Southern Style Green Beans

Elevate your side dish game with these Southern Style Green Beans—a comforting, slow-simmered classic infused with smoky, savory flavors. Fresh green beans are cooked to tender perfection in a rich base of chicken broth, crispy bacon, and sautéed onions, with garlic lending a fragrant depth. A touch of apple cider vinegar and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes balance the dish beautifully, while buttery notes create an irresistible texture. This recipe captures the essence of Southern comfort, making it an ideal side for holiday gatherings, backyard barbecues, or a cozy family dinner. Simple yet packed with flavor, these green beans are as satisfying as they are easy to make.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:105 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh green beans
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon or to taste salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

Step 1

Wash the green beans under cold water, then trim the ends and snap them in half, if desired.

Step 2

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon slices over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, crumble, and set aside. Leave about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pot.

Step 3

Add the diced onion to the pot with the bacon grease and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until softened and translucent.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.

Step 5

Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze any browned bits.

Step 6

Add the green beans to the pot and stir to combine. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil.

Step 7

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the beans simmer for about 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 8

About 10 minutes before the beans finish cooking, stir in the butter, apple cider vinegar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasonings as needed.

Step 9

For serving, transfer the green beans to a serving dish and top with the crumbled bacon.

Step 10

Enjoy your Southern Style Green Beans as a hearty, flavorful side dish!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2074.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	838.5

Total Fat 42.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 20.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0g
Cholesterol 109.5mg	0%
Sodium 5448.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 82.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 33.3g	0%
Total Sugars 36.9g
Protein 47.8g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 468.6mg	0%
Iron 12.7mg	0%
Potassium 3193.2mg	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: 42.5%

Protein: 21.1%

Carbs: 36.4%