Description
Southern Crockpot Green Beans are tender, smoky, and flavorful, transforming a simple vegetable into a standout side dish. Slow-cooked with a ham hock or bacon, garlic, onion, and chicken broth, this recipe makes green beans irresistible for any meal.
Ingredients
2 pounds fresh green beans, washed and ends trimmed
1 large ham hock or 6–8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt to taste
Instructions
1. Prep the beans by washing and trimming the ends.
2. Layer the ham hock or bacon in the bottom of the crockpot. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and green beans on top.
3. Pour chicken broth over everything, adding water if needed to nearly cover the beans.
4. Sprinkle black pepper and red pepper flakes. Do not add salt yet.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until beans are tender but not mushy.
6. Remove the ham hock, shred the meat, discard the bone and skin, and return meat to the pot.
7. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve with a slotted spoon.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Avoid adding salt early as the ham hock and broth are already salty.
Use fresh or frozen green beans; do not use canned.
Overcooking on HIGH can make beans mushy; check early.
For a vegetarian version, omit ham hock and add olive oil with smoked paprika.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
- Method: Crockpot / Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg