Homemade Southern-style Green Beans are a staple of holiday celebrations in my home and are so simple to make with less than 10 ingredients! They have a delicious smoky flavor, thanks to crispy bacon. I top mine with crispy fried onions and almonds as a nod to green bean casserole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review: “I never cared for green bean casserole because of the cream of mushroom in it so when I saw this I knew I had to make it! SOOOO GOOD! Love everything from the bacon to the shallots. YUM”! – MS
This post was originally published in 2021 and has been thoughtfully updated in 2026 with additional tips, helpful step-by-step instructions, and improved photos to make the recipe even easier to follow and enjoy.
Don’t Skip These Green Beans (Trust Me!)
I’m always amazed at how simple ingredients are so tasty when combined! These Southern-Style Green Beans are just that with 6 main ingredients and then some optional toppings that I highly recommend, like crispy fried onions and almonds.
To cut down on the prep and cook time, I use canned green beans and they turn out delicious! They’ve become a required menu item for the holidays, but also easy enough to make as a side dish for a weeknight meal. Honestly, they are like something Grandma would make! If you need some more side dish inspiration, try my Cheesy Asparagus or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey.
Why I keep coming back to this recipe:
- Ready in about 30 minutes (yes, really!), the perfect vegetable
- Simple ingredients, big yummy flavor, old fashioned green beans
- That classic Southern taste without the work
- Perfect with just about anything—turkey, ham, or beef!
Kathleen’s Tip: As much as I love the taste of fresh vegetables, I love canned green beans, aka string beans we called them — I blame it on our elementary lunch lady! To make it a smidge healthier, I do use organic canned green beans.
Reader Michaela Raved: “These were super yummy! I wanted to switch things up a bit from the normal green bean casserole – and these were perfect!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ingredients for Southern Green Beans
- Canned Green Beans | All you need to do is drain the liquid! I prefer the French Style variety, which are longer and thinner. See variations for using fresh green beans or frozen.
- Bacon | My favorite is the thick-cut bacon, but regular bacon can be used. Your local butcher can point out the best ones if you prefer sweet or smoky flavors
- Butter | I used salted butter, but you could use unsalted or for a dairy-free substitute, use vegan sticks or olive oil instead!
- Garlic | I use a garlic mincer to make this job fast and easy, or if I am really in a rush, I love Trader Joe’s minced garlic.
- Red Pepper Flakes | These are optional, but if you like a little heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes in with the shallots.
- Shallot | These have a complex flavor of sweetness and tang, but are milder than other onion varieties.
- Parmesan Cheese | It’s worth buying a wedge to grate over these Southern-style green beans.
- Garnish | Organic French Fried Onions and toasted sliced almonds are the perfect optional toppings for this dish! But if preferred, keep two small bowls filled with both and let your guests decide what they want on top!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Southern-Style Green Beans
Cook the bacon pieces in a heavy large skillet until it’s crisp-tender. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and drain the pieces on paper towels, reserving a little bacon grease. Optional: you can cook bacon slices and chop or crumble.
Melt butter (or oil) in the same pan with a couple tablespoons of bacon fat. If you don’t want to use leftover bacon grease, use additional butter or olive oil instead.
Sauté the garlic and shallots until they begin to caramelize, about 4-5 minutes, adding red pepper flakes if desired. Then, return the bacon to the pan.
Add in the drained, canned green beans, tossing until everything is hot and combined. Transfer to a serving dish.
Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and French-fried onions or almonds if desired, or both!
Variations
- Use fresh or frozen and thawed green beans. Skip the canned if you wish! You can easily make this green bean casserole with bacon recipe with fresh or frozen (thawed) green beans.
- Cook the green beans until your desired tenderness (simmer, don’t boil), if you want, add a splash of chicken broth. I would keep the bacon out until the last minute as well since they will need to cook a bit longer.
- Turkey bacon is another option, but you’ll need to use butter and/or olive oil since there won’t be enough bacon grease.
- Swap out the shallot and use minced yellow or sweet onions.
- Want a bacon shortcut? Use real bacon pieces or bacon bits instead!
- Instead of almonds or crispy onion topping, try toasted walnuts or pecans!
- Kick up the heat! Add red pepper flakes when sautéing the shallots and garlic, black pepper is also delicious. I typically do not add any salt as the canned green beans are salty enough, but taste and see!
- Make it a meal and add sliced smoked sausage (like kielbasa)!
- Dairy-Free: Simply choose olive oil over butter, or try plant-based butter for flavor.
- Vegan: Omit the bacon, use oil, and skip the parmesan cheese or substitute with your favorite plant-based parm.
