Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon: Easy Southern Side Dish

If you're looking for a side dish that basically cooks itself, these Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon are about to be your new holiday (and weeknight) hero. They're cozy, loaded with flavor, and the best part? You toss everything in the slow cooker, walk away, and let it do its thing. By the time dinner rolls around, you've got tender green beans that taste like they've been simmering on grandma's stove all day.

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Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Crockpot Green Beans
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Media Hub
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Recipe Tips and Variations
• Serving Ideas
• Conclusion
• Related
• Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon

Why You'll Love These Crockpot Green Beans

• Hands-off cooking: Your slow cooker does all the work.
• Crowd-friendly: Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a Sunday dinner spread.
• Bold flavor: Fresh beans meet smoky bacon, garlic, and onion.
• Scalable recipe: Double it up if you're feeding a big family or a potluck crowd.

Ingredients You'll Need

• 1 lb fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 8 oz bacon, diced (or swap with ham hock, fat back, or ham bone with meat)
• 7 cups chicken broth (or water, but broth = flavor!)
• 2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Media Hub

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Beans

Wash your fresh green beans under cold water, drain, and trim the ends. Don't skip this step-fresh beans are key to that tender but not mushy texture.

Step 2: Build the Base

Place the green beans in the bottom of an 8-quart slow cooker. Top with onion, bacon, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Add Liquid

Pour the chicken broth (or water) over everything until the beans are covered.

Step 4: Cook Low and Slow

• High: 4 hours
• Low: 6-8 hours
  You'll know they're ready when the beans are tender and infused with smoky flavor.

Step 5: Taste and Adjust

Before serving, give them a taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Make it smoky: Add a ham hock instead of bacon for deep Southern flavor.
• Spicy kick: Stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce before serving.
• Crowd-sized batch: Use two slow cookers if doubling the recipe.
• Shortcut version: Frozen green beans will work in a pinch, but fresh is best.

Serving Ideas

These beans pair perfectly with:

• Roast turkey or ham at the holidays
• Fried chicken or pork chops on a weeknight
• Mashed potatoes and cornbread for a soul-food style dinner

Conclusion

These Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon are proof that the easiest recipes often steal the show. They're hearty, flavorful, and practically foolproof. Next time you need a side dish that'll have everyone at the table asking for seconds, pull out your slow cooker and let it handle the magic.

💡 Don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest so you've got it handy for your next family gathering!

Related

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