what southern main course should i serve with green beans and bacon

by Clyde Doyle MD 8 min read

What do you serve with Southern style green beans?

Southern Style Green Beans simmer slowly on the stovetop with bacon and onions until the fresh green beans are tender, flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! These country-style vegetables are an easy side dish to serve with smothered pork chops, chicken fried steak, roasted chicken or shrimp and grits. What are southern style green beans?

Are you still eating green beans with bacon?

But don’t worry, you most definitely still are! Green beans are loaded with vitamins and other nutrients your body needs. What really makes these green beans stand out (besides the bacon, of course) is the way they’re also flavored with freshly minced garlic, onions, and mouthwatering cajun seasoning.

How do you cook bacon and green beans together?

When bacon is about 1/2 way done, add onion and continue frying until bacon is semi crisp. (Do NOT drain grease). Drain green beans and dump into bacon and onions. Stir. Continue to cook for 30 minutes on medium, stirring occasionally.

Why do southern green beans take so long to cook?

Southern green beans aren’t meant to have a crunch when you bite into them, which is why the cooking time is so long. If you’re accustomed to green beans with a crunch, you can stop the cooking process when they’re at your preferred level of doneness.

What can I eat green beans with?

Make it a meal by serving it over your favorite cooked grains, adding an egg, or pairing it with grilled chicken breast. Stir-fry your fresh green beans until they're blistered, then toss them with tangy pickled shallots and top with crunchy, salty breadcrumbs. Add a fried or poached egg and you've got dinner.

What goes with beans for dinner?

What to Serve with Pinto Beans (12 Tasty Ideas)Cornbread. If you want a delicious and filling meal, this southern classic is the way to go. ... Ham. When I serve brown beans with ham, I like to go all in by making it in a crock pot. ... Meatloaf. ... Fried Chicken. ... Mashed Potatoes. ... Mac and Cheese. ... Fried Okra. ... Fried Apples.More items...•

What flavors go well with green beans?

Spices and Herbs that Pair Perfectly with String Beans (These are Organic Too):Garlic (minced, powder or granules)Onion (minced, powder or granules)Parsley as a finisher with some lemons squeezed on top.Toasted sesame seeds.Classic black malabar pepper and salt.Basil.Oregano.Thyme.More items...•

How many pounds of fresh green beans feed 4?

How many servings is a pound of green beans? 1 pound will serve 4 people.

What meat goes good with beans?

Sweet and tangy baked beans complement the smokiness of the meat. Serve homemade baked beans with your favorite grilled meats, such as chicken breasts, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, pork chops and bratwurst. Grilled hot dogs and baked beans make a kid-friendly lunch or dinner.

What meat goes with beans and cornbread?

In a classic American meal, meatloaf is a terrific main dish. It can, however, be a great accompaniment to your beans and cornbread. It's simple to make, as the main ingredients are ground beef, breadcrumbs, and onions. It becomes moist and yummy with a proper balance of seasoning and an adequate serving of milk.

What can you add to green beans to make them taste better?

Garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper are all fantastic additions to make your green beans taste fresh and delicious.

What spice is good on green beans?

Best Seasonings for Green Beans It calls for onion powder, garlic powder and salt and pepper, which works with a wide variety of proteins and flavor profiles.

Do you drain canned green beans?

Easy and Flavorful Canned Green Beans What is this? Next, be sure to drain the canned juices from the beans and fill with water and drain twice to rinse the beans then add them to the pot. Give everything a stir to coat those beans with that flavorful bacon grease then add the chicken stock and seasonings.

How many green beans is a serving?

What is a serving of green beans? One serving is 1 cup green beans (about 44 calories).

Are green beans good for you?

Green beans are high in vitamin K, and they also contain a decent amount of calcium. These nutrients are important for maintaining strong, healthy bones and reducing your risk of fractures. Getting enough folate isn't just important during pregnancy. The B vitamin is also important for reducing depression.

How many beans are in a cup of beans?

The answer will vary depending on roast time, brewing method, and your preferred strength. On average, there are about 7 to 18 grams of coffee beans in each cup of coffee.

What ingredients do you need to make Southern Style Green Beans?

To make southern style green beans you’ll need just a handful of ingredients. Fresh Green Beans, bacon, yellow onion, chicken broth, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.

How to clean and prepare fresh green beans

Rinse fresh green beans under cool water. To trim them, you can simply snap the ends off of each bean. To speed up the process, I will often simply cut off the top 1/4 inch of the beans.

How to make southern style green beans with bacon

To make these green beans with bacon, you’ll start by cooking the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it’s browned, transfer it to a paper towel lined plate and keep warm or refrigerate until ready to use. I prefer to add the bacon at the end of cooking so that it is crispy instead of soft.

What to serve with green beans with bacon?

These green beans are a comfort food classic so it only seems right to serve them along side some of our other comfort food favorites. I always serve them with brined fried chicken or even on Thanksgiving with roasted turkey thighs!

Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon

Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon is a comfort food classic. Fresh green beans slow simmered with onions, chicken broth and bacon.

Ingredients Needed For Southern Green Beans

It might feel like a delicacy, but this southern-style recipe uses ingredients that are super easy to find. I’ll share all the exact amounts in the printable recipe card, but first, I want to share some tips about what I used.

How To Make Southern Green Beans With Bacon

Every single step, along with the tips and ingredients, is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. First, I have some extra information along with some step-by-step photos.

Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Green Beans

Before we get to the recipe card, here are a few questions people often ask about how to make this keto-friendly side dish.

Other Green Bean Recipes To Try

If you enjoyed these southern green beans, check out these low-carb side dish ideas next. They are some of our favorites!

Southern Style Green Beans

Cook up a batch of southern green beans in a skillet in just minutes. This keto-friendly recipe uses bacon, onion, and garlic and only has 4g net carbs!

