Southern Green Beans with Potatoes and Bacon

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Tender green beans, baby potatoes, smoky bacon, and sweet onions are perfectly combined in this irresistibly classic southern side dish.

Green beans, potatoes, and bacon in white baking dish with blue rim

Southern Green Beans

It goes without saying we are a meat and potatoes kind of family. Adventurous eaters with tastebuds that favor the southwest, but put a classic, filling meal on the table and my crew of boys are ready to dive in

I served these Southern Green Beans and Potatoes along with our favorite Crispy Oven Baked Chicken. It was the perfect pairing, because the chicken finished cooking just as the potatoes were tender. The meal was a hit with my whole family.

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When my friend Melissa (of Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen) told me she was writing a cookbook, I told her I wanted to be first on her list to review it. When I received my advance copy I couldn’t stop flipping through it and drooling over everything.

The cookbook, Melissa’s Southern Kitchen, was released a few years ago and you can find it here on Amazon or countless other retailers. I have loved cooking so many of the family recipes that she shared.

Whether you are looking for a full Sunday dinner or a casual weeknight supper, there is a recipe here for every occasion.

With recipes like Melissa’s unforgettable Buttermilk Fried Chicken, BLT Macaroni Salad, Pecan Praline Baked Brie, and so many others, I have had a lot of fun trying these recipes.

Southern green beans with potatoes and bacon in dish with tea towel

Green Beans with Bacon and Potatoes

  • bacon 
  • onion 
  • whole green beans
  • chicken stock
  • granulated garlic or garlic powder 
  • kosher salt
  • ground black pepper
  • baby potatoes 
  • butter
green beans in pot

Southern Green Beans Recipe

Kitchen Tip: I use this knife and this 9×13 baking dish to make this recipe.

  1. Cook the bacon and drain on a paper towel, reserving the bacon grease. Add the bacon grease to a dutch oven or large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened.
  2. Add the green beans, chicken stock, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Stir and cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. After 15 minutes, sprinkle the green beans with ½ teaspoon granulated garlic. Arrange the potatoes over the green beans. Dot with butter and sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper. Cover and continue simmering for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender.
  4. Stir gently and transfer to a serving dish. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the green beans and potatoes.
potatoes and green beans in pot on stovetop

Southern Side Dishes

Side dishes are one of the best things about gathering with friends and family. I can in fact make an entire meal out of just sides. Speaking of which, I have quite a few favorites you need to check out.

Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots are caramelized carrots with slightly crisp edges in a garlic honey butter sauce. This vegetable side dish will steal the show on your plate.

Green Chile Queso Potatoes are smothered in a gooey green chile queso cheese sauce. The rich sauce makes them extra dreamy. 

potatoes, green beans, and bacon in a square baking dish

Sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, salty bacon, a splash of hot sauce, and lime are all tossed together in a simple sauce to make this Creamed Corn with Peppers and Bacon.

This Asparagus Skillet is a delightful combination of sweet potatoes, fresh corn, asparagus, and bacon with a drizzle of balsamic.

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green beans and potatoes in white dish with blue rim

Southern Green Beans with Potatoes and Bacon

4.69 from 16 votes
Tender green beans, baby potatoes, smoky bacon, and sweet onions are perfectly combined in this irresistibly classic southern side dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • ½ pound bacon cooked (3-4 tablespoons grease reserved)
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 pounds whole green beans ends trimmed
  • cups chicken stock
  • teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided
  • 2 pounds baby potatoes halved
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Cook the bacon and drain on a paper towel, reserving the bacon grease. Add the bacon grease to a dutch oven or large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened.
  • Add the green beans, chicken stock, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Stir and cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • After 15 minutes, sprinkle the green beans with ½ teaspoon granulated garlic. Arrange the potatoes over the green beans. Dot with butter and sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper. Cover and continue simmering for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender.
  • Stir gently and transfer to a serving dish. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the green beans and potatoes. Enjoy!

