These Southern-Style Green Beans are slow-simmered until tender and full of rich, savory flavor. Cooked with onions and smoky seasoning, this classic side dish is comforting, simple, and perfect alongside fried chicken, meatloaf, or Sunday dinner favorites.
Ingredients
1½ lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
4 cups chicken broth or water
4 oz smoked ham hock or diced ham
½ small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the green beans
Rinse and trim the ends from the green beans. Set aside.
Start the simmer
In a large pot, combine the chicken broth (or water), ham hock or diced ham, onion, garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle boil.
Add the green beans
Add the green beans to the pot, stirring to submerge them in the liquid.
Cook low and slow
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the green beans are very tender and infused with flavor.
Season and finish
Taste and add salt as needed. Remove the ham hock, shred any meat, and return it to the pot if desired.
Serve
Serve hot with a little of the cooking liquid spooned over the beans.
✨ Tip: For extra richness, add a small pat of butter just before serving.
