How to make southern soul food style green beans, bacon, and potatoes in the slow cooker!
A few years ago I uploaded a recipe for southern green beens and potatoes. I believe that in that recipe I used ham to flavor up everything. So many of you loved the recipe that I decided to share my southern green beans, bacon, and potatoes recipe. The two recipes are really similar. However this time we’re going to add some smokey bacon ends to flavor up this southern style dish.
Unlike the previous recipe, we’re going to cook these southern green beans in the slow cooker. This will make everything super easy! I cook the green beans, bacon, and potatoes on high ( in the slow cooker) for 4 hours. Once done, the green beans are super tender & flavorful. This southern dish is a meal on it’s own, but if you’d like to add something on the side, I suggest cornbread.
FYI, If don’t eat pork you can replace the bacon ends with a smoked turkey wing. It would still be delicious. Also, You can use golden potatoes instead of baby reds, but I wouldn’t use russet potatoes because they become to mushy in my opinion!
Watch how I made this delicious southern dish!

I recommend cooking this recipe on high for 4 hours to get the potatoes and the veggies all ready, then to drop the heat to not let them overcook. I suggest serving this southern treat with cornbread.
- 16 oz bag of frozen green beans
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 large jalapeno pepper chopped ( optional)
- 1 lb bacon ends chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 lb baby red potatoes cut in halves or quarters
- 3 cups chicken broth.
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Add all of the ingredients into the slow cooker.
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Turn the slow cooker on high.
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Place the lid on top, and let cook for 4 hours.
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Serve and enjoy!
This meal looks absolutely delicious. You are so right about having this with cornbread! I’m going to have to look for bacon ends….not familiar with this product. Pinned. Thanks for sharing! Take care. ;-D
Hi Mary! When shopping for bacon ends look near the smoked meats ( ham hocks, smoked neck bones… and etc)
Thanks for the suggestion! xoxo
Can I use regular bacon? Raw or do I fry it first?
Hi Megan. Be sure to check out the written recipe, and video.
Tried the green beans & potatoes. Loved them so good. What about a good. old fashion. meatloaf recipe
Looks fabulous. I’m on restricted fat diet so I would cook the bacon ahead and at it in later. I will add healthy smoked sausage. The jalapeño pepper is a must have! And cast iron cornbread Thank you for sharing
Thanks for coming by Muriel! 😀
I love using my crockpots for easy meals. Thanks Rosie!
Hi Joanne! I have a ton more slow cooker meals coming so stay tuned!
If you use fresh string beans, is it the same time?
Yes. It would be the same.
Hi Rosie,I am a single mature man that love good food,everyone of your recipes that I have prepared I have loved them…would you please excuse me and tell your dear husband…that I love you and your recipes…thank-you!
Thanks so much Louis!
Rosie,I made the Ciroc Peach Cobbler for dinner last night and my family LOVE it.Thank you so much for this recipe and all of the others.God bless you keep it up.Love Gloria.
Hi Gloria! Thanks for trying my recipe! XOXO
Made this today. Reminded me of my granny’s green bean dinners. Very delicious. Will make again.
Awesome Monica! I’m glad that you liked the recipe! XOXO
My goodness! I never thought of using frozen green beans and a crockpot? Girlfriend.you have changed my life…lol. Just made this, with some hot water cornbread….yummy for my tummy…lol. Bless you!
Lol! Glad that you liked the recipe!
Just finished my green beans fresh cooked in pressure cooker will do slow cooker next time. Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks for coming by!
I’m going to try this with smoked turkey! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Looks so yummy!!! Gosh my fiancée and I are going to be so fat by Christmas lol I know one thing though, you give me an idea of what to cook every week and it’s so delicious everytime. Can you do a simple cake recipe? I would love to try that, but I don’t like looking g at other channels but yours :))
Hi there! Sure, I’ll upload some more cake recipes 🙂
Thank you so much! Will look forward to them.
Could you made a good beef and vegetables soup
I’ll add it to my to-do list.
Is there a way to make this recipe without a crock pot?
Absolutely. You can make it on the stovetop.
Hi! If you’re going to use fresh green beans with turkey wings, what ratio would you recommend? Like how many wings per pound of green beans? Thanks so much!
