My low and slow method for cooking Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans with its beautiful, smoky ham hock broth for flavoring will take you straight to the country, no matter where you live!
I shouldn’t write this post. I know I shouldn’t. Before I write even one word, I know I’m going to be blasted. The green bean patrol is going to be all over me.
I know that I’m supposed to like my fresh green beans just blanched. All bright green and crispy and crunchy. But I just don’t. I don’t. They taste like grass to me.
I like my green beans the way I grew up eating them — country style. That means tender green beans with ham, richly flavored with smoky pork hocks. So there.
Besides, old-fashioned southern cooking gets enough bad press without me adding to it. I shouldn’t write this post. Sigh.
But I’m doing it anyway! Besides, you may have never had MY southern style green beans with ham hocks. Who knows, I may convert you over to the country side. 😉
Recipe Snapshot: Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Southern, Vintage
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Primary Ingredients: Fresh green beans, smoked ham hocks
Skill Level: Easy
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is what I’m talking about! Real green beans! Great!”
— Marsha Chambers
“I was hoping to find a recipe online where fresh green beans were cooked the same way my Mom used to cook them. This is it! Thank you!”
— Stacey
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
- There are only three ingredients!
- It requires very minimal prep time.
- It’s packed with classic smoky Southern flavors.
Ingredient Notes
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The ingredients list for this recipe is really short! Just three things:
- Fresh green (or string) beans — Look for ones that are firm, not wilted, and without any discoloration.
- Meaty ham hocks — If you prefer, you can substitute an equal amount of smoked turkey wings or legs for the ham hocks.
- Salt
That’s it! Could it be any easier?
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
You’ll also find this recipe in my cookbook!
You can see this recipe on page 138 of my cookbook, My Southern Table! Get your signed copy today.
What Are Southern Style Green Beans?
Southern, or country style green beans are slow-cooked, fresh string or green beans simmered in a smoky broth made from a ham hock or bacon.
It’s worth making them just for the aroma alone. The smell of that smoky pork filling your kitchen and tickling your senses as it spreads through the house will have your family clamoring to get to the dinner table.
After the sweet torture of waiting for them to finish cooking, your fresh green beans will have transformed into a melt-in-your-mouth side dish.
You now have the perfect companion to any Southern recipe like my Real Simple Fried Chicken, Salisbury Steaks with Chunky Mashed Potatoes, Country Fried Steak, or Pot Roast with Rosemary and Garlic.
Of course, there are so many ways to cook green beans! If southern-style isn’t quite your thing, you can always try my maple dijon green beans with bacon or green bean casserole.
How to Make Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
Make the Ham Hock Broth
Pro Tip
The most important thing about making this recipe is to have really good ham hocks. You want nice, meaty ones. Some of the ones I see in the store these days are all skin and bones. Leave those in the case and look for big, plump ones.
NOTE: What you’re making in this first step is a smoky, pork-flavored broth. That’s what you’ll use to cook your veggies in, and all that lovely flavor will go right into them. Delicious!
STEP 1. Put your lovely, smoky ham hocks in a large, deep pot with just enough water to cover. Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Prepare the Fresh Green Beans
STEP 2. While the ham hocks simmer, prepare the green beans. I remove the “tips and tails” and just cut them into pieces. You can leave them whole if you prefer. If you have string beans, be sure to remove the strings as well.
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Cook the Beans in the Broth
STEP 3. Add the prepped beans to the pot. Bring the contents to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
STEP 4. Cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the green beans are tender but not mushy. Start checking them after about 50 minutes.
STEP 5. When they’re nice and tender and olive-colored (no, they will not stay bright green), remove the ham hock to a plate and allow it to cool for a few minutes until you can handle it easily.
STEP 6. Remove and shred the meat from the ham hocks, discarding the skin, fat, and bones. Add the shredded meat back to the pot and stir it into the beans.
This is the simplest method that I know for making old fashioned country style green beans. People do add all sorts of other things like onions, tomatoes, hot pepper, and parsley. I do that occasionally, too, but I also appreciate just the simply beautiful smoky flavor of this method. Hope you’ll give it a try!
Recipe Tips
- You can also substitute a smoked turkey wing or leg for the ham hock. It gives an equally nice, smoky flavor to the green beans and is suitable for anyone who doesn’t consume pork.
- Also, don’t be afraid of overcooking these green beans. It’s nearly impossible :-)
How to Serve
Serve your family a delicious, traditional dinner of these southern-style green beans with fried chicken, creamed field corn, hot water cornbread, sweet pepper relish, and traditional southern deviled eggs.
