or two of minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Want some heat? Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Swap the bacon crumbles for a ham hock, ham bone, or smoked sausage.
FAQs
You can but I don’t recommend using canned green beans. They are already soft and you would have to reduce the cooking time tremendously. Which would result in less flavorful beans.
Yes. Be sure to use a thin green bean such as extra fine whole green beans or French style haricot verts. You may need to cook them a bit longer.
Let the green beans cool completely, place them in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Place the cooled green beans in an airtight freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Side Dish Recipes
Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- 2 cups Chicken stock
- 3/4 cup Sweet onion yellow or vidalia
- 6 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled (3/4 cup)
- 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt up to 2 teaspoons
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet cook the bacon until crispy. Dice or crumble into small pieces.
- Add the green beans to the crock of the crock pot. Top with the diced onions, 1/2 cup of bacon, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle half of the crumbled bacon over the top.2 lbs Fresh green beans, 2 cups Chicken stock, 3/4 cup Sweet onion, 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, 1/2 tsp Black pepper, 6 slices Bacon
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours stirring occasionally during the cooking time. Check periodically for your desired tenderness.
- Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve topped with the 1/4 cup reserved bacon crumbles.