I love green beans, and these Crockpot Green Beans are hands down my favorite way to prepare them. Fresh green beans have a lovely texture, and when you season them well with aromatics like garlic, along with a little brown sugar and chopped bacon, they are just even better. This is a showstopping recipe that will even impress vegetable haters!
You can serve these as an impressive holiday side dish, too! I like to make these to go with Easter ham, but you can make them with simple chicken thighs or a steak, too. There are so many options! Create your own yummy dinner using whatever accompaniments you want.
If you like easy green bean recipes, you will love these sweet green beans and balsamic green beans.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It takes minimal effort: These slow cooker green beans don’t take a lot of work to make. You can also take some steps to make this recipe even easier (which doesn’t seem possible, but it is).
- It’s budget-friendly: This is not an expensive recipe, either. The ingredients are low-cost, but they come together to create a delicious side dish as the aromatics and seasoning impart great flavor to the green beans.
- It’s versatile: You can serve these crockpot southern green beans with a variety of other recipes and proteins to enjoy a tasty and balanced meal.
Ingredients
Below is everything I use to make these crockpot green beans. There are no surprises or obscure ingredients here; we keep it simple and delicious!
- Green beans: I like to use fresh green beans for this recipe because they stand up the best in the slow cooker. The fresher they are, the firmer they are, and they have a lower chance of becoming mushy.
- Bacon: I typically cook the bacon on the spot and use the same pan for the onions and garlic. Don’t use bacon bits here. The freshly cooked bacon makes a difference in flavor and texture.
- Chicken broth: This adds moisture to the green beans as they cook. I don’t add a lot, just enough to help them to steam in the slow cooker properly.
- Brown sugar and butter: These are optional ingredients. A touch of brown sugar adds sweetness to complement the savory bacon while the butter provides richness. I recommend using them, but you may also leave them out.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Asian-style: Add a splash of soy sauce and grated ginger to give these crockpot green beans with bacon some Asian flair.
- Parmesan herb: Season the green beans with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, and finish them with parmesan before serving for extra savory flavor.
- Spicy Cajun: Swap simple salt and pepper for your favorite Cajun spice blend to add a kick.
- Other flavor combos: Add a drizzle of pesto salad dressing for acidity or some jalapeno powder for depth and spice.
How to Cook Fresh Green Beans in a Crock Pot
Here are the instructions on how to prepare crockpot green beans with bacon and brown sugar. Ensure that your green beans are ready to go before you get started.
Step 1: Cook the bacon. Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon pieces until they are nice and crispy. Drain the fat and set it aside.
Step 2: Saute the onion and garlic. Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook it for about 3-5 minutes. Then, add the garlic and cook it for about 1 minute.
Step 3: Layer in the slow cooker. Add the green beans, bacon, onions, garlic, and seasoning to the crockpot. Then, pour the broth on top.
Step 4: Cook and serve. Pop the lid on and cook the green beans in the crock pot on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Enjoy with extra bacon and butter if desired. These green beans make a great side for air fried tilapia.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcook them: If you allow the green beans to cook in the crockpot longer than the suggested times, they are at risk of overcooking and becoming very soft and mushy.
- Clean and trim them well: Ensure the green beans are washed and dried thoroughly before adding them to the pot. When trimming the ends, make sure you remove any hard or stringy pieces as well.
- Make green beans for a crowd: As long as your slow cooker is at least 6-7 quarts, you can double the recipe and serve it to a larger number of people. It’s perfect for big holiday celebrations!
If you love recipes like this slow cooker green beans with bacon, you may also enjoy these green beans with bacon.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze them for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: You may reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a saucepan or skillet gently over low heat until warm.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve these green beans as a tasty side to complement Big Mac sloppy joes.
- I find that the green beans and savory bacon work well paired with this jalapeno popper chicken.
- They're a great addition to your holiday table! Enjoy with main dish favorites like roasted turkey and air fried turkey legs.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but I recommend adding them straight into the pot frozen. Decrease the cooking time by about 30 minutes to prevent overcooking them, and expect a softer texture overall.
You can, but I recommend against it. They are already very soft and will cook too quickly in the crockpot.
Of course. It won’t affect the cooking time. The liners are great for reducing cleanup time and effort.
More Delicious Slow Cooker Vegetable Recipes
Do you like slow cooking veggies? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Crockpot Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh green beans trimmed
- 1 pounds bacon chopped (divided)
- 1 cup onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar optional, for balance
- 1 tablespoon butter optional, for richness
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Place the green beans in the prepared slow cooker and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Drain off fat and set bacon aside.
- In the same skillet, cook the onion until tender. 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Place the onion and about half the bacon over the green beans. (Reserving half the crispy bacon for serving, later)
- Pour in the chicken broth and season with salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
- Stir gently to combine, then cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until green beans are tender.
- Stir in the butter and remaining bacon just before serving, if using.
Notes
- Store any extra crockpot fresh green beans in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Thoroughly wash, dry, and trim your green beans to ensure you don’t end up with any hard or stringy pieces.
- Try this recipe with frozen green beans. Adjust the cooking time and add them to the pot straight from the freezer.
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