4/29/13

Southern Style Green Beans

Slow-cooked green beans with onions and bacon drippings.


Sometimes I think I could be a vegetarian.  And then I remember how much I love fried chicken and onion sausage and ribeyes and I’m cured of that delusion.  But sometimes, though, seriously, I’m totally content with a big ole plate of vegetables.

Slow-cooked, Southern-style green beans are one of the vegetables that could call me to the vegetarian altar.  I could seriously eat a quart of them.  And serve them with a few wedges of skillet cornbread too?? Y’all wouldn't hear from me for hours.  I’d just be sitting in the corner somewhere eating my green beans and cornbread hoping nobody else wanted any.

And don’t get me wrong, I like green beans cooked in more delicate ways where they’re only slightly cooked and served al dente too.   I just like them like this better.


Southern Style Green Beans
2 pounds fresh green beans
1 medium onion, diced
3 tablespoons bacon drippings*
1 cup chicken broth (water will work fine too)
1 teaspoon salt

Rinse beans in cold water.  Snap the ends off the beans then snap each bean into 2-inch pieces.  Set aside.

Heat bacon drippings in a large skillet over medium-high heat (feel free to just chop up some bacon and cook it down a little with the onions rather than just using the drippings).  Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes.  Add beans and continue sautéing for an additional 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.

Add beans and onions to a medium-sized saucepan.  Add chicken broth and salt, stir to combine, then cover and cook over medium-low heat for one hour, stirring occasionally.

*Substitute vegetable or olive oil for bacon drippings if necessary then ask the Lord for forgiveness for throwing away your bacon grease.


PRINTABLE RECIPE


17 comments:

  1. Melody, Lake Villa, Illinois4/29/13, 10:32 AM

    Kudos for the grow some comment. And you just shared the recipe for green beans the way my Memaw made them :)

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  2. slow cooked with some taters....mmmmmmhhmmmm... and don't forget the corn on the cob!

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  3. This is how I make my green beans, but I put in a few drops of liquid smoke....YUM! :)

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  4. These were fantastic! I added some small, red potatoes also. Yum

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  5. Yup, sounds just like my momma's (AND MY) green beans! I've never tried them with the onion, but the bacon grease? OH YEA!!! II even take canned green beans and make them this way. Taste like homemade? Sure do!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Amber,
      I was wondering if you cook the canned green beans as long as the fresh? I would like to try these for Thanksgiving. Thank you so much! Cindy

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  6. John J Hargan - Townsend, Delaware.7/10/13, 2:29 AM

    I also add some fresh garlic - bacon ends - cherry tomatoes - parsley flakes - scallions and almonds to my beans. Pss... don't be afraid to add plenty of Bacon to these beans !!! they really make this meal Hearty !!!! Great Recipe !!!! Thanks for the Share !!!

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  7. I have been searching for my grandmother's green beans for 20 years ( i'm 43), this is it spot on. Thank you so much for this recipe!!! I have been cooking it all at once, never sauteing first. This made all the difference in the world!

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  8. I put a few red potatoes and some diced ham. Or crumpled cooked bacon. Then you have a complete meal in a pot. Yummy

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  9. My Hungarian granmom did this but with a tablespoon of paprika when cooking and sour cream before serving.

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  10. Yea, except for the onions I make mine this way & also use canned beans when fresh are unavailable. My daughter's mil gave me a good tip. She used beef broth or bouillon cubes (diluted in water) to make her green beans. They taste just as good. My absolute favorite way is to cook fresh green beans (white half runners are the best imo) with ham hocks and add red or new potatoes. Yum

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    Replies
    1. Hi Tricia,
      I was wondering when you make these beans and use canned beans do you still let them cook for an hour or for less time?
      Thank you so much! Cindy

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    2. I always cook canned green beans like that. I cook my chopped bacon with onion then add all to a couple cans of green beans and cook at least an hour or even longer.

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  11. For the first time, I tried to emulate my Mimi's southern style green beans tonight! I think I'm missing something, and next time, I will saute some onion in my bacon fat! She added a bit of sugar too! But it was very close! Thanks for the recipe!

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  12. sautéing brings the real taste of food to other foods, yes,yes.

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  13. I must have a bit of southern in me somewhere (born in Indiana and loving life in Colorado) ... making ANOTHER batch of Mandy's beans. Gladly picked up the 2 lb bag at COSTCO even though we're empty nesters. These beans from heaven can easily be my lunch at work all - by - themselves!

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  14. This is one of my favorite green bean recipes.....to the recipe above, don't add as much water, add browned bacon, chili powder and tomato juice (either regular or spicy). Simmer. We call this Spanish Green Beans at our house, and it is amazing!

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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.

I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).

And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy