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Easy Crockpot Green Beans with Bacon and Onion

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Tender green beans slow-cooked with smoky bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and a touch of brown sugar. This hands-off side dish is perfect for holidays, potlucks, or any gathering, delivering deep savory flavor that will have everyone asking for the recipe.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and halved (or 2 pounds frozen)
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced into half-rings
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Prep your green beans: Rinse fresh beans under cold water, trim stem ends, and cut in half. For frozen beans, no trimming needed.
  2. Cook the bacon: Place chopped bacon in a cold skillet, turn heat to medium, and cook until browned and crispy (8-10 minutes). Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the grease in the pan.
  3. Sauté the onions: Add sliced onions to the same skillet with bacon grease. Cook over medium heat until soft and golden brown (6-8 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
  4. Layer in the crockpot: Add green beans to the slow cooker. Top with cooked onions and garlic, then sprinkle cooked bacon pieces over everything. Pour chicken broth over the top. Sprinkle brown sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) over everything. Do not stir yet.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. About halfway through, stir to redistribute flavors.
  6. Check for doneness: Beans should be tender but still have a little bite. If too firm, cook 30 more minutes. If too soft, switch to warm and serve soon.
  7. Season and serve: Taste and add salt if needed (go easy due to bacon and broth). Serve with a slotted spoon, garnished with extra crispy bacon bits if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the bacon and onions—it adds essential depth of flavor. Every slow cooker runs differently; start checking at 3.5 hours on low. Cut bacon and onions uniformly for even cooking. This recipe doubles beautifully; increase cooking time by about 1 hour on low for a double batch. For a vegetarian version, skip bacon, use 2 tablespoons olive oil to cook onions, and add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot green beans, slow cooker green beans, green beans with bacon, holiday side dish, easy side dish, bacon green beans, southern green beans

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/easy-crockpot-green-beans-with-bacon-and-onion/