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.
Green beans are a classic side dish that can be found on many dinner tables They are healthy, delicious, and pair well with a variety of main courses. While green beans are often steamed or sautéed, did you know they can also be made easily in the crockpot? Crockpot green beans are tender, flavorful, and couldn’t be simpler to prepare
In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process of making crockpot green beans step-by-step I’ll also share my tips for choosing the best green beans, seasonings, and cooking times. After reading this, you’ll be able to make this tasty side in your own slow cooker with ease Let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Green Beans
The first step is selecting fresh, high-quality green beans You can use either conventional green beans or the slender French cut Stay away from beans that are limp, blemished, or appear dried out. The beans should have a vibrant green color and snap when bent. They should also be relatively uniform in size so they cook evenly.
You can use fresh or frozen beans. If using frozen, let them thaw first. I don’t recommend using canned beans, as they become too mushy when cooked. Select about 1 1/2 pounds of green beans per 3-4 servings.
Prepping the Green Beans
Once you’ve selected the perfect green beans, you need to prep them for the crockpot. First, rinse the beans under cool water to remove any dirt or debris. Trim off both ends of each bean. You can leave whole beans or cut them into 2-3 inch pieces.
I recommend cutting them for more even cooking. Plus, bite-sized pieces make the beans easier to eat. Place the trimmed and cut beans into your crockpot.
Choosing Aromatics and Seasonings
Here comes the fun part – choosing ingredients to infuse the green beans with flavor. The basic aromatics needed are olive oil, onion, garlic, and broth or water. However, you can also add herbs, spices, bacon, tomatoes, or vinegar.
I recommend 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 small diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth, and 2 teaspoons of seasoning salt. Thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and seasoned salt all complement green beans nicely.
For extra flavor, cook 4 slices of chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp. Add the cooked bacon to the crockpot. You can also add halved cherry tomatoes or red wine vinegar. Mix and match herbs and seasonings until you achieve the perfect flavor blend.
Determining Cook Times
Crockpots allow flexibility when cooking times. The cooking time depends on a few factors:
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Bean Freshness: Fresh beans take longer than thawed frozen beans.
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Crockpot Size: Beans in a larger crockpot need more time.
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Desired Texture: Cook less for crisper beans or longer for ultra-soft.
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High or Low Setting: Beans cook faster on high.
For 2 pounds of fresh green beans in a 6-quart crockpot, I recommend:
- High: 3-4 hours
- Low: 5-6 hours
Check for doneness after 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low. Then cook longer if needed. The beans are ready when fork tender but not mushy.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect crockpot beans:
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Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and aromatics like onion and garlic to crockpot.
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Add 1 1/2 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces.
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Pour in 1/4 cup broth and seasonings of choice.
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Cook on low 5-6 hours or high 3-4 hours.
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Check beans for doneness. Cook longer if needed.
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Serve beans warm, with extra seasonings like pepper or parsley.
That’s all there is to it! Let your crockpot do the work while you tend to other tasks.
Tips and Variations
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For crunch, top with crispy fried onions, toasted almonds, or crumbled bacon.
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Make it a full meal by adding sausage, chicken, or ham.
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For a creamy dish, stir in dollop of sour cream before serving.
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Swap seasonings like dill, rosemary, or cumin for different flavor profiles.
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Add tomato sauce or sun dried tomatoes for a pop of color.
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Toss green beans with vinaigrette for a room temperature side salad.
Crockpot green beans truly are endlessly adaptable. Change up herbs, spices, cook times, and toppings until you create your dream recipe.
Common Questions
Should I stir the beans?
Stirring once halfway through helps distribute flavor, but isn’t required.
Can I cook them on warm after cooking?
Yes, you can switch to warm for 1-2 hours until ready to serve.
Do I need to add liquid?
The small amount of olive oil and broth creates enough moisture. No need for extra liquid.
Enjoy Your Easy Crockpot Green Beans
Check out these yummy slow cooker side dish recipes too!
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.