Slow-Cooker Green Beans

You know we love a set-it-and-forget-it recipe here at Taste of Home and although slow cookers might make you think of soups, stews and chilis instantly, we’re here to remind you not to forget the crockpot veggie sides! Case in point: these super simple—yet super tasty—slow-cooker green beans.

If you’re used to steaming, sauteing or microwaving your beans, you’re sorely missing out on one of the easiest ways to cook green beans that’s not only hands-free but packed with lots of spicy-sweet slowly-infused flavors.

The next time you need a delicious green bean recipe for Thanksgiving, a family cookout or a potluck, give these easy green beans a try. We promise you’ll be hooked in a snap.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Green Beans

• Green beans: The star of the show! We used one bag of frozen-then-thawed green beans for ease but you can use fresh green beans too. Although you’ll need to alter the recipe slightly—more on that below.
• Butter: Butter makes everything better, including green beans. And it’s the binder that ties the rest of the ingredient magic together as they slowly simmer away. You’ll want melted butter or small pats of softened butter.
• Sugar: These beans are all about their spicy-sweet flavor and the sweet element comes from dark brown sugar.
• Seasonings: All you need is garlic salt for this recipe! This flavored salt helps take these beans to the bolder side and infuse them with salty, pungent notes. Alternatively, you can use minced fresh garlic if you have a family of garlic lovers on your hands.
• Soy sauce: The secret sauce for umami-laced beans. Opt for reduced-sodium sauce to cut down on extra salt.

Directions

Step 1: Add the beans to the slow cooker

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Start by plugging in a 5-quart slow cooker and place your Haricot Vert beans inside.

Step 2: Make the sauce

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Next, top the green beans with the melted butter, packed brown sugar, garlic salt and soy sauce. Toss to coat.

Step 3: Set it and forget it

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Once everything is well combined, pop the cover on and cook on low until the beans are heated for two to three hours. Serve with a slotted spoon and toppings if you so desire then enjoy!

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Slow-Cooker Green Bean Variations

• Use fresh beans instead of frozen: String beans, Romano flat beans or Haricot Verts would all be great here but you can use any fresh green beans with their ends trimmed or snipped off. You can keep the ingredient list the same with fresh beans, although we recommend adding a 1/4 cup of chicken stock or broth to the crockpot. Fresh beans are harder and therefore need more moisture to absorb while they cook.
• Try it with bacon: IYKYK when it comes to the glorious combo of beans and bacon, and this slow-cooker green bean recipe is the perfect place to add some bacon bits! The best part is that you can toss chopped raw bacon into the slow cooker and it will cook with the beans. Or, add cooked bacon crumbles when serving the beans if you want extra crispy bites.
• Add a topping: Fried onion strings, buttery panko bread crumbs or toasted almonds would all be delicious on top of these savory beans.

How to Store Slow-Cooker Green Beans

The beauty of dishes cooked in the slow cooker is that leftovers can be stored in the slow cooker. Keep the covered base in the fridge until you’re ready for another helping, then warm the beans back up in the slow cooker right before you dig in.

If you’re short on fridge space, wrap up any remaining beans in sealed Tupperware containers or plastic bags and pop them in the microwave to reheat and eat.

How long do slow-cooker green beans last?

These beans taste best right out of the slow cooker but you can get three to four more days out of them. We suggest trying to use up those leftovers within one to two days if using frozen beans.

Can you freeze slow-cooker green beans?

You can but we don’t advise doing so. Thawing, cooking and refreezing anything that was previously frozen never tends to go well upon defrosting the second time around.

Slow-Cooker Green Bean Tips

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Can I cook the beans on high instead of low?

You bet! Just shorten the time from two to three hours on low to one to two hours on high. You’ll know the beans are ready when the coating is absorbed and the beans are a dark green color. If you’re around during the process, stir the beans halfway through to readjust everything.

How can you fancy up green beans?

You can fancy up these slow-cooked green beans by adding more seasonings, fresh herbs or aromatics. Give them some heat with red pepper flakes, a bright citrusy finish with a squeeze of lemon or add other spices to the crockpot while they’re cooking like dried basil, thyme or parsley.

What goes well with slow-cooker green beans?

Every kind of protein from grilled chicken dishes to pork chops, steaks and kielbasa. We also like them with mashed potatoes, cornbread, mac and cheese and of course, traditional Thanksgiving dinner dishes.