Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoes with Bacon

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Today we are going to show you how to elevate your green bean and potatoes game! Our CROCK POT GREEN BEANS AND POTATOES WITH BACON recipe harnesses the power of one ingredient and turns this basic dish into something that is both simply Southern and simply out of this world! It’s easy, and hands-free in the crock pot, cooking slow and low to absolute perfection.

A small blue and white bowl contains green beans, potatoes, onions, and slices of bacon. The same dish is in a larger green serving bowl in the background, with a fork and white patterned napkin nearby.

What is that one ingredient you ask? When we say “simply Southern,” we mean it! It’s bacon grease! There’s very little prep, and this recipe makes a great side dish or even a full meal. Once you pump up your green beans and potatoes like this, you will never, ever make them any other way again!

Just like with our CROCK POT COWBOY BEANS, you can simply toss all of these ingredients in your pot and slow cook while you get on with your life.

Ingredients

Salt, pepper, and bacon grease plus veggies (plus bacon!) equals fantastic flavors! Let’s go!

A blue and white patterned plate holds a serving of sliced potatoes, green beans, onions, and crispy bacon, with a fork resting on the side. A white cloth napkin and a green dish are in the background.

What You’ll Need

Bacon– cooked and crumbled. Save that grease!
Fresh green beans – washed and trimmed
Potatoes – we use about 2 large, washed, peeled and cubed.
Yellow sweet onion – we use about a half of a large one.
Beef broth – for big, bold flavor.
Salt and pepper – to taste.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Why You Will Love These Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoes with Bacon

Great for celebrations, events and Sundays – it’s great to make and take to gatherings. And you can pop this in the crock pot on Sunday mornings for your Sunday lunch!
Minimal prep for what can even be a full meal – whether you use it as a side dish or a full meal, there’s very little preparation time before you slow cook this fantastic dish.
Slow cookers are great for busy folks – if your schedule is tight, cooking meals like this one low and slow is so helplful!

Instructions

You will never want green beans and potatoes any other way. We use the South’s secret ingredient here to add a ton of flavor. Bacon grease!

A person uses a slotted spoon to remove cooked bacon from a frying pan; nearby are a bowl with green beans and diced potatoes, sliced onions, and a plate with bacon pieces on a paper towel.

Prep potatoes by washing, peeling and cutting into cubes. Wash green beans, trim ends and cut into pieces. Place in the liner of the crock pot.

A person mixes sliced potatoes, onions, and green beans in a bowl on a wooden counter. Cooked bacon sits on a paper towel-lined plate nearby, and an empty pan with a slotted spoon rests on the stove.

Brown bacon until almost done, not too crispy! Reserve that grease. Add sliced onion to veggies in the crock pot.

A person pours liquid from a frying pan with a ladle into a bowl containing sliced apples, green beans, and onions on a wooden countertop next to a gas stove.

Drizzle vegetables with 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and toss to coat.

A person wearing a smartwatch adds seasoning to a slow cooker containing green beans and potatoes. Cooked bacon rests on a paper towel on a plate nearby; an empty frying pan is on the stovetop.

Season with salt and pepper.

A person prepares to pour beef stock into a slow cooker containing potatoes, green beans, and onions. Cooked bacon pieces sit on a paper towel-lined plate next to a stove with a frying pan.

Add in the beef broth. Cover and set crock pot to low.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair stands in a kitchen behind a wooden counter, holding her hands over a large green mixing bowl. Various kitchenware and ingredients are visible on the shelves and counter around her.

Near the end of the cook time, about the last hour, add the cooked bacon in and finish cooking.

A bowl filled with a mixture of green beans, potatoes, onions, and bacon sits on a wooden surface next to a slow cooker containing more of the same dish. A fork rests in the bowl and a cloth napkin is nearby.

Serve and enjoy!

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

When we make this at home, we always feel like it is one of the best “simply Southern” meals that we put on the table. And when I’m eating this delicious combo, I cannot help but exclaim “It’s like the South in a bowl!” We think you will feel the same way!

Substitutions

With this recipe, I can think of a few customizations to help get you going.

Green beans – fresh is always best, but you can certainly use canned or frozen beans.
Potatoes – We love russet potatoes, but use any kind of potato that you like!
Broth – feel free to use broth or stock. This dish just needs a steaming agent, so chicken broth is fine. Beef stock, however, will give it a deeper flavor.

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A close-up of a dish containing green beans, diced potatoes, bacon pieces, and onions, all mixed together and cooked. The ingredients appear soft and seasoned.

Helpful Equipment

I love to share recipes that have no special equipment required, but here are a some things that will definitely make this recipe easier!

MY FAVORITE FRYING PAN
AN AWESOME CROCK POT
MY FAVORITE MEASURING CUPS

A blue and white plate holds a serving of green beans, potatoes, onions, and bacon slices. A fork rests on the plate, and part of a green dish and white towel are visible in the background.

Storage Tips

Fridge: Place the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freezer: You can place in this in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months, but be aware that potatoes don’t love to be frozen, and can be a little mealy after thawing.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

**DON’T MISS OUR TIPS AND TRICKS BELOW THE RECIPE CARD!

A small bowl filled with green beans, potatoes, onions, and bacon sits in front of a larger green serving dish containing more of the same food. A fork rests in the bowl, and a cloth napkin lies nearby on the wooden surface.

Crock Pot Green Beans and Potatoes with Bacon

Elevate your green bean and potatoes game with our CROCK POT GREEN BEANS AND POTATOES WITH BACON recipe! Harness the power of one ingredient and turn this basic dish into something that is "simply Southern." And simply great!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 6

Total Time 6 5

Serving Size

Ingredients

8 strips bacon chopped, cooked and drained
1 pound green beans washed, trimmed and cut
2 potatoes large, washed, peeled and cubed
1/2 yellow onion sliced
1/4 cup beef broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

Cook bacon, drain and reserve grease. Crumble and set aside.
8 strips bacon
Prep potatoes by washing, peeling and cutting into cubes. Place in the liner of the crock pot. Prepare green beans by washing, trimming ends and cutting in half or thirds. Place in crock pot with potatoes.
1 pound green beans, 2 potatoes
Slice onion and mix with potatoes and green beans. Pour cooled bacon grease over all and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in beef broth. Cover and cook on low. After about 5 hours, add bacon back in. Cook another hour or until potatoes are fork tender.
1/2 yellow onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 cup beef broth

See How To Make It!

Notes

*Pro Tip*

Use and apple corer to help cut potatoes. This will break whole potato down easier so you can more easily cut into smaller cubes with a knife.

A bowl filled with green beans, potatoes, onions, and bacon slices sits on a wooden surface next to a slow cooker containing the same dish. A fork rests in the bowl.

🍴 PRO TIP!

Set a 6-hour timer during the 6 to 8 hour cooking time so that you can check those taters and see if they are fork-tender and breaking up. Also, you can add your bacon in at the beginning, rather than at the 1 hour mark, but it might break up a bit more than you want.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

Can I use canned or frozen beans?

You can use canned beans, but be sure to add them halfway through cooking so that they don’t get mushy. Frozen beans will work well, and you don’t even have to thaw them ahead of time.

How to I prepare my fresh green beans?

Wash them, trim the ends and cut them into one-inch or two-inch pieces and toss them in the crock pot.

Can I use something other than bacon?

Sure! You can use ham hocks or smoked turkey in place of the bacon!

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