Southern Green Beans with Potatoes and Bacon

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.

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

Southern Green Beans Recipe

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

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.

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.

green beans and potatoes in white dish with blue rim

Southern Green Beans with Potatoes and Bacon

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

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings servings

Calories 290kcal

Ingredients

½ pound bacon cooked (3-4 tablespoons grease reserved)
1 small onion diced
2 pounds whole green beans ends trimmed
1½ cups chicken stock
1½ 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.