This easy recipe for Crock-Pot Green Beans only needs 5 things: fresh green beans, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and salt. Your whole family will love how tasty this recipe is, and you will love how easy it is.
As a busy mom I’m always looking for simple ways to cook tasty vegetables for my family. One trick I rely on is using my crockpot to make tender flavorful green beans. Cooking fresh green beans in a crockpot is so easy and frees up my stove and oven for other dishes.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook perfect crockpot green beans. I’ll share my tips on selecting prepping and seasoning beans as well as suggested cook times. You’ll also find five of my family’s favorite crockpot green bean recipes.
So let’s dive in and learn all about cooking fresh green beans in the slow cooker!
Why Cook Green Beans in a Crockpot
Cooking green beans in a crockpot offers several advantages:
- Even, slow cooking tenderizes beans to perfection
- Hands-free convenience if cooking alongside main dishes
- Adds moisture and flavor compared to other cooking methods
- Keeps beans hot and ready to serve for gatherings
- Allows flavor blending with seasonings and other ingredients
- Frees up oven and stovetop for additional dishes
The gentle heat and steam of the crockpot breaks down the beans while keeping them moist and tasty.
Tips for Preparing Green Beans for the Crockpot
With a few simple prep steps, you can ensure your green beans cook properly and absorb flavors:
- Look for slender, crisp green beans without brown spots
- Wash beans thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris
- Remove stem ends and tails
- Leave beans whole or cut into 1-2 inch pieces
- Pat dry with paper towels or spin in a salad spinner
- Place prepared beans in the crockpot container
Proper washing and drying is key for the beans to cook evenly and absorb seasonings.
Seasoning and Flavoring Crockpot Green Beans
One benefit of crockpot cooking is that added ingredients nicely permeate the beans:
- Butter or olive oil helps distribute seasonings
- Minced garlic, onion, shallots add savory flavor
- Chicken or vegetable broth boosts moisture and taste
- Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano enhance flavor
- Spices like black pepper, paprika, cayenne add a kick
- Salt lightly at the end, beans absorb more sodium crockpot cooking
- Grated citrus zest brightens flavor towards the end of cooking
Experiment with different herb and spice blends to find your favorites!
How to Cook Green Beans to Perfection in a Crockpot
Cooking times can vary based on amount of beans and model of your crockpot. Here are general guidelines:
- 1-2 lbs green beans
- Low setting: 5-6 hours
- High setting: 3-4 hours
- Check beans periodically for tenderness
- Stir gently mid-way through cooking
- Add more liquid if needed to keep moist
- Allow flavors to mingle on warm for 1 hour after fully cooked
The beans are ready when fork tender but not mushy. Adjust cook times as needed based on your crockpot.
5 Delicious Crockpot Green Bean Recipes
Ready to put your crockpot to work cooking green beans? Here are five flavorful recipes to try:
-
Garlic Brown Sugar Green Beans – Fresh garlic, brown sugar, butter, and spices give these beans sweet and savory flavor.
-
Green Bean Casserole – This classic combo of green beans, mushroom soup, and fried onions is perfect for holidays.
-
Italian Green Beans with Tomatoes – Sauteed onion, garlic, tomato, and basil make these beans taste like you spent all day cooking.
-
Bacon Ranch Green Beans – Crisp bacon and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing give these beans a tangy, smoky flavor.
-
Sesame Ginger Green Beans – Toasted sesame oil, ginger, and soy sauce give an Asian flair to these beans.
The possibilities are endless for cooking up delicious crockpot creations with fresh green beans!
FAQs About Crockpot Green Beans
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking green beans in the slow cooker:
Is it better to cook frozen or fresh green beans in the crockpot?
Fresh green beans work best since frozen beans tend to overcook and become mushy more easily.
Do you need to add extra liquid to the beans?
Adding 1/4 cup broth or water at the start helps the beans steam and cook evenly.
How do you prevent them from drying out in the crockpot?
Keep an eye on moisture levels and add more liquid as needed to maintain tenderness.
Can you cook green beans from dried in a crockpot?
Dried beans require overnight soaking and much longer cook times. Canned or fresh work better.
How long do crockpot green beans keep in the fridge?
Store cooked green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Enjoy Simple, Satisfying Crockpot Meals
Slow Cooker Green Beans
I love to have a garden. And I enjoy growing a variety of items that allow me fresh vegetables all summer long. My kids love building bean trellises so the beans can grow and that you can see how they’re hanging. I love how easy it is to pick the beans now that I have more room for other vegetables.
Greens beans fresh from the garden are great in the slow cooker. Just a few other items and allow the beans to cook slowly on LOW until they are ready.
Substitutions are possible for this recipe. Canned green beans can be used in place of fresh. I would use at least three cans of beans and drain them of the water first. Yes, you can use frozen green beans too. In this case, you’ll need the same number of frozen green beans as fresh.
This would make a nice addition to a meal. I know some question why you would want to cook vegetables in a crock-pot verses the stove. There are times when it seems like I have more pans on my stove than burners, so putting the crock pot on the counter makes things easier for me.
This recipe for Crock-Pot Green Beans is Weight Watchers Friendly on the new Personal Points plan. You can see the WW personal points for this recipe here on the Weight Watchers website. Click here for MORE of our Weight Watchers Recipes.
Check out these yummy slow cooker side dish recipes too!
