Nana's Famous Green Bean Recipe (2024)

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My Nana’s Famous Green Bean recipe! Made with just a handful of ingredients including bacon, this easy green bean recipe make a delicious addition to any meal! One of the most requested recipes from my family – year-round! Enjoy these tasty green beans with the ultimate Chicken Fried Steak and the BEST dinner rollsfor a family dinner you won’t forget!

Nana's Famous Green Bean Recipe (1)

Green Bean Recipe

Growing up, my Nana was my biggest supporter of my efforts in the kitchen. Almost every day after school I would go to her house and we would make something. Usually involving chocolate. My Nana had a sweet tooth just like me.

Green Beans with Bacon

So much of my time is spent developing new recipes that I often forget to share family recipes that totally rock my world. I’ve shared my Nana’s To-Die-For Carrot Cake, her Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crunch Balls and her Sausage Gravy and I just couldn’t wait another day to share this one with you all.

One of my Nana’s recipes that is near and dear to my heart is Nana’s famous green beans. My Nana would serve up these mouth-watering green beans for all sorts of special occasions.

What my Nana never realized was how much more special each of those occasions became with the addition of her famous green beans to the menu.

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Fresh Green Bean Recipes

I’m always on this lookout for fresh green bean recipes or string beans recipe because that is one of my favorites to grow in the garden each summer.

We love to make these green beans in the slow cooker too.

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Can I Add Potato?

You’ll notice that in my slow cooker version of this recipe above, I have potatoes in with the green beans. That’s something that my Nana would do on occasion and I love the additional flavor and texture the potatoes add to this side dish.

They also help to stretch it when needed.

You can absolutely add potatoes to this dish – you really only need one russet, diced. Stir it in with the green beans.

Green Bean Recipe Ingredients

Four ingredients you guys. That’s it. Each plays a critical role so don’t leave any of them out!

  • Fresh green beans – canned green beans can also be “doctored” up using this recipe
  • Bacon
  • Onion
  • Chicken broth or water (use the broth os stock if you can)

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To this day, they are frequently requested and often enjoyed throughout the year by my family. They never fail to make it to my sister’s birthday dinner, our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and any other time we have fresh green beans available.

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What Makes These Green Beans the Best?

The beans are cooked with bacon and onions for as long as possible until they become so tender and flavorful that it’s hard to resist snatching one or two each time you check on them. Green bean recipes with bacon are the BEST because the smokiness of the bacon adds so much flavor to the dish.

We frequently serve a “real” vegetable or salad with these green beans because they are just too good to count. My Nana’s Green Beans will be served at our Thanksgiving meal and again at Christmas this year, and every year.

Enjoy!

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More Must Make Side Dishes

  1. Twice Baked Potatoes
  2. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
  3. Best Ever Broccoli Salad
  4. Best Ever Cranberry Sauce – just read the reviews!
  5. The Best Turkey Gravy recipe – complete with all my tips and tricks for silky smooth gravy
  6. Stuffing Recipe with Sausage Cranberries and Apples

How To Make The Best Green Beans

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4.98 from 92 votes

My Nana’s Famous Green Beans

My Nana's Famous Green Beans! One of the most requested recipes from my family - year-round! Made with just a handful of ingredients, this easy green bean recipe make a delicious addition to any meal!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword green bean recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 146kcal

Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 6 slices of bacon
  • 2 pounds of rinsed and trimmed fresh green beans
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth or water
  • salt and pepper to taste I usually don't add salt because the bacon is plenty salty

Instructions

  • Cut the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium heat in a heavy 3 qt saucepan until the bacon is fully rendered.

  • DO NOT remove any of the bacon grease - it's what makes these green beans so amazing!

  • Add the onions and saute with bacon until transparent.

  • Add green beans and pepper and stir making sure the bacon drippings are getting mixed in well.

  • Add chicken broth and reduce heat to low.

  • Cover and continue cooking the green beans for 30 minutes up to two hours, stirring occasionally. Make sure there is liquid in the bottom of your pot so that the beans don’t get scorched.

  • Check for seasoning levels and add salt and pepper if necessary.

  • Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 429mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1045IU | Vitamin C: 23.5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1.8mg

Originally published November 22, 2013.

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Nana's Famous Green Bean Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do green beans do for your body? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

Is it better to steam or boil fresh green beans? ›

Steaming is a simple way to cook vegetables, and it leaves the flavor and much of the nutrients intact. It's slightly healthier than boiling since fewer nutrients end up in the water. Plus, steaming requires little time and attention. A steamer basket is a great kitchen tool to have on hand.

What happens if you eat green beans every day? ›

May Improve Your Heart Health

These compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet properties, which protect blood vessel walls and aid in preventing blood clot formation. 7 Therefore, a daily serving of green beans may help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

What happens if you eat beans everyday? ›

In conclusion, beans are a versatile and incredibly nutritious food that can benefit both your body and mind. Regular consumption of beans has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, while also aiding in controlling blood sugar levels and promoting digestive health.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

Why cook green beans in baking soda? ›

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

Why are my fresh green beans tough after cooking? ›

On a cooking note, regarding tough green beans, you may be undercooking them.

Why are my green beans rubbery? ›

Undercooked green beans are rubbery; overcooked are mushy. If you are boiling beans, simply begin tasting them after a few minutes. At first you will have a hard time biting through them. As the texture softens, the green beans are closer to being perfectly cooked.

Should I cut green beans before boiling? ›

Some green beans come with their stem ends already sliced off – they'll look like they have a flat, cut end. But if the stem ends are still on, snap them off before cooking. For a neater look, line up the ends of the green beans and slice them off on a bias. There's no need to trim the tender shoot on the other end.

How do you get the most flavor out of beans? ›

Bump up the flavor with tomato paste

Remember your old friend tomato paste? It's great to add into beans. Throw in a dollop or two to the aromatics once they've cooked, and sauté in the hot fat for a minute or two, just to cook out the tinny flavor. Harissa paste also works nicely for this.

Should you rinse canned green beans before cooking? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

How to make beans taste good? ›

You can add crushed whole seeds (coriander, cumin, fennel, mustard, etc.), woodsy herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage), red pepper flakes, crushed garlic cloves, and of course salt and pepper.

What do green beans do to your stomach? ›

Protect gut function: The fiber in green beans helps keep the digestive system healthy and run it smoothly.

Are green beans good for belly fat? ›

Beans are one of the healthiest foods you can consume, but they are specifically great for belly fat loss as they are rich in soluble fibre, which fights inflammation that cause belly fat accumulation. Some studies have linked the consumption of beans to a reduced risk of obesity.

What is the healthiest vegetable? ›

1. Spinach. Spinach is a leafy green vegetable and a great source of calcium, vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. Due to its iron and calcium content, spinach is a great addition to any meat- or dairy-free diet.

Which is healthier, green beans or broccoli? ›

Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin K and calcium. Green bean has more alpha-carotene than broccoli, however, broccoli contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and broccoli are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium. Broccoli has more pantothenic acid.

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