Smothered Green Beans
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Smothered Green Beans are the best way to make green beans from a can using old fashioned southern secrets. They're smothered in bacon and onions with a sweet, savory sauce that makes them the perfect side for Sunday suppers, holiday meals, or any time you want some southern soul food!
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Recipe at a Glance
- Simple Ingredients: uses pantry staples and a few fresh items
- Make it Ahead: soul food that gets even better with time
- One Pan Wonder: make, serve and clean up in the same pan!
Notes From My Kitchen
This recipe takes ordinary canned green beans and turns them into a tender, smoky delight. You can use canned beans from the grocery store, or those you've canned from the garden.
What's the secret to making smothered green beans? Use thick-cut bacon, don't drain the grease, and be sure to simmer the beans until the liquid is gone. Also, add a touch of vinegar and a little brown sugar for that down-home southern flavor.
This simple recipe is one of those hand-me-down classics that showed up on my Granny's table at every meal. I remember her standing over the stove, watching the greasy green beans bubble away in pot liquor with those smoky bacon drippings.
This favorite side dish tastes like family dinners and second helpings, which is why it's the perfect comfort food. Our family can't have a holiday without these southern style green beans on the table!
Ingredients You'll Need
To smother these beans up right, you'll need the following ingredients. Quantities can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Thick-cut bacon: Use a savory cut for rich flavor
- Onion: Can use sweet onion or vidalia onion instead
- Canned green beans: Drained to avoid excess liquid
- Chicken broth: Can substitute vegetable broth or beef broth
- Vinegar: Gives it the perfect amount of zip
- Brown sugar: Balances the tang with some sweetness
- Onion powder: Boosts the onion flavor
- Garlic powder: A staple in southern cooking
- Salt and cracked black pepper: The perfect seasoning
- Pat of Butter: Just because it makes everything better!
How to Make Smothered Green Beans
- Add diced bacon to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same skillet with the bacon grease, cook diced onions until softened.
- Make sure the onions are caramelized before adding other ingredients.
- Stir in green beans, chicken broth, vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes until the liquid has reduced and beans are tender.
- Return the bacon to the skillet or pot and stir it in before serving. Add a pat (one tablespoon) of butter and swirl it into the beans.
Serving Ideas
Here are just a few of my favorite recipes that go great with southern-style green beans...
- Old Fashioned Salisbury Steak - hearty and satisfying
- Brown Sugar Spiral Ham - great for the holidays
- Cilantro Lime Chicken - grilled to perfection
- Seafood Boil Packets - perfect for summer
- Honey Glazed Pork Chops - savory and sweet
- Potato Chip Chicken - crispy and tender at the same time
- Dutch Oven Pulled Pork - the centerpiece of backyard barbecues
Variations
- Swap crispy bacon for diced ham or andouille sausage.
- Substitute honey for the brown sugar.
- Use beef broth for a deeper, heartier flavor.
- Add small red potatoes for a more filling dish.
Debi's Top Tips
- Let the beans simmer uncovered so the sauce reduces.
- Don't skip the bacon grease, it's essential for authentic southern flavor.
- Make it ahead of time for an even better taste the next day.
- Adjust the seasoning as it simmers since flavors get stronger over time.
Recipe FAQ
Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can bring the heat. You can even add spice to individual servings.
No way. The bacon grease is what gives this dish its rich, southern flavor!
Yes, and they will taste even better. Make as directed up to 2 days in advance and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
Add more bacon, ham, or sausage if you'd like more protein. You can also toss in some new potatoes for a heartier meal.
Storage Guide
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 60 seconds or warm the whole batch on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until hot.
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Recipe Card
Smothered Green Beans
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- large skillet (or dutch oven/stock pot)
Ingredients
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon diced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 (15 oz cans) green beans, drained (I use Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Add diced bacon to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.6 strips thick-cut bacon
- In the same skillet with the bacon grease, cook diced onions until softened.1 medium onion
- Make sure the onions are caramelized before adding other ingredients.
- Stir in green beans, chicken broth, vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.2 (15 oz cans) green beans, drained, ½ cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- Bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer UNCOVERED for 30 to 40 minutes until the liquid has reduced and beans are tender.
- Return the bacon to the skillet or pot and stir it in before serving. Add a pat (one tablespoon) of butter and swirl it into the beans.1 tablespoon butter
Notes
-
- Let the beans simmer uncovered so the sauce reduces.
- Don't skip the bacon grease, it's essential for authentic southern flavor.
- Make it ahead of time for an even better taste the next day.
- Adjust the seasoning as it simmers since flavors get stronger over time.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- You can use fresh green beans as a substitute, but you will have to double the cooking time and add extra liquid to the pot.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
Absolutely our favorite green bean recipe! Will make these again for sure.
These smothered green beans were a hit! My husband is a meat and potatoes guy, and he had two servings! Thank you for such a great recipe!
That's awesome, Anecia! So glad you and your hubby loved my Smothered Green Beans! 🙂
These by far were our family's favorite green beans we've ever had! I'm going to be saving this recipe and making it for every holiday
Cool beans, Stephanie! 😜
These beans are absolutely delicious! I love that your can turn canned beans into something so good. Thanks for the recipe!
You are so welcome...and thank you!