Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans

Teresa Ambra

Old-Fashioned Green Beans….enough said. This southern-style recipe was how I learned to make green beans in the old days before using bacon grease became so unpopular. It’s a tasty and delicious recipe that’s really easy to prepare.

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The key is to cook the beans just long enough so they are fork tender without overcooking them so the become mushy. Instead of throwing out the water you cook the beans in, it can be recycled and used as a base for soups. Store in the refrigerator a few days or freeze.

This is my mom’s recipe. If she didn’t have bacon on hand she would use lard to start the dish off. Beans need a lot of seasoning. They taste pretty bland with only salt and pepper. If you’re not going to season them so they are spicy this is a great alternative.

I’m not part of the food police that swear off bacon all the time. I don’t eat it very often, but when I do it’s a great seasoning tool for cornbreadbiscuits, casseroles, soups, bread or even mac and cheese. I like it with eggs on occasion, too! 🙂 If you use gluten free bacon, this recipe is gluten free and fairly low in calories, too.

If you’re looking for an easy side dish for the holidays, regular family dinners, or to take along to any potluck, almost everyone enjoys Old-Fashioned Green Beans. If you can’t eat regular bacon then give these beans a try with turkey bacon, but you may have to add more seasoning to amp up the flavors a little. We love this old family recipe and believe you will too.

When I initially posted this in August 2012, my blog was two months old and I was using a poor quality iPhone 3 for a camera because that was all I had. I’ve been systematically going back through all my old recipes and remaking them with a better camera and lighting conditions so you can have a better appreciation for what each recipe is really supposed to look like.

I recently remade my Mom’s Old-Fashioned Green Beans (January 2015), and updated the pictures so they are clearer, less grainy, and lighter than the original pictures. This time I served these tasty green beans with Rotisserie Style Baked Chicken–a mouthwatering, succulent and delectable chicken recipe that will have you licking your fingers! Enjoy.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans are a wonderful  family recipe.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

I made up a batch of Old-Fashioned Green Beans for my son’s birthday and served it with Montreal Seasoned Steak and Sweet Potato Fries.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

When I remade Old-Fashioned Green Beans, I served it with Rotisserie Style Baked Chicken–an amazingly delectable chicken recipe we also love.

Here’s what I did.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

I used these ingredients. To keep this recipe gluten free you need to make sure you have a gluten free bacon.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Cut 3 or 4 slices of bacon into 1 inch pieces and place in the bottom of a Dutch oven to cook at medium heat. (Make sure you wash your bread board with hot, soapy water after using it with raw meat). Fry bacon about 5 minutes and turn over. Add diced onion and fry. I used about 2/3 of a medium to large onion.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Wash green beans and cut off tips. When onion is cooked and green beans are ready, add a tablespoon or two of minced garlic and cook only a minute or two. Add about 3 quarts of water. Add the green beans and boil about 30 minutes or until beans test done with a fork.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

With a slotted spoon remove beans from pan and place in serving dish. Garnish with salt and pepper and butter, if desired. Green Beans are delectable prepared this old-fashioned way!

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans are succulent and amazing.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

While this dish is simple and easy to make for family dinners, it’s also great for holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Easter!

Here’s the recipe.

MOM’S OLD-FASHIONED GREEN BEANS

(Recipe from my mom, Helen Mattis, Titusville, FL)

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans

Teresa Ambra
Old-Fashioned Green Beans is a vintage recipe my mom and grandma always used to make. These tasty southern-style green beans are delicious as well as being easy to prepare. Bacon increases the flavor and since they use only a handful of ingredients, they're great to whip up for any family or company dinner. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Veggie Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Servings 8
Calories 89 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 paring knife
  • 1 stock pot with lid or Dutch oven with lid
  • 1 collander
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans washed and ends cut off
  • 1/3 cup onion diced
  • 4-6 slices Applewood-smoked bacon cut in 1-inch slices
  • 1/2 tsp. minced garlic from a jar (or 2 cloves freshly minced garlic)
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 quarts water or, as needed
  • 1 tbsp. unsalted butter if desired

Instructions
 

  • In large Dutch oven, fry bacon over low to medium heat.
  • Be careful not to cook the bacon on too high of heat or for too long so that it scorches!
  • After bacon is almost cooked through on both sides add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add green beans and about 3 quarts of water.
  • Bring to a boil and cook for about 15-30 minutes or until green beans are fork tender and cooked through.
  • Drain water, season with salt and pepper and a couple of tablespoonfuls of butter, if desired.

