Old-fashioned Southern-style green beans and potatoes are a super easy side dish. The big flavor comes from low and slow simmering. Sprinkle crispy bacon on top right before you serve them and watch this dish disappear. Both stovetop and crockpot instructions are included.
Wash the potatoes but don't peel them unless you are using russets.
Saute the bacon in a heavy dutch oven.
Remove the bacon to a plate and set aside.
Add the onions to the dutch oven and saute in the bacon grease until tender.
Add the potatoes, green beans, sugar, salt, and pepper to the big pot and then add water to cover.
Bring to a boil on medium-high heat then turn heat down and simmer for 45 minutes or until most of the liquid evaporates.
Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in bacon before serving. Add butter if you like.
Slow cooker instructions
Follow step one and two above.
Add the potatoes, onions, green beans, salt, pepper, and sugar to the slow cooker.
Add water until it just covers the beans.
Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4.
Remove the green beans and potatoes to a serving bowl with a slotted spoon and stir in the bacon before serving.
Video
Notes
Storage:Store the cooked green beans and potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.This dish does not freeze well because of the potatoes. You can pick the potatoes out and freeze the green beans if you wish.Tips:
Choose bright green string beans that feel firm and break with a "snap". Avoid any that have bruises or discoloration. Good beans will snap easily and cleanly when fresh.
You can use canned beans if you like but they are not nearly as good. Use about 60 ounces that have been drained.
If some of the potatoes are much larger than others cut them in half so they will cook evenly.
Don't use russet potatoes - they break down during the long cooking time. Use either the little red potatoes (new potatoes) or the baby Yukon Gold potatoes
If the beans have big, swollen spots it means they have started to produce big seeds and they're not going to be good.
If they seem to be leathery they're old and dried out. Toss them.