You will love these Southern-style smothered green beans and potatoes made with smoky bacon and Cajun spices, slow-simmered to tender perfection, the ultimate one-pan comfort side dish.
Looking for the best Smothered Green Beans around? You came to the right place, my friends! This dish is ready to satisfy.
Why Smothered Green Beans?
- Smothered green beans are easy to make with simple ingredients, and you can use fresh green beans, frozen green beans, and even canned green beans.
- It's a side dish you can serve all year long, goes with just about anything - and, you can even serve it as the main dish!
- Simmering with vibrant Cajun spices brings the piquancy spicy food lovers like you (and me) crave. PLUS! I'll show you how you can spice it up even more if you'd like.
You're going to love this dish. It brings home those soul-warming flavors of Southern cooking that makes everyone happy.
Let me show you how to make smothered green beans.
Smothered Green Beans Ingredients & Substitutions
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Thick Cut Bacon. For smoky deliciousness. You can also use diced ham, or both if want it extra meaty. Consider your favorite cuts of pork as well.
- Green Beans. My recipe calls for fresh green beans, but you can use frozen. You can also use canned, but you'll need to adjust the cooking steps.
- Red Potatoes. You can use other potatoes, like Yukon gold. Skip the potatoes and double the green beans if you prefer.
- Onion.
- Garlic. I love lots of garlic!
- Chicken Broth.
- Butter. For added richness.
- Cajun Spices. Try my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe. You can also use my Creole Seasoning Recipe as an alternative, or your favorite brand.
- Optional Spicy Additions. Crushed red pepper flakes and Louisiana-style hot sauce. Only if you want to spice it up!
How to Make Smothered Green Beans
Making smothered green beans is easy! First you cook the bacon in a large pan or Dutch oven until crispy.
Remove it and cook down the onion and garlic, then add the potatoes and green beans. Add the spices and chicken broth, then cover and simmer until everything is softened up to your liking.
Whisk in some butter to add some richness, stir in the cooked bacon, and you're good to go!
Boom! Done! Your smothered green beans are ready to serve. See how easy that is? I love an easy, tasty recipe.
How to Spice It Up
Want to bring the heat? Here are a few easy ways to kick up the spice factor:
- Mild Heat. Add ½ teaspoon chili powder or smoked paprika with the Cajun seasoning.
- Medium Heat. Stir in ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 chopped jalapeno with the onions.
- Bold & Smoky. Mix in ½ teaspoon chipotle powder or use smoked bacon for double-smoke flavor.
- Sweet Heat. Add a splash of hot honey or spicy maple syrup just before serving.
- Extreme Heat. Stir in ¼ teaspoon ghost pepper flakes (or more if you dare). Or go all-in with my Ghost Pepper Candied Bacon on top!
Mike's Recipe Tips & Notes
- Fresh or Frozen Green Beans? Fresh green beans are best for great texture, but frozen works fine if you’re in a pinch. Just skip the trimming and go straight to the pot!
- Best Meats. Bacon is classic, but smoked ham, ham hocks, or even Andouille sausage are awesome swaps if you want something heartier and smokier.
- Make it a Meal. Serve this as a side, or bulk it up with extra sausage or leftover rotisserie chicken for a quick one-pot dinner.
Serving Ideas
Here are a few ways to serve up your amazing smothered green beans!
- Perfect Side Dish. Serve with roast chicken, pork chops, or grilled steak for the perfect comfort pairing.
- Classic Southern. Pair with cornbread, collard greens, and a splash of hot sauce for a down-home Southern feast.
- A Holiday Must. This is a great addition to the Thanksgiving or holiday table, especially when you need a hearty vegetable side that feeds a crowd.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through. Add a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen it up.
You can freeze smothered green beans for up to 3 months, though the potatoes may soften a bit more after thawing. Reheat straight from frozen or thaw overnight in the fridge first.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this smothered green beans recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy Cajun cooking, check out this cookbook, which helped me adapt this recipe.
- Mosquito Supper Club - Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou, by Melissa M. Martin
- Check out my cookbook, too! The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want More Side Dish Recipes?
- Hot Honey Carrots. Glazed with oil and homemade hot honey then oven roasted.
- Maque Choux Recipe. Corn and peppers sautéed in bacon grease until softened and spiced with a blend of Cajun seasonings.
- Black Eyed Peas Recipe. With chopped bacon, smoked ham, the Cajun holy trinity and lots of seasonings. Big taste of the U.S. south!
- Potato Salad Recipe. Fork tender potatoes mixed with mayo, Creole mustard and Cajun seasonings, the perfect side dish or served with gumbo.
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Smothered Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped (or use 2 cups diced ham - or both!)
- 1 pound fresh green beans trimmed (or use frozen, thawed)
- 1 pound red potatoes chopped into chunks
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup chicken broth or enough to partially submerge ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- Louisiana-style hot sauce to taste (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pan or Dutch oven, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp, 5-6 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease / drippings in the pot.
- Add chopped onion to the drippings and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Add potatoes and green beans to the pot. Season with Cajun seasoning, optional red pepper flake, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and green beans are soft and smothered in flavor.
- Whisk in the butter for added richness.
- Stir in the cooked bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot as a side or main dish.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Sharon J Hunt says
can hardly wait to make. Will get fresh green beans at the Farmers Mkt on Sunday. thank you!
Mike Hultquist says
Enjoy, Sharon!!
Toni says
looks yummy, sure it's going to taste even better.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Toni!
Alan Leach says
Looks good. will give this a try. currently use Melinda's Black Truffle hot sauce on everything - not real hot. but great flavor.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Alan. The hot sauce will be a great addition. Enjoy!