5 MINUTES PREP TIME, DUMP and GO for Smoky, Flavorful, Perfect Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon.
This southern family favorite is gobbled up for holidays and for our weekly get togethers too! You'll be the POT LUCK Superstar with this recipe! Another great holiday favorite is my Best Double Green Bean Casserole Recipe (Classic) !
Why This Recipe Works...
- Dump and Go Crock Pot Recipe!
- Easy with Simple Ingredients.
- TONS of flavor!
- Ingredients you probably have at home!
- It's as southern as sweet tea, grits and fried apples!
Here's How To Do It...
STEP 1.
Place everything into the crockpot
STEP 2.
Come back in 6-8 hours and serve!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
How Long Does It Take To Cook Green Beans and Bacon?
SHORT ANSWER: 6 Hours.
LONG ANSWER: Essentially, canned green beans are already cooked when you open them, right? Right.
You don’t really have to cook them at all.
The question is, really, do you want that deep smoky flavor?
Do you want silky soft green beans that cry out, “As God as my witness, I’ll never be hungry again!”?
If so, then at least 6 hours with good quality bacon and the other ingredients listed in the recipe.
How Do You Make Green Beans And Bacon On The Stove Top?
You can, in fact, make this same recipe on the stovetop. Simply follow those directions listed in the tips and tricks section.
No problem. You’ll get the most flavor if you cook them in the crockpot, however.
How Do You Make Green Beans and Bacon in the Oven?
Dump everything into an oven proof baking dish and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Can I Make Green Beans and Bacon on the Grill?
Yes! Of course you can!
Place all of the ingredients in a grill safe baking dish (like an old dutch oven).
At least use a pan that you aren't going to worry about being blackened by smoke.
Heat over medium grill heat for 45 minutes.
To Make Green Beans and Bacon in an Instpot
Place all of the ingredients in the instapot or pressure cooker and bring to high pressure for 10 minutes and then allow a natural release.
How Long is This Dish Good for?
- Green Beans and Bacon will last for 5 days if kept covered and refrigerated.
- Put in the refrigerator within 2 hours.
How Can I Reheat Green Beans and Bacon?
- Reheat by putting into a sauce pan, add a little water and heat over medium heat on the stove top till heated through.
- Place in a microwave safe dish and heat on high for 1 minute, stir, repeat at 30 second intervals until heated through.
- Put your leftovers into an oven safe dish, add ½ cup of water, cover with aluminum foil and heat in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
Can I Make This Recipe with Fresh Green Beans?
Yes! Of course you can!
Wash the green beans, cut into bite sized lengths, use in place of the canned green beans and cook to desired level of doneness.
Fresh green beans will take longer to cook and to soften if you like your green beans southern style.
WHY is There Sugar in This Recipe?
Sugar is the SECRET ingredient! It helps to balance all of the other flavors.
Sugar in vegetables is something grandmas in the south have been doing forever, trust me.
What Can I Serve with Green Beans and Bacon?
Green beans and back are good with literally everything, but we especially love them with
TIPS and TRICKS For Slow Cooker Green Beans and Bacon
The Bacon
- Use the thick sliced applewood smoked or the cherry wood smoked bacon for the best flavor.
- If you are using thin sliced or inexpensive bacon, the kind that is stringy and falls apart when you try to take it out of the package, then please add 4 slices of bacon to the recipe.
- “WHY would you put RAW bacon in a recipe??? THAT IS DANGEROUS”. In fact, no, it isn’t dangerous.
- The bacon cooks right along with the beans - believe me - after 6-8 hours in a crockpot - EVERYTHING Is cooked.
- The bacon imparts a lot of smoky goodness to the beans as it cooks. That is why it is in there!
- If you are afraid of the bacon - then just don't eat it. Eat the beans - for they are delicious!
Other Ingredients
- “Can I use water instead of chicken broth since you only call for a cup?”. The answer is “of course you can”.
- However, the chicken broth is going to add flavor and that is what we are going for here.
- You might want to use chicken broth that comes in the box with the pour spout - that way you can use it in EVERYTHING to add flavor!
- That is what I do (If I don’t have any that I canned myself - you can find that HERE).
- Brown sugar vs white sugar. Yes, I know, your grandma used white sugar (mine probably did too). However, I’ve found that the brown sugar just gives a little more depth of flavor and that is what I am going for, after all. The flavor.
PRO TIP - This recipe has a wonderful balance of sugar, fat, salt, smoky flavoring, acid and a dash of heat. You'll find everyone wondering how you did it!
If You Enjoyed This Recipe You Might Also Enjoy....
How to Cook Canned Green Beans
How to Cook Pinto Beans on the Stove Top
How to Cook Frozen Green Beans
If you enjoy this Bacon Recipe, you might also enjoy….
How To Cook Bacon on a Rack in the Oven
Slow Cooker Green Beans and Bacon
Ya’ll Be Sweet and Help Me Out, OK?
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Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 14.5 oz green beans canned (1 home canned quart)
- 2 cloves garlic or 1 tsp, minced
- 2 Tbs butter
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 2 strips of bacon - raw - cut into 1-2 inch pieces
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
- 1 dash cayenne pepper or hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste Usually about 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Mix all of the above listed ingredients together in the crockpot and set on low.
- Cook for 6-8 hours.
Notes
- Do not worry about putting raw bacon in this dish, it cooks along with the beans and imparts amazing flavor.
- Home canned beans beat store bought beans hands down any day. If you don't have home canned then store bought are fine.
- Drain the water from the canned beans first.
- For Butter: Vegetable oil or any unflavored grease but not olive oil. Olive oil adds a different flavor. You could also use bacon grease if you have it.
- For Chicken Broth: 1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup of water.
