The special ingredient that makes these extra decadent and delicious? BACON. Mmmm. Bacon. I do not believe there is anything tastier on the face of the planet than bacon. The second secret ingredient that makes these extra scrumptious? Chicken stock. It adds a whole other level of super awesome amazing flavor that makes these green beans hard to stop eating. Oh, and they are so, so easy to make! And use only four ingredients! Hip hip, hooray! Basically, you need to stop everything you are doing right now and go make these. (But first read the rest of this post.) OK I know- bacon isn’t the healthiest thing in the world. But green beans on the other hand? Super healthy. High in vitamin K, manganese, and fiber, as well as being a little-known source of beta-carotene! You know, the stuff found in bright orange veggies like carrots.
I love fresh green beans simply steamed and topped with some salt, pepper, and olive oil or butter- try that if you’re looking for lighter green bean fare. But if you’re looking for a life-changing green bean experience (who isn’t, really?) these Southern Style Green Beans are where it’s at. First, cut up a few slices of bacon (I used four- but you can use more or less depending on how much of a bacon fanatic/how healthy you are) and cook them over medium-high heat until the fat has rendered out. I used my cast iron dutch oven for this. I almost always like using a heavy pot for things that need to simmer for a while, and it does a great job of cooking the bacon to a perfect even crispness. Once the bacon has cooked and the fat has rendered, add some sliced onions to the mix. Wait for it- your house will smell amazing in approximately 7 seconds. There is nothing – NOTHING – like the smell of bacon and onions sauteing together in perfect harmony. After the onions have softened a bit, add the green beans and stir to coat in all the yummy bacony oniony goodness. Then, add some chicken stock and salt/pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer partially covered for about a half an hour. DIVE IN.
Ok but wait. Before you dive in, we need to talk about how delicious all the juices are in these green beans. When you get a spoonful of the green beans to put on your plate (or 4 spoonfuls…), I highly recommend topping it with a bit of the juices as well. And, go ahead and add the juices to anything else on your plate. Mashed potatoes? Yep. Chicken? You betcha. It’s a delicious, smoky, salty sauce that will add a little somethin’ something’ to whatever else you happen to be eating! OK. Now you may dive in :-) Recipe below!
