Slow Cooker Southern Style Green Beans

No ratings yet

Make this delicious, low-calorie side dish!

Full of fresh flavor, our southern style green beans are an absolute classic.

Southern style green beans have never tasted so good, and with this recipe, they’re healthier than ever! Here, tender, delicious green beans are flavored with sautéed onion, garlic, and a host of other bold spices. Traditionally, this southern comfort dish tastes incredible but carries a not-so-desirable nutritional profile (thanks to ingredients like butter and bacon.) Luckily for you, our guilt-free version ditches the high-calorie ingredients and incorporates nutritious alternatives, without skimping on taste!

Our Southern Style Green Beans Sub in Healthy Alternatives

These fresh and flavorful green beans will make the perfect side dish for almost any meal!

Replacing that fatty ham hock with garden-fresh herbs turns this high calorie dish into a nourishing side that everyone will enjoy. At the same time, instead of butter, our recipe calls for extra virgin olive oil and vegetable broth. In the south, people like to cook their veggies all day long so that they’re nice and tender. This recipe does just that, but you don’t have to keep a constant eye on the dish! After prepping your southern style green beans, simply let your slow cooker work its magic and take over. 8 hours of simmering later, and your beans will taste like the old south!

Delicious and  Waistline-Friendly

These tasty green beans a super simple to make and waistline friendly!

Clocking in at just 37 calories per serving, these scrumptious green beans will satisfy your appetite without wrecking your diet! Compared to traditional recipes, this skinny version shaves off a boatload of fat and calories without skimping on taste. Our family-friendly, southern-inspired dish makes eating your veggies easier than ever!

No ratings yet

Slow Cooker Southern Style Green Beans

These tender and delicious green beans are the perfect side dish for any meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Yield 16 people
Serving Size 0.5 cup
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Southern

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon basil freshly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds snap green beans fresh or frozen, rinsed and strings removed
  • 1 potato medium, peeled and diced
  • 3 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth, low-sodium, fat-free
  • kosher or sea salt to taste

Instructions

  • In a medium skillet saute onion and garlic on medium-low heat until tender, about 4 minutes. Add sauteed onion and garlic along with all other ingredients to the slow cooker. Recommend 5-7 quart slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook on low 8 hours. Cooking time may vary depending on how tender you like your green beans. Southern-style green beans are typically cooked until they are falling apart.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 101mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 1
Keywords Low-Carb, Slow Cooker, Vegetarian

Have you made this recipe?
Tag @skinnyms on Instagram or hashtag it #skinnyms

Do you love using your slow cooker? If so, we’ve hooked you up with a bunch of delectable, healthy slow cooker dishes on our site. Make sure to check out our foolproof list of the Top 20 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes or these impressively delicious Top 5 Slow Cooker Breakfast Recipes!

Need some added tips and tricks? Sharpen your skills by following these 12 Rules of Slow Cooking and channel your inner top chef!  

For more delicious and nutritious recipes from Skinny Ms., check out our Skinny Ms. Recipe Collection of 101 Fan Favorites.

Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterest for tasty recipes, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.

Have you tried our Southern Style Green Beans? We’d love to hear about it. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

This post may include affiliate links.

Gale Compton

Gale co-founded SkinnyMs. with a goal to provide women with delicious recipes, fitness routines, and ways to reach their ideal weight. Gale has been featured on the Today Show in which she won a cook off for the best Lasagna. Be sure to search for her winning recipe, Skinny Lasagna Rolls.

Guided by her firm belief in healthy eating and the power of exercise, Gale has written two cookbooks and several fitness ebooks. She earned her Fitness Training Certification from, National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association. Gale loves to run with her dog Maggie and has completed numerous half-marathons.

More by Gale

27 Comments

  1. Love this recipe. Have made it several times, including last Friday with fresh beans from farmer's market, yum

  2. This is my favorite. I picked some green beans from my garden this morning. I will prepare this dish tonight for dinner. I love fresh green beans and all of the veggies from the garden this time of year.

  3. Laura, I know, can you believe it? lol Before I came up with this recipe, I couldn't imagine green beans without some fat back or bacon.

  4. These are delicious, I cooked them on the stove as I had a stew in the slow cooker. I do a lot of meal prep for the week ahead and it’s great having a tub of these ready in the fridge.

    1. Yes, you can leave out the potato. You could substitute, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips, or any other root vegetable if you’d like!

  5. Will this pair well with an Easter ham? I want a veggie side and love green beans, and also don’t want the added dose of salt that bacon would bring.

    1. Gina, Definitely! Green beans and ham go perfectly together. I love the aroma of green beans in the slow cooker. 🙂

    1. Alysa,

      Approximately as follows:
      Add ingredients to bottom of pressure cooker.
      Lock lid in place.
      Close the steam valve.
      Press the steam button and adjust the heat setting to normal.
      Set the timer to 2 minutes.
      Push the steam valve to open position and quick release the steam pressure.
      Once the steam has released, open the lid and allow remaining steam to release.

  6. I have made this a couple times, and it is very good! My question is: can anything be made using the leftover broth? I hate just throwing it out.

    1. Hi Sammie, I personally would not save the broth. However, you can strain and save the broth to use a vegetable brother if you choose!

  7. I need enough for about 30 people? Can I double the recipe in 1 6 QT slower cooker or do I have to use 2 6 QT slow cookers?

    1. Hi Diane, it would be safer to use two slow cookers so the beans are not over crowded and cook unevenly.

  8. How long should this be cooked if you don’t want the green beans cooked to the point of falling apart? Will use a slow cooker on low.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating