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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Southern Green Beans (with or without potatoes)

Published: Apr 1, 2021 Last Updated: Mar 31, 2021 by Marye 1361 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Southern green beans, sometimes called "smothered", are cooked low and slow to soak up every bit of flavor. With my method you'll get all that smoky, tangy flavor in under 30 minutes!
Total time 25 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Side view of a plate of green peans with the serving dish in the background. Title text overlay for Pinterest.
Over head view of a bowl of green beans and bacon with a text overlay for Pinterest.

This classic southern side dish is especially good in the summer when the beans are freshly picked!

Next time try my southern fried cabbage!

Overhead view of a bowl of green beans with title text overlay.
This recipe for smothered green beans is so quick and easy!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🎥 Video
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Southern Green Beans
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Get the flavor of the traditional slow cooked recipe in a fraction of the time.
  • Perfect side dish for so many main courses.
  • Bacon. Bacon. Bacon.

If you're looking for a side dish that everyone loves, made with fresh vegetables, and goes with everything give these smothered green beans a try!

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for smothered green beans.
Simple ingredients come together to create this delicious southern side dish.
  • If you prefer not to use seasoned salt you can use salt and pepper.
  • You can use balsamic vinegar instead of cider vinegar.

🔪 Instructions

Step by step images showing how to make smothered green beans.

Step one

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add the beans and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are as tender as you like them.
  3. Drain and set aside.

Step two

  1. Heat a heavy skillet and add bacon.
  2. Cook, stirring often, until the bacon is crispy.
  3. Add the onions and saute until they begin to soften.
  4. Add the garlic and saute 2 minutes.

Step three

  1. Add in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
  2. Stir in the stock, seasoned salt, vinegar, and sugar.
  3. Simmer, stirring often, until thickened.

Step four

  1. Add the drained beans (and potatoes if you are using them).
  2. Stir until the they are covered in the sauce.
  3. Simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables are heated through.
  4. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

🎥 Video

Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).

Cover image for YouTube video that goes along with this recipe. Click to go to YouTube.

🥫 Storage

We almost never have leftovers when I make this for dinner! If you do, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Smothered green beans don't freeze well at all. They get mushy and the sauce separates.

A plate of green beans on a table with the serving bowl in the background.
  • Use smoked sausage, turkey, or ham in place of the bacon. If you do that you'll need to add a few tablespoons of butter, oil, or bacon grease.
  • You can set the cooked bacon aside when you add the rest of the ingredients then add it back in just before serving if you want to keep it crisper.
  • We always grew the yellow wax beans along with pole beans. They're super pretty when mixed in this recipe.
  • Add in diced, cooked potatoes. Make it easy by using canned potatoes, drained.
  • Drain and rinse a can of red kidney beans and add them in with the other vegetables.
  • Add a finely diced jalapeno with the onion.
  • Use the flat, Italian style beans.
  • If you like it spicy add a pinch or two of crushed red peppers.
  • Add a tablespoon of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Use fresh green beans. Canned are too mushy for this recipe and frozen ones don't ever get the right texture. If you do use the canned type drain the well and only stir them in the sauce for a minute. You don't want them to cook at all - just heat through.

  • Choose fresh green beans that are firm and crisp, and snap in half easily. If they are bendy or don't snap they aren't fresh.
  • Like your veggies very tender? Go ahead and let them simmer up to 20 minutes.
  • If there's not enough garlic or onion flavor for your tastes go ahead and add garlic or onion powder.
  • If you'd prefer not to use seasoned salt you'll want to use 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
  • Serve these hot. As the sauce cools it gets cloudy and is unappetizing. If that happens a quick trip to the microwave will solve the problem.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this easy green bean recipe.

What are smothered green beans?

They are simmered in a sauce that includes bacon, a liquid (usually chicken stock), and often a little sugar.

Can you freeze smothered green beans?

No, they don't freeze well.

What goes with southern green beans?

Meatloaf, fried chicken, grilled chicken, salisbury steak, swiss steak... any kind of old fashioned comfort food!

Overhead view of southern green beans on a white plate.

📚 Related recipes

Here are some more of our favorites:

  • Mom's Chili Soup Recipe is also called "cowboy soup". It's full of kidney beans, beef, and fresh tomato flavor.
  • Southern Smothered Chicken is so easy! The chicken comes out fork tender!
  • Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken is a Texas favorite. It's most often served with biscuits, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

📞 The last word

Here's my experience with this recipe...

  • The reason I say to cook the flour for 2 minutes is that it takes that long to get rid of the "raw" flour flavor. Keep stirring and it won't scorch.
  • If the sauce is too thick then thin it with a little chicken stock.
  • If the sauce is too thin then just let it simmer, stirring often, until the liquid reduces - about 5 minutes or less.
  • Don't dump the bacon fat off. You need it for the sauce and it adds a ton of flavor. Trust me.
  • If the garlic scorches there's no saving it. You'll need to start over - sad but true.

I, like many of you, can remember picking a colander full of green beans from the family garden and sitting on the porch with my mom, trimming the ends and snapping them in half.

It seemed like summer lasted forever back then and those quiet moments working with mom were full of deep conversations, instruction I'll never forget, and stories of her own childhood on the farm.

It's those simple moments that make the most lasting memories and they are often unplanned. Vacations and big events are nice but be sure to take time for quiet conversation on the porch.

This smothered green beans recipe brings back those kinds of moments and memories. It's one of my favorite side dishes - I hope you like it, too.

Close up overhead view of a bowl of gree
4.75 from 12 votes

Southern Green Beans

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Southern green beans, sometimes called "smothered", are cooked low and slow to soak up every bit of flavor. With my method you'll get all that smoky, tangy flavor in under 30 minutes!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:388
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1-½ pounds green beans, ends trimmed and beans "snapped"
  • ½ pound bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup onion , chopped, more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic, more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt, more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar, more or less to taste. Brown sugar works, too.
  • 1 cup cooked diced potatoes, optional

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add the green beans and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until they are as tender as you like them.
  • Drain and set aside.
  • Heat a heavy skillet and add bacon.
  • Cook, stirring often, until the bacon is crispy.
  • Add the onions and saute until they begin to soften.
  • Add the garlic and saute 2 minutes.
  • Add in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the stock, seasoned salt, vinegar, and sugar.
  • Simmer, stirring often, until thickened.
  • Add the drained beans (and potatoes if you are using them).
  • Stir until the green beans are covered in the sauce.
  • Simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring often, until the green beans are heated through.
  • Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

Notes

Expert Tip: Use fresh green beans. Canned are too mushy for this recipe and frozen ones don't ever get the right texture. If you do use canned drain them well and only stir them in the sauce for a minute. You don't want them to cook at all - just heat through.
  • Choose beans that are firm and crisp, and snap in half easily. If they are bendy or don't snap they aren't fresh.
  • Like them very tender? Go ahead and let simmer up to 20 minutes.
  • If there's not enough garlic or onion flavor for your tastes go ahead and add garlic or onion powder.
  • If you'd prefer not to use seasoned salt you'll want to use 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
  • Serve these hot. As the sauce cools it gets cloudy and is unappetizing. If that happens a quick trip to the microwave will solve the problem.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 505mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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    Comments

    1. Gerri Lopez

      July 18, 2022 at 6:04 am

      Your "SAVE" button on your recipes does not allow you to just save it. It shows you a collection choice but does nothing after that.

      Reply

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