Notes

NOTE: I did not add any extra butter to this side dish.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 213mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 637IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bacon, gluten free, green beans, side dish, vegetable
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Old-Fashioned Green Beans[/b]
Recipe Type: Veggie/Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern
Author: Teresa Ambra recipe from my mom, Helen Mattis, Titusville, FL
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
These tasty southern-style green beans are delicious as well as being easy. Gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 1½ lbs. fresh green beans, washed and ends cut off
  • 1/3 cup diced onion
  • 4-6 slices Applewood-smoked bacon, cut in 1-inch slices
  • ½ tsp. minced garlic (from a jar)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Water
  • Butter, if desired
Instructions
  1. In large Dutch oven, fry bacon.
  2. After bacon is almost cooked through on both sides add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add green beans and about 3 quarts of water.
  4. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15-30 minutes or until green beans are fork tender and cooked through.
  5. Drain water, season with salt and pepper and a couple of tablespoonfuls of butter, if desired.
Notes
I did not add any extra butter to this side dish.
Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans is a great side dish for any family dinner.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

This simple recipe has always been a family favorite. It’s a great side dish for almost anything you make.

Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Bacon seasons Old-Fashioned Green Beans so wonderfully. It’s the perfect side dish for Rotisserie-Style Baked Chicken.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic #greenbean #casserole is NOT the traditional #recipe. This one is SO much better! It uses #cheddarcheese #waterchestnuts & cream of celery soup along with #FrenchFriedOnions. The flavors are marvelous. Perfect for #holidays like #Thanksgiving or #Christmas.

Corn and Green Bean Casserole

Corn and Green Bean Casserole | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This is one of our favorite #holiday #casseroles. Everyone always raves over it! #corn #greenbeans #cheese #Thanksgiving #Christmas

Garlicky Green Beans and Mushrooms

Garlicky Green Beans and Mushrooms | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this super easy #greenbeans #recipe is perfect for #holidays like #Thanksgiving or #Christmas. It's #healthy, #glutenfree, #Vegan, #lowcalorie & #cleaneating. #veggie #mushrooms
Old-Fashioned Green Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my Mom's simple & easy recipe. Her's is made with #bacon. Great side dish for family dinners, #FathersDay & other #holidays. #greenbeans #glutenfree

Old-Fashioned Green Beans

Teresa Ambra
Old-Fashioned Green Beans is a vintage recipe my mom and grandma always used to make. These tasty southern-style green beans are delicious as well as being easy to prepare. Bacon increases the flavor and since they use only a handful of ingredients, they're great to whip up for any family or company dinner. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Veggie Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Servings 8
Calories 89 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 paring knife
  • 1 stock pot with lid or Dutch oven with lid
  • 1 collander
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans washed and ends cut off
  • 1/3 cup onion diced
  • 4-6 slices Applewood-smoked bacon cut in 1-inch slices
  • 1/2 tsp. minced garlic from a jar (or 2 cloves freshly minced garlic)
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 quarts water or, as needed
  • 1 tbsp. unsalted butter if desired

Instructions
 

  • In large Dutch oven, fry bacon over low to medium heat.
  • Be careful not to cook the bacon on too high of heat or for too long so that it scorches!
  • After bacon is almost cooked through on both sides add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add green beans and about 3 quarts of water.
  • Bring to a boil and cook for about 15-30 minutes or until green beans are fork tender and cooked through.
  • Drain water, season with salt and pepper and a couple of tablespoonfuls of butter, if desired.

Notes

NOTE: I did not add any extra butter to this side dish.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 213mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 637IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bacon, gluten free, green beans, side dish, vegetable
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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