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–+ servings

Slow Cooker Buttery Bacon Green Beans

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Rich, garlicky green beans slow-cooked in a butter-brown sugar glaze, topped with crumbled thick-cut bacon. A hands-off, indulgent side for any potluck or dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 4 cans 14.5-ounce cans green beans, drained and rinsed — or about 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and blanched briefly
  • 12 slices thickly-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease
  • 2 Tbsp bacon grease (from bacon cooking)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) (adds warmth)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook and crumble bacon. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease; set crumbled bacon aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne. Season with salt and black pepper. Taste — the mixture should be sweet-salty with a garlicky backbone.
  3. Heat a skillet over medium-high and add the reserved bacon grease. Sauté the chopped white onion until softened and slightly translucent, about 4–5 minutes. Sprinkle in the dried red pepper flakes, season lightly with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
  4. Lightly grease the slow cooker insert with cooking spray or a little bacon grease. Place drained green beans (or blanched fresh beans) into the slow cooker. Add the sautéed onions on top and stir gently to distribute.
  5. Pour the butter-brown sugar-garlic mixture over the beans and onions. Stir until the beans are well coated. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon liberally over the top.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, or until the beans reach your desired tenderness. If you like firmer beans, check at 3.5 hours.
  2. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or a pinch more brown sugar if you’d like extra sweetness. Serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 8gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 600mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3g

Notes

Use fresh green beans for a firmer texture; add 30–60 minutes to cooking time as needed. For a lower-sodium option, use low-sodium canned beans and cut the salt. Butter can be swapped for ghee or a neutral oil plus a tablespoon of butter if dairy-sensitive.
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