Total time: 2-3 hrs | Serves: 6-8
I have my favorite side dish recipes. Most of them I cook in my slow cooker. This smoky and saucy BBQ Green Beans is one of my faves. It is a simple side dish that pairs well with just about anything. A flavorful, easy vegetable side dish that you can easily make in your trusty slow cooker.
For this recipe, you can use store-bought BBQ sauce. I prefer to make using just a few pantry staples. You have to give it a try, you’ll see the big difference in flavors! Because we are making this in a slow cooker, you can simply dump the beans and bacon, stir, and forget. Then, come home to a savory side dish that even your picky eaters will love!
INGREDIENTS
½ yellow onion, finely chopped
8 slices thickly-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled, 2 tbsp drippings reserved
4 (14.5 ounces) cans of green beans, rinsed and drained
½ c. ketchup
⅓ c. BBQ sauce
¼ c. honey
⅓ c. brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
½ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
How to make Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans
Step 1: Place the ketchup, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne in a large bowl. Mix well until combined. To taste, season with salt and pepper.
Step 2: In a large pan or skillet, heat 2 tbsp of the reserved bacon drippings over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until soft and translucent. Then, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Take the pan off the heat.
Step 3: In a lightly greased slow cooker, place the green beans and onion along with any remaining bacon grease. Pour in the BBQ ketchup mixture. Mix well, then place the crumbled bacon on top.
Step 4: Put the lid on and set it to cook for 2 to 3 hours on high or 4 to 5 hours on low.
Step 5: Serve the BBQ Green Beans immediately. Enjoy!