Notes

As originally written, Melissa’s recipe called for the bacon to be cooked in the pot on the stove. However, I’m nothing if not a creature of habit, so I cooked my bacon in the oven. I added a spoonful of bacon grease  to the pot and started from there. (I keep bacon grease in a jar in my refrigerator, but you could cook easily cook the bacon first and use that grease.)
I used a combination of baby red and Dutch yellow potatoes. Any potato will work for this recipe, just make sure the pieces are roughly the same size so that they will finish cooking at the same time.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal · Carbohydrates: 31g · Protein: 9g · Fat: 15g · Saturated Fat: 6g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g · Monounsaturated Fat: 6g · Trans Fat: 0.2g · Cholesterol: 28mg · Sodium: 580mg · Potassium: 849mg · Fiber: 6g · Sugar: 6g · Vitamin A: 885IU · Vitamin C: 37mg · Calcium: 64mg · Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 5/24/16 – recipe notes updated 10/14/22}

green beans with bacon and potatoes

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. Melissa says

    Mary, what a fabulous job you did on these green beans! Thank you so much for the review, I can't wait to see your book in the fall. ♥5 stars

  2. J. Robbie says

    Ok,
    My Mother has made this recipe for years!
    I wasn’t going to try your version of this recipe until I read your comment at the bottom of the page about making your bacon in the oven. I do the same thing! The bacon is so much crispier made this way. Seasoning the recipe with bacon fat is also a winning idea. I’ll try your recipe and get back to you on what I think. Sounds delish…

    • Mary Younkin says

      Sorry, Krista! I missed this question initially, but I’ll answer it for anyone interested in the future. Yes, you can add everything at once for a much crisper green bean.

  3. Susan Ciannilli says

    My mom used to make these potatoes and green beans exactly this way………loved them. Just so happens I picked a mess of them from my garden this morning and just happen to have baby red potatoes on hand. Will be making these with dinner tonight……thank you !!5 stars

  4. David Skulski says

    II find it difficult to believe that anyone proofed this recipe. The idea of cooking the beans for 30 minutes and then putting the potatoes on top for a second cooking results in over-cooked beans and under-cooked potatoes. They should be mixed together after a 20 minute head-start of the beans, not as described in this recipe.

    I keep making the mistake of not trusting my own intuition.2 stars

    • Mary Younkin says

      Hey David, it doesn’t sound like you actually made this recipe. Two things, these are very small potatoes and they do cook quickly. And this is a low simmer method. That said, it’s a southern way of cooking the beans and they are more tender than I normally would cook them. As you can see from the photo though, nothing is mush or falling apart. I’ve personally made every recipe on this website and taken the photos as well. I wish you all the best.

  5. Dina says

    Has anyone made this recipe in the oven? If so, after frying the bacon did you put the beans and potatoes in together?

    • Mary Younkin says

      Yes, but I would change things up a bit and roast the potatoes first then add the green beans for just 5 minutes or so, enough to heat them since canned green beans are already cooked. You don’t want them to become complete mush if that makes sense.

  6. Bjo1975 says

    Great recipe. Reminded me of the same side dish my grandmas made when I was a kid, but sadly isn’t found hardly anywhere anymore. I made it tonight, and myself and hubby couldn’t stay out of it, and it’s only meant to be a side dish.5 stars

    • BJo1975 says

      I might add that for this to be really great you need to use fresh green beans. Most grocery stores have those. Don’t try to use canned nasty green beans and make moderation’s that don’t do it justice and then comment that the original recipe was lack luster. Only thing I’d add is let it simmer for at least an hour to fully develop those flavors. Next day is always the best.5 stars

  7. Katherine Hunter says

    Great taste but my green beans didn’t cook evenly. Next time I’ll use a wider pot. Also I didn’t transfer it to a separate dish. I didn’t feel the need to.4 stars

  8. Joann says

    I have been craving my mom’s fresh green beans with potatoes. I found your site. I’m actually making the dish now. I only had 10oz of green beans so I cut everything down. Maybe I miss calculated. I used 1/2 a cup of chicken stock. after 15 min. my stock was all evaporated and my pan burnt. I had my gas stove barely up. Just a nice soft simmer. I transferred everything to another pot added more broth and my potatoes etc.

    Any advice?
    I do ok with recipes but not claiming to be a cook by any stretch of means :). Really wanting this dish to turn out 🙂

    Thank You!
    Joann Billings

    • Mary Younkin says

      Unfortunately, reducing the liquid by that much likely just wasn’t enough liquid for the pan. I would’ve done the same thing with a different pot and more broth.

  9. pete Doanato says

    Tasty Tasty Tasty. I was born in Kansas and my Grand Mother ( sweet woman ever ) would make this for me. Always a delight she was a wonderful hard-working woman from the flat plains, poor but rich in love and class. Too good to miss this dish it is all you need to put a smile on your face. Blessing4 stars