Ridiculously Easy Slow Cooker Canned Green Beans

These slow cooker (or crockpot) canned green beans are such an easy side dish to prepare. After cooking the bacon, just dump all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it work its magic. The result? Tender green beans infused with savory bacon, coated in a perfectly buttery sauce. Recipes yields 24 servings.

Heather's Thoughts

Green beans are hands down my favorite vegetable. No question. And I LOVE canned green beans. Our pantry is always stocked with them - they are such an easy vegetable side dish with any dinner recipe I am making for us. The same can be said for creamy instant pot mac and cheese, southern-style mashed potatoes with sour cream or sweet potato casserole with crunchy cornflake topping.

So while it's a regular veggie on our weekdays, canned green beans in a crock pot (with bacon!) always make an appearance on the holiday table or any southern family get-together.

All that is required is to crisp up some bacon in a skillet (which can be done ahead of time PS), then add them to a crock pot with the canned green beans, brown sugar for a delightful hint of sweetness, butter, onion, salt, and pepper. Let that cook low and slow for 4-6 hours. The results are heavenly!

The small addition of the brown sugar adds this irrespirable sweetness that compliments the salty bacon so well. It adds a different southern touch to a pretty basic dish, and it is quickly everyone's favorite veggie.

5 bowls of green beans with a fork and green napkin next to it.

Key Ingredient Notes

Bacon - We have been really loving Wright's brand bacon this year but any brand will work that you prefer.
Canned Green Beans - use any cut/style and brand you like - unseasoned. I prefer to either use flat Italian style or just the regular cut green beans. But any kind will work! They sell big 100-ounce cans at most grocery stores or places like Costco - but you can also just use small cans if needed to add up to the amount ( roughly 7-8 regular 14-ounce cans will be needed).

PRO TIP - when frying up your bacon, use some kitchen scissors* and cut the raw bacon strips into small pieces directly into the skillet. That way you are cooking up bacon bits immediately instead of frying up strips and then having to crumble up later. Way less messy IMO and I have been doing this for years. I like to get mine from the Dollar Store and just stock up on a couple of pairs since they are cheap and need to get replaced every so often (or you can use the Amazon link above).

Welcome to my kitchen, let's cook together!

frying up bacon in a skillet. — **STEP ONE:** Cut slices of bacon into tiny bits inside a large skillet.

Cooking bacon bites in a skillet. — Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the bits are just crispy.

bacon bits cooling on a plate lined with paper towels. — Use a slotted spoon to remove and cool on a paper towel-lined plate until needed.

A wooden cutting board on a. kitchen counter with a diced onion and knife on it. — **STEP TWO:** finely dice an onion...

A slow cooker with diced onions inside. — ...and place inside a slow cooker.

A slow cooker with brown sugar and diced onions inside. — **STEP THREE:** add in the brown sugar...

A slow cooker with diced onions, butter, and brown sugar inside. — ...and butter.

A slow cooker with butter, brown sugar, and onions inside and a can of green beans next to it getting ready to go in. — **STEP FOUR:** add in the can of green beans (not drained) and crispy bacon bits.

A slow cooker with a wooden spoon stirring green beans inside. — **STEP FIVE:** stir then cover with a lid. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

If you need to - you can cook these a little longer. Honestly, I have even cooked them on low for 8+ hours and they were perfect. If you need to speed up the process, cook on high for 3-4 hours. You just want everything to be melted and cooked together with all that goodness.

Whether you make these for your Thanksgiving feast (pro for not taking up any oven space!), Easter, any holiday gathering...or you make them for a church potluck, family reunion, or just a Saturday when the craving hits - these will never disappoint. Easy and full of flavor - I promise you this will quickly become your go-to green bean recipe!

5 small bowls full of green beans with bacon bits inside.

Recipe