Crock pot green beans are tender green beans slow-cooked in chicken broth with crispy bacon, onion, garlic, and a little smoked paprika, then tossed with butter right before serving. These crock pot green beans with bacon take about 15 minutes of prep, and then the slow cooker does the rest. Because they hold on warm for hours, they’re an easy Southern side to set out for a holiday buffet or a potluck.
I remember being amazed, as a kid, at how good the green beans were when we first moved south from Indiana to Georgia. We’d always steamed ours, and these tasted like a whole different vegetable. My mom said the secret was that Southern cooks add bacon and cook them low and slow. So before she left for work, she’d put green beans in our crock pot with the bacon and seasonings, and they turned into one of my favorite side dishes growing up. They still are, and now I make these Southern green beans every holiday.
Made this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was a hit! Will be our new go-to green bean recipe. Thank you!
—Ashley
Main Ingredients Needed For Crock Pot Green Beans
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card.
- Bacon: Cooking the green beans with bacon is where all the flavor comes from, so this is the one ingredient I wouldn’t skip. I buy regular bacon, not thick-cut, and I look for a pack that’s meaty without a lot of fat. The drippings cook the onion and garlic, half the bacon cooks right in the crock pot with the beans, and the other half gets saved to toss in right before serving.
- Yellow Onion and Garlic: Cooked right in the bacon drippings, these build the flavor everything else simmers in. A regular yellow onion and a couple of fresh garlic cloves are all you need.
- Chicken Broth: The green beans cook in this, and it soaks up all that bacon and seasoning as it goes. I use regular chicken broth, not low-sodium.
- Smoked Paprika: This adds another layer of smoky flavor right alongside the bacon. Check the label for the word “smoked,” because regular paprika won’t give you the same flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Just a little bit balances out the salty, savory flavors. Plain white sugar from the pantry is all it takes.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: A small amount gives a gentle bit of heat. They’re the same flakes you’d shake on a slice of pizza.
- Green Beans: Frozen green beans make this about as easy as a side dish gets. I buy regular-cut green beans, not French-style. Fresh ones work too, and I’ve covered that in the questions below.
- Butter: Tossed in at the end for a rich, buttery finish. I use salted butter, and you can add a little extra if you like yours really buttery.
How To Make Crock Pot Green Beans
Most of the hands-on work here is crisping the bacon, and then the crock pot takes over.
Simple Swaps for Southern Green Beans
I’ve tested a few easy swaps, so feel free to use what you’ve already got in the pantry:
- Brown sugar works in place of the granulated sugar.
- Chicken bone broth is a good swap instead of regular broth.
- More or less heat is easy to control by adjusting the red pepper flakes.
And if your family expects the creamy kind at Thanksgiving, my green bean casserole with melted cheddar is the one to make.
Keeping Slow Cooker Green Beans Warm for a Crowd
During the holidays, I go ahead and cook these slow cooker green beans, and then just before guests arrive, I switch the crock pot to warm. They keep for several hours that way, which is why they’ve earned a spot on my list of Southern potluck recipes and show up on just about every buffet table I set. It’s one side dish that’s done and waiting before anybody walks in the door, so I can spend those last few minutes greeting people instead of standing at the stove. When I’m feeding a crowd, I double the recipe in a larger crock pot. Just tap the 2x button on the recipe card below, and it’ll double every ingredient amount for you, so you can print it that way.
Kitchen Essentials I Use in This Recipe
My Favorite Slow Cooker Tools
Questions When Making Crock Pot Green Beans
Both work. On Low, they take 5 to 6 hours, and I start checking for tenderness at 5. On High, they’re ready in about 4 hours. If you have the time, Low is the way to go, since cooking them low and slow is exactly what my mom said makes Southern green beans so good.
Yes, I’ve made these with fresh green beans, and they take about the same amount of time as frozen. Just trim the ends and rinse them before they go into the crockpot.
No, you can put frozen green beans in a crockpot straight from the freezer. Push them down into the broth so they’re sitting in the liquid, and they’ll cook down just fine.
Crock Pot Green Beans
Ingredients
- 5 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 pounds green beans, frozen (regular cut)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, or more if you like them really buttery
Instructions
Cook Bacon and Onions
- Cut bacon into 1/4-inch pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy.5 slices bacon
- Remove bacon and set aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.
- Add diced onion to the skillet and cook in the bacon grease until translucent, about 5 minutes.1/2 cup yellow onion
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.2 cloves garlic
- Transfer onion and garlic to a 6-quart crockpot and discard excess bacon grease.
Assemble In Crock Pot
- Add chicken broth, garlic salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes to the crockpot. Stir to combine.2 cups chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Mix in half of the cooked bacon and place the other half in the refrigerator for topping when beans are cooked.
- Add the green beans into the crockpot, stir slightly, pushing them down into the liquid.1 1/2 pounds green beans
Cook the Green Beans
- On Low: Cook for 5-6 hours, checking for tenderness after 5 hours or on High: Cook for 4 hours.
Serving
- Toss with butter and the remaining cooked bacon.2 tablespoons salted butter
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve with a slotted spoon, leaving the broth in the crock pot.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
- Make It A Meal: This green bean recipe is the perfect side dish for holiday dishes like Crockpot Turkey Breast, ending with the classic dessert of Pecan Pie. These green beans also double as a simple side dish during the year paired with comforting main dishes like French Onion Soup Chicken or Chicken and Rice Casserole. And for dessert, you can keep things light with Banana Pudding Brownies or No Bake Cheesecake Cups!
- Keeping Warm: Once the green beans are cooked, switch the slow cooker to WARM just before guests arrive. They hold for several hours this way, which makes them perfect for a buffet or potluck.
- Substitutions: Brown sugar works in place of the granulated sugar, and chicken stock or chicken bone broth can replace the chicken broth. Fresh green beans work too, with about the same cook time. Just trim the ends and rinse them first.
- Storage: Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Tried this recipe?
Please consider Leaving a Review!Showing Hospitality with Southern Style Green Beans
A Holiday Open House is one of the easiest ways to have a lot of people through your door in one afternoon, and a crock pot of these Southern-style green beans is made for it, since folks drift in and out for hours and the beans sit right there on warm, ready for whoever walks in next. Set the slow cooker at the end of the counter with a slotted spoon and a stack of small plates, put a platter of glazed ham with marmalade or some sandwiches beside it, and let people fill a plate whenever they arrive instead of waiting on one big sit-down meal. Leaving the door open all afternoon means you can invite more people than your table could ever seat, so think about who you might add to the list, maybe someone who’d otherwise spend the holiday alone or a family you’d like to know better. I love that in Luke 14 Jesus tells us, when we throw a feast, to invite the folks who can’t repay us, and promises we’ll be blessed for it, and an open house with a crock pot on warm is about the easiest way I know to live that out. Keep the coffee going, let the conversations wander from room to room, and enjoy watching your home fill up.
Made this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was a hit! Will be our new go-to green bean recipe. Thank you!
So glad y’all enjoyed it Ashley.
I live so many of your recipes! But my favorite is the dishwater you feature in so many of your photographs! I love the scripture references and would really like to purchase some. Where can we find these?