How to Store and Reheat
These green beans reheat really well since you don’t have to worry about keeping a crisp texture. You can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container or resealable bag for 3 to 5 days. Reheat them on medium-low heat on the stovetop or even in a slow cooker (low heat for about an hour).
Questions and Answers: Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
- Can I use canned or frozen green beans, or do they have to be fresh?
Yes, you can use canned or frozen as a substitute. If you just can’t source fresh green beans, I’d suggest frozen over canned. The canned ones won’t pick up as much of that yummy smoky pork flavor because they’ve already been mostly cooked. - Can I prepare the fresh green beans the night before I want to cook them?
Yes! You can snap (or cut) them the day before you need them. Just make sure to keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to cook. - Can I use bacon instead of ham hock for southern style green beans?
Yes, you can. If you just can’t find good ham hocks, you can substitute about a pound of bacon. Here’s how: Brown all but two slices of bacon in the same pot you plan to use for cooking your green beans. When the bacon is crisp, remove it and set it aside. To the fat in the pan, add the green beans, salt, and the remaining two slices of uncooked bacon with enough water to cover. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. To serve, drain the beans and serve topped with the crumbled cooked bacon.
More Old Fashioned Southern Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll also want to try these!
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked ham hocks (or equal weight of bacon, smoked turkey wings, or smoked turkey legs)
- 3 pounds fresh green beans washed, trimmed and cut in 2” pieces
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Place the ham hocks (or other choice of seasoning meat) in a large pot with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes to 1 hour.1 pound smoked ham hocks
- While the ham hock simmers, prepare the green beans by removing the “tips and tails.” Snap the beans into approximately 2" pieces or leave whole if desired.3 pounds fresh green beans
- Add the beans and salt to the pot. Bring the contents to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.2 teaspoons salt
- Cover and cook for 1 hour or until the beans are tender.
- Remove the ham hocks to a plate and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Remove and shred the meat from the ham hock, discarding the skin and bones. Add the shredded meat back to the pot and stir it into the beans.
Notes
- An equal amount of bacon, smoked turkey wings, or smoked turkey legs may be substituted for the ham hocks.
- Green beans may be cleaned, trimmed, and cut up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat over medium-low heat on the stovetop or slow cooker.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
Interesting preparation! I am a fan of fresher green beans, but infusing them with a lot of fat and flavor like this actually sounds pretty darn good! Great recipe! :)
Glad I could introduce you to something different. This is a very old, traditional preparation that most people still love but has fallen out of favor in the food world.
Yes, this is the only way to cook green beans!
I do like my green beans more tender, then crunchy, but I’ve never cooked them a full hour. I’ll have to try this soon.
This is the ONLY way to cook green beans. I have been cooking them this way for years. My sons love them this way, they could eat their weight in these green beans.
Bless Your Heart for printing this! I’m so tired of the Food Police telling me I have to eat and like veggies almost raw. Just don’t taste right undercooked.
Thanks, Vicki! Eat your beans however you like! I know I will.
LOVE this! This is how my mama made them! Yum!
MEMORIES :-)
I don’t like green beans cooked all day or for 5 minutes they are gross to me:-)
BUT I can remember being in the kitchen with my grandma fixing dinner. She would start early in the morning I guess because of the heat. She would start the ham hock and let me break the beans. Then she would make the cornbread, oh it was so good……………. MEMORIES
I’m so glad I could recall a happy memory for you, Gloria.
Yum! I live in the south, so these are a staple where I live :)
I love green beans
I use to live in the south and would love love love these beans. Thanks!
This is the way I grew up eating green beans. I did not know there was any other way until graduated from college, visited UP NORTH, and crisp, crunchy green beans showed up on my plate. While I like them that way, my favorite is still the way my mama and grandmama cooked them – cooked until there is probably not a vitamin in sight, but, boy, do they taste good (especially with FRIED chicken, rice and milk gravy).
Now you’ve made me hungry for fried chicken with rice and gravy, Linda!
Sounds good to me, sign me up!
Yes! This is how green beans should be cooked. I’m all for eating a green bean raw but not when it’s meant to be cooked. Now I want green beans for dinner!
After I finished writing this post, I went to the grocery store and came home with a huge bag of fresh green beans and a gorgeous ham hock. I made *myself* crave them :-)
I never would have thought to cook green beans this way! Love it!
I’m glad I could show you something new, Ashley.
Also being from the deep south, I totally agree with you. Blanching is for the birds – cook them with hamhock or salt pork – yum
Yes, salt pork or even bacon will work in a pinch. So totally different from blanched.