Slow Cooker Green Beans

These Slow Cooker Green Beans are an old-fashioned Southern favorite made easy. Fresh green beans are slow cooked until tender with smoky bacon, onion, and plenty of savory flavor, creating a comforting side dish that tastes like it simmered all day in Grandma’s kitchen, because, well, it did! They’re perfect for Sunday supper, holiday dinners, or anytime you want a simple vegetable side that everyone will happily pile onto their plate.

Easy Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe

There’s hardly a meal that wouldn’t be made better with a pot of these Slow Cooker Green Beans on the table. Serve them alongside roasted chicken, meatloaf, pork chops, or a Sunday pot roast for a comforting family dinner. They’re especially welcome at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and summer gatherings, where a big slow cooker of tender green beans can feed a crowd and stay warm while everything else comes together. For a true Southern supper, add some cornbread and let those savory juices do the talking!

Key ingredients you’ll need to make Slow Cooked Green Beans: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card ans quantities.)

• Green Beans – Fresh green beans ends trimmed.
• Onion and Garlic – Fresh garlic and sweet Vidalia onion enhance the flavor.
• Bacon – Cooked bacon for a smoky flavor.
• Spices – Garlic salt and black pepper adjust to taste
• Liquid – Chicken stock or chicken broth for moisture.
• Butter – Salted butter or unsalted butter adds richness.

How to Make Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe

• Prep Green Beans – Remove ends from green beans.
• Fry Bacon – Fry bacon over medium-high heat until crispy and fat has rendered. Remove to paper towels to drain grease, then chop.
• Saute Onion and Garlic – To the drippings in the skillet add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened and beginning to brown.
• Combine – Toss green beans with the onion mixture, along with garlic salt and black pepper. Stir to combine, then transfer to the slow cooker.
• Chicken Stock – Drizzle the top with chicken stock and arrange pats of butter over the green beans.
• Slow Cooker – Cover and cook per the recipe until tender.
• Serve – Stir chopped bacon into the beans, then serve hot.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon

• 6 quart slow cooker or crock pot.
• Large colander.
• Kitchen knife and cutting board.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Large skillet. Use a large enough skillet that it can double as the mixing bowl.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Frozen Green Beans – You can adapt this recipe using frozen green beans. When doing so there’s no need to thaw the beans first.
• Bacon – You could use diced ham, ham bone or ham hock in place of bacon.
• Mushrooms – Add 1-2 cups sliced mushrooms.
• Bacon Drippings – If you prefer to skip the bacon you can saute the onion and garlic in extra virgin olive oil.
• Fresh Herbs – You can add fresh parsley or thyme.
• Servings – You can easily downsize this recipe according to the amount of servings you need.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or individual servings in the microwave.
• Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Make

• Slow Cooker Creamed Corn is buttery and rich.
• Slow Cooked Turkey Breast will free up the oven on busy holidays.
• Slow Cooked Cheesy Ranch Potatoes come together in no time flat and the slow cooker does the work.
• Slow Cooker Corn Casserole made with Jiffy muffin mix.
• Slow Cooked Dr Pepper Barbecue Beef is tender and full flavored.
• You won’t believe how easy this Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole is to make.
• Crockpot Beef and Noodles is certain to become a family favorite.
• Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil recipe makes it possible to throw down a shrimp boil any night of the week.
• Slow Cooker Potato Soup warms you up from the inside out.
• Honey Chipotle Meatballs from the Magical Slow Cooker.

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