Description
This Southern Green Beans recipe is a flavorful, comforting side dish featuring tender green beans simmered with crispy bacon, onions, garlic, and a blend of savory seasonings. Slow-cooked to perfection in a skillet or Dutch oven, the green beans absorb rich flavors from chicken broth, brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce, making it a classic Southern favorite that pairs perfectly with any hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- ½ pound bacon (diced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 pounds fresh green beans (trimmed)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2-3 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion to the pan with the reserved bacon fat and sauté over medium heat until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add Green Beans: Add the green beans to the pan and toss to coat them in the bacon fat, onions, and garlic.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth, then stir in the brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer: Cover the pan with a lid and let the green beans simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the green beans are tender and flavorful. Add a splash of chicken broth if the liquid reduces too quickly.
- Finish with Bacon: Once the green beans are tender and the liquid has thickened slightly, stir the crispy bacon back into the pan. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or Cajun seasoning, if desired.
- Serve: Serve warm as a side dish, and enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the Cajun seasoning to your taste.
- If you don’t have fresh green beans, you can use frozen green beans but reduce simmering time to about 45 minutes.
- Add a splash of extra chicken broth during simmering if the dish becomes too dry.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- This dish pairs well with Southern staples like fried chicken, barbecue, or cornbread.
