Description
Grandma’s classic smothered green beans with potatoes combines Southern comfort cooking with hearty ingredients. Crisp green beans and tender potatoes meld into a comforting side dish you’ll savor alongside Sunday supper or weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) fresh green beans (cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 4 medium red potatoes (quartered)
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped (or substitute smoked sausage)
- 4 cups (946 ml) low-sodium beef broth
- ¼ cup sliced yellow onion
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Additional black pepper (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp chopped bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until golden. Remove bacon pieces to a paper towel, preserving the rendered fat in the cooking vessel.
- Aromatic Foundation: Sauté sliced onions and minced garlic in bacon drippings until onions become translucent and soft, developing a rich flavor base.
- Flavor Layering: Reintroduce crispy bacon to the pot, then add green beans, hot sauce, kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper. Pour beef broth to completely cover the ingredients.
- Simmering Process: Bring mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 35-40 minutes. Occasionally stir to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Potato Integration: Incorporate quartered red potatoes, slightly increasing heat to maintain a consistent simmer. Continue cooking for 20-25 minutes until potatoes reach desired tenderness and beans are perfectly wilted.
- Final Touch: Remove from heat, taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Sprinkle additional black pepper on top and serve immediately, showcasing the robust, smoky character of this rustic side dish.
Notes
- Bacon Selection: Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispier texture that adds depth to the green beans.
- Liquid Depth: Ensure green beans are fully covered by broth to guarantee even cooking and rich, infused taste throughout the dish.
- Potato Precision: Cut potatoes uniformly to promote consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- Heat Management: Maintain a gentle simmer instead of rapid boiling to prevent green beans from becoming stringy and potatoes from breaking apart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg