Southern Home Cooked Pole Beans

Experience the heartwarming flavors of the South with this Southern Home Cooked Pole Beans recipe. Tender pole beans are slow-simmered in a rich broth infused with the smoky essence of a ham hock or bacon, aromatic garlic and onions, and a touch of optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat. This classic Southern side dish is comfort food at its finest, boasting a melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep, savory flavor. Perfectly seasoned with butter, kosher salt, and black pepper, these green beans are the ideal accompaniment to your favorite Southern-inspired mains like fried chicken, cornbread, or roasted pork. Easy to prepare with fresh, wholesome ingredients, this recipe brings cozy, down-home cooking right to your kitchen table.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:105 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh pole beans
• 1 piece smoked ham hock (or bacon)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the pole beans under cold water, trim the ends, and snap them into 2-inch pieces. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until it becomes soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Place the smoked ham hock (or bacon) into the pot and pour in the chicken broth. Bring the broth to a simmer.

Step 5

Add the prepared pole beans to the pot, ensuring they are fully submerged in the liquid. Sprinkle in the kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let the pole beans simmer gently for 75-90 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure even cooking.

Step 7

Check the pot periodically and add a bit of water if needed to keep the beans submerged. The beans should become tender and infused with the smoky flavor of the ham hock or bacon.

Step 8

Remove the ham hock from the pot and shred any meat off the bone. Stir the meat back into the beans and discard the bone.

Step 9

Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper, if needed.

Step 10

Serve the Southern Home Cooked Pole Beans warm as a side dish to complement your favorite Southern-inspired main courses.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2243.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1132.0

Total Fat 60.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 204.8mg	0%
Sodium 5014.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 81.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 33.4g	0%
Total Sugars 19.1g
Protein 74.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 485.6mg	0%
Iron 15.7mg	0%
Potassium 3532.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 46.8%

Protein: 25.4%

Carbs: 27.8%