Southern-Style Green Beans

Ingredients

• 1 pound Fresh Green Beans, trimmed
• 4 slices Bacon, chopped (for a vegetarian option, use olive oil)
• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 cup Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option)
• 1 tablespoon Butter (optional, for extra richness)
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for heat)

Instructions

1. Rinse the fresh green beans under cold water and trim the ends.
2. In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel to drain.
3. In the same skillet, leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Add the trimmed green beans to the skillet along with the chicken broth. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
5. Cover the skillet and allow the green beans to simmer in the broth for about 10-12 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of tenderness.
6. Once the green beans are tender, add the cooked bacon back into the skillet. If using, stir in the butter and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
7. Transfer the Southern-Style Green Beans to a serving dish and enjoy warm!