How To Make Southern Style Green Beans

You can make southern style green beans by simmering fresh or canned green beans with bacon, onions, and a few simple seasonings until they’re tender and full of flavor.
 
This dish is a staple in Southern cooking, and once you learn how to make southern style green beans, you’ll wonder why you ever ate them any other way.
 
The key is slow cooking them low and slow so the beans soak up all that smoky, savory goodness.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to make southern style green beans step by step, plus a few tips to get them just right every single time.
 
Let’s get cooking.
 

How to Make Southern Style Green Beans the Right Way

 
Making southern style green beans isn’t complicated, but there are a few things you need to know to nail that classic taste.
 
The main thing is patience because southern style green beans are all about low and slow cooking.
 
Here’s what you’ll need to make southern style green beans:
 

1. Fresh or Canned Green Beans Work Fine

 
You can make southern style green beans with fresh snapped beans, frozen beans, or even canned ones.
 
Fresh green beans give you the best texture, but frozen and canned will still make southern style green beans taste great.
 
If you’re using fresh, snap off the ends and break them into bite-sized pieces.
 
If you’re using canned, drain and rinse them first so they don’t get too salty.
 

2. Bacon or Fatback Is the Flavor Base

 
No southern style green beans recipe is complete without some kind of pork fat.
 
Bacon is the easiest option, but fatback, ham hocks, or smoked turkey also work if you want to switch things up.
 
Cook your bacon first until it’s crispy, then leave that rendered fat in the pot.
 
That fat is what makes southern style green beans taste so rich and comforting.
 

3. Onion and Garlic Add Depth

 
Once your bacon is done, toss in a chopped onion and let it soften in that bacon grease.
 
Add a couple cloves of minced garlic and stir for about thirty seconds until it smells amazing.
 
These aromatics are what give southern style green beans that savory backbone.
 

4. Season the Cooking Liquid

 
Pour in enough chicken broth or water to cover the beans, then season with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
 
Some folks add a splash of apple cider vinegar or a dash of hot sauce for a little tang.
 
This liquid is going to become the broth that your southern style green beans simmer in, so taste it as you go.
 

5. Simmer Low and Slow

 
Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot.
 
Let your southern style green beans simmer for at least forty-five minutes to an hour.
 
The longer they cook, the more tender and flavorful they become.
 
Just check them every now and then and add more liquid if it gets too low.
 

Tips for Perfect Southern Style Green Beans

 
Even though making southern style green beans is pretty straightforward, a few tips can take them from good to unforgettable.
 

1. Don’t Rush the Cooking Time

 
The biggest mistake people make with southern style green beans is cooking them too fast.
 
These beans are supposed to be soft, not crunchy, so give them the time they need.
 
If you try to speed things up, your southern style green beans will taste bland and tough.
 

2. Adjust the Salt at the End

 
Since bacon and broth both bring salt to the party, wait until the end to taste and adjust.
 
This way your southern style green beans won’t end up too salty.
 

3. Add Potatoes If You Like

 
Some people love adding quartered new potatoes to their southern style green beans while they simmer.
 
The potatoes soak up all that smoky broth and become melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
 
If you go this route, add them about twenty minutes after the beans start cooking.
 

So, How Do You Make Southern Style Green Beans?

 
You make southern style green beans by simmering them low and slow with bacon, onion, garlic, and a well-seasoned broth until they’re tender and packed with flavor.
 
It’s a simple process that rewards you with a side dish that feels like home.
 
Whether you’re serving them at a holiday dinner or a backyard cookout, southern style green beans are always a hit.
 
So grab your pot, render that bacon, and let those beans simmer away.
 
Once you know how to make southern style green beans, you’ll be making them on repeat.