It would be the same recipe.
Hello (Mrs. Ms, Miss) lol, Do you have any recipe that a diabetic person can use and a person that need to watch there weight and cholesterol?I know one is to move away from the table .lol Will be a big help for my family. Your food look sooooo gooood. thanks
Hi Vicky! I will have a variety of healthier recipes in 2017.
I have the same interests re: diabetic cooking. How do I sign up for your page>
Bettye Morgan
Cleveland
Hi Bettye. There is a signup form on the top in red.
Hello, quick question, can this recipe be used with canned green beans or not?
I honestly wouldn’t use canned with this because canned already has salt, and etc.
Can the ingredients be doubled in a large crockpot for a family gathering?
Yes, they can.
would you need to double the liquid?? seems like a lot
If you double the recipe, you will have to double everything.
Do you have to use frozen green beans?
Hi Elonda! Nope, you can certainly use fresh green beans if you choose 🙂
Can you use Turkey Bacon instead?
Yes, you can 🙂
I am just now seeing this recipe. I can’t wait to try it, along with your others that sounds so good. So happy I found you. Crock pot cooking is the best for a working lady! Thanks
Hey Rosie,
I’m making this today! Along with the oven cooked BBQ ribs and Mac n cheese and cornbread. Can’t wait!
What can be used in place of the chicken broth? Perhaps butter (diluted w/water)? Thanks!!
You can also use vegetable broth.
I’ve been looking for this recipe for so long. What if we don’t have a slow cooker?
You can cook it over the stovetop over low heat 😉
I would like to see a recipe for dressing.
Thanks
Hi Lorna! I have several dressing recipes posted. Here is my latest dressing recipe.
Could I use liquid smoke in place of the bacon? If so, how much?
Hi Abri! Absolutely. Try 2 tsp of liquid smoke.
Happy cooking!
Hello Rosie, I’ve made so many of your recipes and they’re all great!
For this recipe, I can’t find precooked/smoked bacon. Only raw bacon. Should I cook it first before adding to crockpot?
Hi Ashley. It’s not necessary to cook the bacon before tossing it into the slow cooker.
Just prepped my slow cooker, cant wait to derve this tonight! Thank u for the recipe.
hank you for trying the recipe! XOXO
Hi Rosie,
If I substitute the bacon ends for turkey wings should I use water instead of chicken broth? If so how much water?
Everything else should remain the same 🙂
Can I make this vegan and use vegetable broth and omit the meat?
Sure 🙂
Hey Rosie,
Made these for thanksgiving and my family tore them up!!! Very tasty. Doing them again at Christmas, I’m just not going to use as much bacon pieces.
Thanks for trying Valia!
I’m making this right now for Christmas dinner-I found the bacon ends in the same section the bacon is in (they only had a 3 lb package but I split it up and froze the rest) and I’m using frozen Italian cut green beans – mad the grocery bagger missed packing my jalapeño peppers so I sprinkled some red pepper flakes in for a little kick like I do for my greens-I’m sure the will be delicious!
I had a taste for this but didn’t feel like slow cooking. I used your recipes and did it in my instant pot, it came out great and only took 20 minutes!
Would u cook the green beans the same way if the green beans were fresh not frozen. I am very proud of u for having this site. I always wanted to cook these kinds of food but no one to teach me. Stay awesome and keep recipes coming.
Hi Mary! Yes, I would cook them the same way 😀
hi grew up on something similar to this Ham,potatoes,green beans everything the same but had a white sauce it is so good had it like this also but prefer it with the white sauce better It was always my favorite dish after Christmas
The Green beans, bacon and potatoes look wonderful. Going to fix this for Thanksgiving. So glad to have found your site. I can’t wait to try the fried cabbage recipe. By the way you are a really beautiful woman.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. – Kathy
Thanks so much Kathy! Happy Holidays!
This came out amazing. So tender and flavorful. I’m so glad I found this site. I’m also making the broccoli and cheese casserole next.
Rosie this is absolutely delicious and I actually received a compliment from a relative who frowns at EVERYBODY’S dish. Your recipes are easy to follow and come out wonderful every time. I look forward to making many more.