- Gluten-Free: Great news, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, just make sure all of your toppings are gluten-free!
- Low-Carb: Great news, the biggest carb contributor is the shallots, but they are minimal, and reduce slightly if concerned! Skip the fried onions.
Expert Tips
- Caramelizing onions is easy: keep your skillet at a medium heat and leave them alone. You can stir occasionally to prevent any sticking, but too much stirring will prolong the process.
- Bacon is easiest to chop when it’s cold and fresh out of the refrigerator. Stack the slices, slice into thinner strips, then cut those into smaller pieces.
- Easily double or triple this recipe for Southern-style green beans depending on how many guests you’ll be serving.
- Drain the green beans very well or they could be watery. This is key to make sure your Southern-style green beans are not soggy in texture.
- Freshly grate the Parmesan cheese if you can. This helps make it light and bright in flavor, perfect for accenting the rich bacon and hearty beans.
Storage
If you have leftovers, store any leftover Southern-style green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating
- Stovetop (best method): Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the green beans and sauté, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Microwave: Place green beans in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through.
Pro Tip: Add a splash of chicken broth or a small pat of butter while reheating to bring back moisture and boost that rich, savory flavor.
Freezing: We don’t recommend freezing these green beans, as they tend to become very soft and mushy once thawed.
Make Ahead: If you’d like to prepare them in advance, cook the green beans as directed, but store the cooked bacon and any toppings separately. Garnish just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Common Questions
Wash and trim both ends of the beans. Thinner ones are younger and more tender, while thicker ones may need to be sliced lengthwise. You can also steam them for a few minutes before adding them to your skillet. Cook them until your desired softness or crispness. You can also use Haricots Vert!
In my research, I discovered that most southern-style green bean recipes are pretty basic and simple; green beans cooked in some kind of pork fat and topped with crisp bacon. Whereas Arkansas green beans with bacon are a bit more of a sweet-salty taste, with a little brown sugar and soy sauce added in.
While the finished dish is best served immediately, you can start your prep in advance! Crisp the bacon and cook the shallots and garlic, then remove from heat and set aside, keeping the bacon separate so it doesn’t get soggy.
Keep the pan covered or transfer the mixture to the refrigerator if you’ll be assembling more than a few hours later. Then, warm garlic/shallot mixture on the stove before continuing with the recipe!
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Originally published in 2021; updated in 2026 with new tips and step-by-step instructions for an even better cooking experience.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 – 4 slices thick cut bacon chopped into slices, pieces
- 1-3 tablespoons salted butter or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ large shallot minced (or one small shallot)
- 2 14.5 ounce cans French Style Green Beans drained, see notes for fresh or frozen
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
Optional Toppings
- French Fried Onions
- Toasted sliced almonds
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon pieces in a large skillet until crispy. Drain the pieces on paper towels, reserving a little bacon grease.3 – 4 slices thick cut bacon
- Return the pan to the stove with your choice of fat (butter or oil). If you don’t want to use leftover bacon grease, use additional butter or olive oil instead.1-3 tablespoons salted butter
- Sauté the garlic and shallots until they begin to caramelize, about 4-5 minutes, adding red pepper flakes if desired. Then, return the bacon to the pan.1 tablespoon garlic, ½ large shallot
- Add in the drained, canned green beans, tossing until everything is hot and combined.2 14.5 ounce cans French Style Green Beans
- Garnish your dish with your freshly grated Parmesan and French fried onions or almonds if desired, or both!½ cup parmesan cheese
Notes
-
You can easily make this green bean casserole with bacon recipe with fresh or frozen (thawed) green beans. But honestly, this recipe is delicious with canned! Cook the green beans until your desired tenderness. I would keep the bacon out until the last minute as well, since they will need to cook a bit longer.
Storage
- Store any leftover Southern-style green beans in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, heat a skillet over medium heat, once hot, toss green beans in pan until heated through. It will not be as fresh and crisp, but should work well.
- We don’t recommend freezing the green beans, as they will become very mushy once thawed.
- If you want to make them in advance, cook the green beans, but keep the crispy bacon and other toppings to the side and garnish right before serving.
Nutrition
Michaela Kenkel
These were super yummy! I wanted to switch things up a bit from the normal green bean casserole – and these were perfect!
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you!
M
MS
I never cared for green bean casserole because of the cream of mushroom in it so when I saw this I knew I had to make it! SOOOO GOOD! Love everything from the bacon to the shallots. YUM!
Thank you, so glad you loved it!
Debi
This was great, I did make it without the bacon. I love the crispy onions on top. Nice side dish for the holidays.
Thank you Debi! So glad you loved it!