- Instead of brown sugar: It's ok to use granulated white sugar, raw sugar, honey or maple syrup but the honey and maple syrup will impart a different taste.
- Bacon: ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- Canned Beans: Fresh green beans, but allow to cook longer.
Nutrition
***This recipe first appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on November 28, 2017 and has been updated with FAQ's, Tips and Tricks, Pro Tip, Nutrition Information, related recipes, what to serve with and a video***
A VERSE TO SHARE
You are special, do you know that? You are! Look at what you have accomplished! Just take a single moment and say to yourself, “Self, look at what you have been able to do! Isn’t it amazing?”
But you aren't the only one, everyone looks like this in God's eyes. Poor people, rich people, famous people and the person who sweeps the floor.
It is important to remember that the person struggling is as precious in God’s eyes as you are.
Thank you for being the special you that you are! I appreciate you and I know God holds you in his heart.
Galatians 6:10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Jenn says
Was wondering if you could comment on how to use fresh frozen green beans. Do they need to be thawed before using? And how long for the cooking time in the crockpot?
Thank you for your help!
Carole says
Can I use cooked bacon instead of putting it in raw? I don't like limpy bacon. Yhanks!
Wendi Spraker says
Sure Carole! However, after a day in the slow cooker, they might not be very crunchy. It's fine though.
Jane Coffman says
This sounds wonderful! I am looking for a green bean recipe that i can put in a crockpot and forget it....i was wondering if i changed the servings to 18 what size crockpot would you recommend? thank you!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jane, I think you will enjoy this one. I think I would figure 9 15.5 oz cans of beans for 19 people, that makes up the bulk of the recipe. There are 32 oz in a quart. You will have about 140 oz total. You will need a 5-6 quart crockpot for this job.
Jane Coffman says
@Wendi Spraker, thank you so much! Can't wait to try them..
Wendi Spraker says
You are welcome!
Darla says
Didn't get my comment to post earlier I guess. I had asked if it could be made in 4 hours on high. I went ahead and made them that way and rave reviews. Came out delicious. Everyone gobbled them up. I took home an empty crockpot.
Thank you!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Darla! So glad you enjoyed! I did answer but perhaps it didn't show up on your end? Not sure, I'm glad you loved them though!
Darla says
Question, in a pinch can you do 4 hours on high?
Wendi Spraker says
Yes! Absolutely! That will work!
Ashley says
Could these cook and then be warmed up in the crockpots at a later time of the day? Have a work carry in and wasn’t sure how they would hold up being reheated.
Wendi Spraker says
If you are carrying them into work, you could assemble the whole thing at work and just let them cook at work in the crockpots. You could assemble at home and then carry them in and turn them on. You could start them at home, then finish them at work. All of those would work. The important thing is that you don't want to give bacteria the right environment to grow so you'll need to make sure that they are not below 140 degrees or above 40 degrees for more than two hours. Can you get to work in 2 hours? If so, you'll be fine. Hope this helps!
Jennifer F says
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! My husband refuses to eat onions. Finally a fantastic green bean recipe that doesn’t use them. These were delicious!!!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for coming back and letting me know! I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Jennifer G Horn says
How would you make this with a country ham hock?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jennifer!
So, if you have just country ham, cut that up and add it to the beans but also add a slice or two of bacon. Hold off on adding salt until you are done cooking because country ham can be very salty and you don't want to over salt. The reason to add the bacon is because country ham often doesn't have a lot of fat and it's the fat that gives the beans great flavor.
Cj says
The recipe says to drain the beans, but the video shows you just dumping the can into the crockpot??
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Cj,
That is because in the video, I am using beans that have seasonings in the can. In that case, you don't pour the water off. If you have beans that do NOT have seasoning in the can, then pour the water off and replace it with water or broth. Hope this helps to clarify! Thanks!
Donna says
Thanks again for such a wonderful southern recipe .
Wendi Spraker says
Thank you so much for leaving a 5 star review and comment! You don't know how much I appreciate it!
Bonnie says
I've made this recipe several times and everyone loves it! It is easy to double or triple the recipe to serve large groups. I did want to ask what type of vinegar you used in your original recipe.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Bonnie!
Thank you so much for leaving a comment! I'm so glad you are enjoying these! My family loves them too! I usually use either cider vinegar or just white vinegar if that is all I have. Lemon juice will work too. You really don't taste the vinegar or lemon, it's just for the acidity which sets the whole dish off and gives a vibrant bright taste! Hope that helps! Wendi
Donna stewart says
Wendy thank yoy for all the recipes you share with everyone.i lovr the bible verses you also share with each recipe
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Donna! Thank YOU for coming and leaving a comment! I appreciate it so much!
Moxie says
I tried these exactly per your recipe and they were perfect! Thanks!
Sheila says
It is my first to try this with bacon and I was surprised at how good it is. It is so flavorful. I believe this is an interesting way to make kids enjoy veggies.
Wendi Spraker says
Hey Sheila! Thanks so much! I think it's wonderful that your kids are enjoying their green beans!! (I used to cover mine in ketchup to hide the taste. Lol)
Donna says
Are you sure you didn't mean 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, not 1 tablespoon? I would think a tablespoon would make them too sweet!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Donna - I put a Tbs and it tastes good to me - but of course, everyone is different and you might want to start with a tsp and see what happens! You can always add more!
Mary says
Nothing is better than green beans that have been cooked for a long time. I love using my crockpot for cooking green beans, except I use bacon grease....not bacon. Not because I think it's dangerous - we prefer bacon crispy. I also add onions...can't cook without onions! Ha! This is a great recipe. Pinned. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week.
Wendi Spraker says
I love to add onions to everything too Mary! We are kindred spirits, aren't we? Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