Categories: Garden news

Easy Fresh Green Beans with Bacon

Published by
James marcus

This Fresh Green Beans recipe with bacon is so easy, you’ll want to make it year ’round. Straight from the garden is the best way to serve up this Southern-style vegetable side dish. If you don’t have a garden, support your local farmers market or most large grocery stores sell them.

I used rattlesnake green beans but any green bean or pole bean variety will be delicious using this simple stovetop recipe to boil fresh green beans with bacon.

What are rattlesnake beans?

According to Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Co., rattlesnake green beans are a full-flavored, pole bean with a rich sweet taste. This easy to grow bean with purple streaks is a favorite in the South.

What’s the shortcut?

  • Starting with chicken broth infuses flavor quicker than cooking the beans for an hour with a ham hock.
  • Cooking the bacon in the same pot at the beginning infuses more flavor, renders the bacon drippings at the beginning, and saves washing a skillet.
  • To save even more time, just trim the ends (not cut into 1-inch pieces) and cook them whole.

How long do you cook fresh green beans out of the garden?

Scroll down to the bottom for the complete printable recipe.

In South, there’s quite a debate on how long to cook fresh green beans.

I cook my fresh green beans for 30 minutes in chicken broth for flavor and texture. If you like them extra tender and “Southern-style” like Grandma used to make, simmer for about 15 more minutes or until it suits your taste.

I’m somewhere between the generation before me that might cook them for a couple of hours until extra tender and the generation after me that likes them “crisp-tender”.

Can I use a ham hock instead of bacon?

I do love the flavor of the smoked ham hock but since I only cook my green beans 30 minutes on the stovetop method, depending on the size of the ham hock, that may not be enough time to cook it thoroughly.

You could use a ham hock in my Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans, though.

I may or may not be guilty of frying an extra piece of bacon just to eat!

Can I add onion?

I do not love chopped onion in my green beans but I know many do. It’s a personal preference and you absolutely can saute′ them with the bacon or stir them in raw with the beans. Sweet Vidalia onions would be my recommendation.

Can I cook fresh green beans in the Instant Pot?

Yes, another easy way to cook fresh green beans with bacon is my Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon recipe.

I bartered one summer with some dear friends that grow these rattlesnake green beans for a loaf of my Zucchini Pineapple Bread and a jar of Sweet Heat Pickles.

Bartering is a blessing when your friend allows you to give them something that you hand made, grew, painted, designed or baked!

You can barter with anything, but my favorite is home grown and handmade from the heart! It’s like sharing a part of yourself with your friends and neighbors.

Other vegetable recipes you will love

Southern Fried Yellow Squash

Sausage and Summer Squash Casserole

Perfectly Crunch Vidalia Onion Rings

Perfect Every Time Fried Green Tomatoes

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. Be social and share, y’all! Don’t forget to sign up with your email so you don’t miss a single post on my Southern shortcut recipes!

If you make this recipe I’d love to see it! Tag me on social media with #gritsandgouda or @gritsandgouda. Leave a comment below the printable recipe if you have questions or tell me how you liked the recipe. Don’t forget to give the recipe a rating of 5 stars if you love it!

Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.

This post was last modified on 15/10/2023 08:53

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

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Published by
James marcus

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