Crockpot Green Beans

Tender Crockpot Green Beans slow-cooked with bacon, onions, garlic, and broth. A cozy, flavorful side dish perfect for holidays or family dinners.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword crockpot vegetable recipes, green beans recipes

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 15

Servings servings

Calories 147kcal

Author Kathleen

Ingredients

6 slices regular bacon not thick sliced
1 medium onion diced
3 cloves garlic finely minced
3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 3/4 pounds fresh green beans washed and trimmed
2 tablespoons butter

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cut the bacon slices (6) into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces. Cook the bacon in a medium-sized non-stick skillet over medium heat. Use a spatula to separate the bacon pieces if they are sticking together. When the bacon pieces are brown and crispy, remove them from the skillet while preserving the bacon grease.
Add the diced onion to the skillet with the bacon grease and cook until slightly translucent. It will take 4-5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet with the onions and cook for about a minute or more, stirring to keep the garlic from burning.
Remove the cooked onions and garlic from the skillet and discard any remaining bacon grease.
Place the cooked onions and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Lay the washed and trimmed green beans on top of the onion and garlic, keeping them in the same direction to cook evenly. Add the chicken broth, salt, pepper, paprika, and crushed pepper. Pour the chicken broth over the top, addding extra broth or water to just below the level of the beans.
Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Check the tenderness of the green beans at 3 hours on high, or 5 hours on low.
If they are done to your liking, turn the slow cooker off. If not, continue cooking for another hour.
Drain into a large colander, discarding the broth when cooked to your desired tenderness. Return the green beans to the slow cooker if you plant. to keep them warm. Dot with butter and let it melt. Carefully toss the beans to coat them in the butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
When ready to serve, place the green beans on a large platter and top with the reserved crispy bacon.

Notes

Choose young beans. They’re sweeter, more tender, and cook more consistently. Tough, stringy beans take far longer.
Trim beans evenly. Keeping them similar in size ensures they cook at the same rate.
Taste at the end. Every batch of green beans is different — always adjust salt and pepper before serving.
Don’t skip the butter finish. It gives you that glossy, restaurant-style texture and rounds out the flavors.
Cooking timing varies. Slow cookers run differently — check early so your beans don’t get mushy.

Nutrition