Southern Style Green Beans

 Need a green bean side dish the whole family will love? These Southern Style Green Beans with bacon, onion and potatoes are made in just one pot and slow cooked to perfection. Making them the perfect side dish for potlucks, BBQs and holidays.

Home cooked side dishes are staples in the southern united states. Alongside Green Bean Casserole, this green bean casserole is popular.

History of Green Beans

Green beans date back thousands of years. Originating in Peru, they spread to South and Central America, then to Europe in the late 15th and early 16th centuries via Christopher Columbus and Spanish explorers returning from the New World. Green beans have grown in Mexico for 7,000 years and Native American grew green beans along with corn and squash.

Benefits of Green Beans

The nutrients provided can help reduce the risk of a number of health conditions.

Cancer

Green beans contain a high amount of chlorophyll.

This may block the carcinogenic effects of heterocyclic amines that are generated when grilling meats at a high temperature. Individuals who prefer their grilled foods charred should pair them with green vegetables to decrease the risk.

Fertility and pregnancy

For women of child-bearing age, consuming more iron from plant sources such as spinach, beans, pumpkin, and green beans appears to promote fertility, according to Harvard Medical School.

Other studies have shown a correlation between a woman’s level of fertility and the level of according to, including iron, that she consumes.

Pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods like tomatoes, bell peppers, or berries can improve iron absorption.

Adequate folic acid intake is also needed during pregnancy, to protect the fetus against neural tube defects. One cup of green beans provides approximately 10 percent of daily folic acid needs and 6 percent of iron.

Depression

Meeting daily folate needs may also help with depression.

Adequate folate consumption can prevent an excess of homocysteine in the body.

Too much homocysteine can stop blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain, and it can interfere with the production of the feel-good hormone’s serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

Bone health

A low intake of vitamin K is associated Trusted Source with a higher risk of bone fracture.

Adequate vitamin K consumption improves bone health by modifying bone matrix proteins, improving calcium absorption, and reducing urinary excretion of calcium.

One cup of green beans provides 14.4 micrograms of vitamin K, or almost 20 percent of the daily requirement, 4 percent of a person’s daily need for calcium.

Ingredients needed for Southern Style Green Beans:

• Green Beans– Can, frozen or fresh. If using can green beans you will need to drain the green beans. For frozen green beans they will need to be thawed and drained. If using fresh cut beans, you will need to wash them and trim the ends.
• Onion– Large onion diced.
• Bacon– A pack of bacon.
• Potatoes– You can use white, yellow, or red potatoes. If using whole potatoes, cut them into 1 Inch pieces. If using baby potatoes cut them in half.
• Vegetable Broth– Vegetable broth gives the green beans such an amazing flavor. You may also use vegetable stock.

How to make Southern Style Green Beans

1. In a large pan over medium high heat, cook bacon until brown and crispy. Add onion and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
2. Add green beans, potatoes and vegetable broth to the pan.
3. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for one hour.

Looking for more side dishes?

Green Bean Casserole–is an American baked dish consisting primarily of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French fried onions.

Squash Casserole– a favorite dish for family meals, holidays and more. Creamy, cheesy and topped with a buttery cracker topping, this squash casserole recipe is an all-time summer favorite.

Baked Marconi and Cheese– Cheesy, gooey, creamy and oh so delicious, This Baked Macaroni and Cheese will surely be your new favorite go to recipe.

Southern Cornbread Dressing–a southern holiday classic. This recipe for Southern Cornbread dressing with chicken is a great homemade from scratch dressing.

Easy Candied Yams–Easy Candied Yams is an old fashion recipe featuring sweet potatoes, baked with a brown sugar glaze topped with Marshmallows.

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