Southern-Style Green Beans That Would Make Mama Proud

The defining characteristic of classic Southern-style green beans is their texture: They are tender, really render, in fact, but they're not mushy. Plus, they've been cooked with bacon, broth, and lots of aromatics (bay leaf, thyme, and garlic), so they are richly flavored.

These are really classic Southern green beans. We wanted to add fresh herbs for a bit of brightness in the final dish, but you can season in whatever manner you prefer. The method is pretty versatile so you can add or swap with what you want—seasoned salt, garlic powder, etc. 

We'll be the first to admit simmering green beans for an hour seems like quite a long time, but it results in a super tender, but not mushy, texture. These were certainly tender at 45 minutes just not to the degree that most people would like them. If you prefer them tender crisp, take them off around 25 or 30 minutes.

Learn how to make Southern-style green beans, and enjoy a taste of nostalgia at your next meal.

Ingredients for Southern-Style Green Beans

This recipe for Southern-style green beans is streamlined, but you can adapt it to the flavors you prefer in your side of green beans. Here's what we used for the recipe, plus a few variations and ideas for changing things up:

• Thick-cut bacon slices: This will render a lot of smoky flavor that seasons the broth. You can use your favorite brand. Thick-cut is just our preference for having plenty of meaty pieces in the final dish.
• Yellow onion: Builds a rich base of flavor for the broth.
• Garlic cloves: Adds more flavor, but you can omit if you want, or sub in garlic powder.
• Crushed red pepper: The heat is barely noticeable. It's just a subtle hint of pepper at the back of the throat with each bite, but you can omit.
• Fresh green beans: They should be trimmed so you don't get strings or tough bits in the final dish.
• Chicken broth: You can swap with vegetable broth if you want. Water is OK, too, but broth will provide much more flavor.
• Kosher salt: For seasoning. Use seasoned salt, such as Lawry's, if you prefer.
• Thyme sprigs: A bit of freshness to brighten up these rich beans. You can omit if you want. Feel free to use dried herbs, too, if you don't have fresh. Sage and rosemary could be good with thyme or as an alternative. 
• Fresh bay leaf: Lends an herbal note to the final flavor, but OK to leave out if you don't have or don't like.
• Salted butter: Stirred in at the end for a final hit of flavor and richness.

How To Cook Southern-Style Green Beans

The beautiful thing about Southern-style green beans—besides the taste, of course—is how easy they are to make. Grab a Dutch oven, and you'll need about an hour to cook them. Then, you'll have the perfect, tender side of green beans. Here's a brief outline of the process:

• Step 1. Cook bacon: Place chopped bacon in a Dutch oven, and cook until browned and crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan, but leave behind the bacon grease.
• Step 2. Cook onions: Add the chopped onions to the bacon grease, and cook until tender. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper, and cook until they're just softening and fragrant.
• Step 3. Add beans and seasoning: To the onion and garlic, add the fresh green beans and remaining seasonings, along with the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour. If you like a more crisp green bean, you can simmer for less time, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Step 4. Finish with butter: Add the butter, and stir in the bacon. Cook until the butter is melted. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat, and pick out the bay leaves and thyme sprigs if you used. Scoop out with a slotted spoon, and serve immediately.

How To Store Southern-Style Green Beans

Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. We do not recommend freezing these green beans, as they may turn mushy when thawed.

You could also make this recipe ahead of when you plan to serve it, and just reheat the entire dish on the stove when you're ready to eat.

Our Tips for the Best Southern-Style Green Beans

When you're making these green beans, keep these tips in mind:

• Fresh is best: Use your crispest, freshest green beans in this recipe so the final dish still has good texture and bite. Beans that have turned dark or gone soft may not have the most pleasant flavor or texture once cooked.
• Make it your own: Simple is key for good Southern green beans. We've added a few herbs to this dish, but ultimately, we think they're optional. Use our method for cooking the bacon, onions, and garlic. Add the green beans and stock, and simmer until tender. Season however you prefer.

What To Serve With Southern-Style Green Beans

These green beans would be ideal as one of your sides in a meat and three, but they're equally classic at a potluck or summer picnic. We'll even take them alongside holiday favorites, like baked ham and turkey and dressing.