Crockpot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon

Crockpot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon are tender, savory, and full of smoky flavor. Slow cooking gives fresh green beans that classic Southern-style texture while the bacon adds plenty of flavor.

I love these for Sunday dinner and holidays because they can cook away from the oven while I work on the rest of the meal. Serve them with baked ham or add Southern Baked Mac and Cheese and Southern Candied Yams for a larger comfort-food spread.

Why Make This

• Mostly hands-off: Once you cook the bacon and onions, the slow cooker does the rest.
• Lots of flavor: Bacon, onions, garlic, and seasoned broth make these much more than plain green beans.
• Keeps the oven free: They’re especially convenient for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday dinner, or any meal when the oven is already full.

Ingredients Needed

• Fresh green beans: I use pre-washed and trimmed fresh green beans to save prep time. This recipe is specifically made for fresh beans.
• Bacon: Thin-cut bacon crisps easily and leaves behind flavorful drippings for the beans and onions.
• Yellow onion: Slice it thinly so it softens as it cooks with the bacon.
• Butter: Adds richness to the cooking liquid.
• Garlic cloves: I use minced fresh garlic. You can substitute garlic powder if needed.
• Chicken bouillon paste: I mix this with warm water instead of using plain broth because it gives the beans more concentrated flavor.
• Water: Use warm water so the bouillon dissolves easily.
• Old Bay: Adds savory flavor without needing several individual seasonings.
• Sweetener: A small amount balances the smoky and savory flavors. Use brown sugar, regular sugar, or your preferred granular sweetener.
• Salt and black pepper: Add these to taste since the bacon, Old Bay, and bouillon already contain salt.
• Red pepper flakes: Optional for a little heat.

How to Make Crockpot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon

Cook the Bacon and Onions Until Crisp

Cook the bacon and onions until the bacon is crisp and the onions are soft. Keep the drippings in the skillet since they’ll help flavor the green beans.

Deglaze the Skillet

Pour the bouillon mixture into the skillet and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. This gets all of that flavor from the pan into the slow cooker.

Slow Cook the Green Beans Until Tender

Add everything to the Crockpot and let the green beans cook until tender. Toward the end, check their texture and season to taste so you can stop cooking them when they’re as soft as you like.

How Long to Cook Fresh Green Beans in the Crockpot

Cook fresh green beans for 4–5 hours on high or about 8 hours on low. I recommend checking them around 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low, especially if you prefer your green beans a little firmer. Slow cookers vary, so use the texture of the beans as your guide. They should be tender but still hold their shape.

If you need them faster, my Pressure Cooker Green Beans give you tender, Southern-style fresh green beans without the long slow-cooker cook time.

Tips for Tender, Flavorful Crockpot Green Beans

• Save time with trimmed beans: Pre-washed and trimmed fresh green beans eliminate most of the prep.
• Cook the bacon first: Crisping the bacon gives you rendered fat to flavor the onions and beans instead of leaving you with soft bacon. For a quicker stovetop option, try my Green Beans with Bacon.
• Wait before adding more salt: Bacon, Old Bay, and chicken bouillon all add saltiness, so taste the finished beans first.
• Check the texture: Start checking toward the end of the cooking window to keep the beans from getting softer than you like.
• Save some bacon for the top: Set aside a few crisp pieces if you want extra texture when serving.

Can I Use Ham Instead of Bacon?

Yes. These fresh green beans also work well with ham. For ham hocks, give them about a one-hour head start in the slow cooker before adding the green beans. This gives the ham more time to become tender and flavor the cooking liquid.

You can also use diced leftover baked ham or Crockpot ham. Since cooked ham doesn’t provide the same bacon drippings, sauté the onions in the butter first, then add the ham with the green beans and remaining ingredients. My Crockpot Cabbage is another slow cooker vegetable side that’s perfect when you have cooked ham to use.

What to Serve with Crockpot Green Beans

These Crockpot green beans work with everything from an easy Sunday dinner to a full holiday meal.

• For Sunday dinner: Serve them with Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Legs and Mashed Potatoes with Cheese for an easy comfort-food meal.
• For a Southern-style dinner: Add Oven Baked Hamburger Steaks with Gravy and Southern Baked Mac and Cheese.
• For Thanksgiving or Christmas: Serve them with Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast or Air Fryer Turkey Breast. Add Southern Candied Yams to round out the holiday meal.
• For a pork dinner: These are great with baked pork chops or Air Fryer Pork Chops.
• For a ham dinner: Serve them alongside baked ham or Crockpot ham for an easy holiday or Sunday dinner.

Storage and Leftovers

• Store: Refrigerate leftover green beans in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Reheat: Warm them gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with some of the cooking liquid.
• Make ahead: You can make these a day ahead and reheat them, which is especially helpful for holiday meals.

FAQs

More Ways to Cook Green Beans

For a quicker fresh green bean side, try my Air Fryer Green Beans or Sautéed Green Beans. You can also make Roasted Green Beans in the oven or Green Bean Casserole when you want a classic holiday-style side.

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