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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Nana's Famous Green Bean Recipe (2)

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

Are green beans good for diabetics? ›

With high fiber and protein content, eating green beans helps the sugar to be released into the blood more slowly. In addition, the antioxidants vitexin and isovitexin in mung beans also work to lower blood sugar and help insulin work more effectively, helping to control diabetes more effectively.

What can I put in my green beans to give them flavor? ›

Butter: A bit of butter adds a rich flavor and helps the seasoning stick to the green beans. Seasoned salt: Buy seasoned salt from the store, or make your own seasoned salt at home. Chili powder: This is an unexpected knockout seasoning. Chili powder adds a touch of spice and color without being too overpowering.

What does 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.

What is the number 1 vegetable to lower blood sugar? ›

1. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts. Sulforaphane is a type of isothiocyanate that has blood sugar-reducing properties.

Do green beans spike blood sugar? ›

Green beans have a moderate glycemic index, which means they can cause a moderate increase in blood sugar levels and subsequently insulin levels. However, the spike in insulin levels is not as significant as with high glycemic index foods.

What makes green beans taste better? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

How can I make my beans taste better? ›

Switch up your bean cooking liquid

You can cook beans in any kind of stock, for example, or any kind of combination of stock and water that you want. You can also add some wine or beer for more flavor. Just let it reduce for a few minutes to cook off some of the alcohol before adding the water and/or stock.

Is it OK to eat green beans everyday? ›

Eating fresh or cooked green beans regularly as part of a balanced diet usually does not cause any significant negative effects in most people. Green beans are low in calories, high in fiber, and contain various vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate.

What's healthier broccoli or green beans? ›

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.

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 fancy up green beans? ›

15 Tips To Add Flavor To Green Beans
  1. Roast green beans. ...
  2. Blanch green beans and add butter. ...
  3. Grill green beans and serve with yogurt. ...
  4. Simmer green beans in chicken broth. ...
  5. Air fry green beans and add garlic powder. ...
  6. Roast in bacon fat and combine with bacon. ...
  7. Jazz them up with cream. ...
  8. Mix green beans into mac and cheese.
Feb 12, 2023

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.

What is the healthiest vegetable for diabetics? ›

Spinach, collards and kale are dark green leafy vegetables packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, E and K, iron, calcium and potassium. These powerhouse foods are low in calories and carbohydrates too. Try adding dark leafy vegetables to salads, soups and stews.

What is the healthiest bean for a diabetic? ›

Kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans and chickpeas are all great for blood glucose control, as they are very high in fibre and take a long time to digest. On the whole, dried beans are a better choice than canned, as they are less expensive and contain less sodium.

What vegetables don't raise blood sugar? ›

Carrots. These are considered non-starchy (as are string beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower) and good in a diabetes diet. High-fiber grains. Farro, quinoa and barley keep sugars more stable than white rice or pasta.

What vegetables have no sugar? ›

Mushrooms, spinach, kale, soybean sprouts, celery, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, radishes, and asparagus are among the vegetables with the lowest sugar content available. Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

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