Here’s a cozy, Southern-style Green Beans and Potatoes recipe — simple, flavorful, and perfect as a side or a full meal with cornbread.
🥔🥬 Green Beans and Potatoes (Southern Style)
Ingredients (4–6 servings)
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed (or 1 lb frozen)
- 4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4–6 slices bacon, chopped
OR 1 smoked ham hock / smoked turkey leg - 1 small onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3–4 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 1–1½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ½ tsp paprika or chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter (optional, for richness)
Instructions
1. Cook the bacon
- In a large pot, cook the chopped bacon until crispy.
- Remove some grease if there’s a lot, but leave a few tablespoons for flavor.
- Add onions and cook until soft.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
(If using ham hock or smoked turkey instead, sauté onions in a little oil, then add the smoked meat.)
2. Add the green beans
- Add trimmed green beans to the pot.
- Stir to coat in the bacon/onion mixture.
3. Add potatoes & broth
- Add potatoes on top.
- Pour in enough chicken broth to just cover the vegetables.
- Season with salt, pepper, and optional spices.
4. Simmer
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 25–35 minutes, until:
- Potatoes are tender
- Green beans are soft and flavorful
- Add butter at the end if you want extra richness.
5. Serve
Serve hot—with cornbread, biscuits, or alongside fried chicken, meatloaf, or pork chops.
⭐ Tips & Variations
For extra flavor
- Add a splash of vinegar or hot sauce at the end.
- Add red pepper flakes for heat.
- Use Yukon gold potatoes for creamy texture.
One-pot meal variation
Add sliced smoked sausage or diced ham.
Vegetarian
Use vegetable broth + smoked paprika to replace the smoky meat flavor.
If you want, I can also give you:
🥓 Green beans, potatoes & sausage
🥬 Slow cooker version
🥔 String beans & new potatoes (old-fashioned style)