Ingredients

Making fresh green beans in a cast iron pan is a fairly simple process. This original recipe keeps it simple, with bacon and greens but if you want a more robust side dish, scroll down for a mushroom variation.

Adding Mushrooms

If you prefer to cook up green beans, bacon, AND mushrooms, here is a variable recipe!

Related Recipes

If you are short on time, Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoes is a set it and forget it recipe to make for an easy evening dinner.

Southern Style Green Beans

Southern Style Green Beans with fresh green beans and crispy bacon is a flawless side dish for any meal. Do not wait for the holidays to enjoy this mouth watering, tender and perfect vegetable side dish.

What are Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon?

This recipe has been in my virtual "recipe box" for over a decade, so I have no idea where I originally came across the concept. I've tweaked the dish over time, but they're basically just Southern-style green beans with bacon.

How to make Southern-Style Green Beans with Bacon

This simple side dish comes together with just a few minutes of hands-on prep time and some basic pantry staples!

Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations

You can substitute with 3 (15 ounce) cans of green beans, drained. There’s no need to cook the canned green beans before placing them in the dish.

Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon

Sweet, salty and smoky, these Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon are an easy side dish for any meal!

What are southern style green beans?

There's a bit of a Green Bean Debate out there: namely, whether they should be cooked-to-death-until-they're-so-tender-they're-almost-mushy or whether they're best when they're still bright green and just crisp-tender. Personally, I like the veggies both ways...I just consider them two totally different animals.

Ingredients for the Best Southern Style Green Beans Ever

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for cooking fresh green beans country style. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

How to Cook Fresh Green Beans Southern Style

This is the method to use if you want to cook fresh green beans so they are soft! The key is a longer cooking time over low heat, breaking down the vegetables so that they're nice and tender while also infusing them with the other flavors in the pot.

What to Serve with Easy Southern Style Green Beans

These southern style green beans with bacon and onions are the perfect addition to any down-home comfort food dinner. Pair the vegetables with one of these delicious entrées:

Storage

These green beans just get better as they sit and the flavors come together, so feel free to make a big batch in advance. Stored in an airtight container, the beans will last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. You can also freeze the cooked green beans for up to 3 months.

Recipe Variations

Add more seasonings to the green beans, if desired. You can use seasoned salt or garlic salt instead of regular salt, or try garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, or crushed red pepper flakes.

Tips for the Best Southern Style Green Beans Recipe

Stir the pot occasionally while the green beans are cooking. This will ensure even cooking and flavor.

Southern Green Beans

You know how some recipes just make all your childhood memories flood back? Well, this is one of those recipes for me. They remind me of holidays and Friday evenings around my grandma’s dining room table.

Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon

I like to use thick-cut bacon in this easy recipe. You can also use regular bacon or ham hock. If you’re a pescatarian, I’d recommend using turkey bacon or even smoked turkey. Alternatively, if you’re vegetarian, you can make this recipe without bacon and just use a couple of Tablespoons of olive oil to saute the onion.

Optional Alterations

This recipe is very flexible and there are lots of ways that it can be adapted. Here are a few of the most common:

How Long to Cook Fresh Green Beans

Southern style green beans shouldn’t have any crunch to them, so they take a long time to cook (this recipe isn’t quick, but it is definitely worth it!). They need all of that time to really absorb the flavor and get melt in your mouth tender. It’s best to simmer them for 1 to 2 hours.

String Beans vs Green Beans

String beans and green beans are actually one and the same! The “string” in the title refers to the string that used to have to be removed from every bean before cooking (similar to snap peas). Due to selective breeding, the string only only exists with heirloom varieties these days.

Instructions

Heat a Dutch oven (or other large heavy-bottomed lidded skillet or pot) on medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and saute until golden. Remove the bacon from the pot, leaving the grease behind, and drain the pieces on a paper towel lined plate.

Southern Style Green Beans

Southern Style Green Beans are made with fresh green beans cooked low and slow flavored with salty bacon.

Instructions

Cut bacon with kitchen scissors into bite size pieces. Saute in a heavy bottom pot until done.

Ingredients

How to Make Southern Style Green Beans

  1. Cook bacon in pan.
  2. Remove bacon from pan and set bacon on paper towels to cool and drain grease.
  3. Do not drain grease from pan because you use it to sauté your beans.
  4. You can skip fresh bacon in lieu of precooked or air fried bacon, just cut the bacon up and add it near the end of recipe so it doesn’t get overcooked in the heating of the green beans.
See more on saltysidedish.com

Adding Mushrooms

  • If you prefer to cook up green beans, bacon, AND mushrooms, here is a variable recipe! 1. 8 oz. of Fresh Green Beans 2. 4 oz. Fresh Sliced Mushrooms (more if you like) 3. 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 4. 1/2 tablespoon of Minced Garlic 5. 1/4th cup cut Green Onions 6. 4 slices of thick cut bacon – cooked 7. 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 8. salt 9. pepper 1. To get started on this green bean and …
See more on saltysidedish.com

Related Recipes

  1. If you are short on time, Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoesis a set it and forget it recipe to make for an easy evening dinner.
  2. Green beans are also amazing on their own, so making Instant Pot Green Beanswith just salt and pepper is a great way to enjoy these fresh veggies as they are.
  3. Did you know that cold green beans are great in a 3 Bean Salad?
  1. If you are short on time, Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoesis a set it and forget it recipe to make for an easy evening dinner.
  2. Green beans are also amazing on their own, so making Instant Pot Green Beanswith just salt and pepper is a great way to enjoy these fresh veggies as they are.
  3. Did you know that cold green beans are great in a 3 Bean Salad?
  4. Also sautéed, Green Beans Almondine and Fetais a unique and brightly flavored side dish.