Best Southern Green Beans Recipe {Keto Friendly/Low Carb} (2024)

This is the absolute Best Southern Green Beans Recipe. It’s super easy to make and is the perfect keto side dish. With minimal ingredients and lots of amazing flavors, you are sure to love this southern keto-style green bean recipe.

I am a southern girl and LOVE green beans! So, I knew I had to make a super flavorful keto green beans recipe. These southern-style green beans are made from canned beans and other herbs and spices. Making them perfect for your keto/low car diet and super delicious. Even to those who aren’t eating keto in your house!

Ingredients:

• canned cut green beans – While you may be hesitant about using canned green beans, I promise they are amazing! The trick Is adding different spices and allowing the green beans to simmer!
• butter – Butter adds extra flavor and fat to the southern green beans.
• bacon grease or olive oil – Adds more fat while allowing the green beans to simmer without sticking to the pot. If you have bacon grease on hand, it adds extra flavor, and you could add some bacon bits.
• italian dressing – Italian dressing adds so much flavor to the green beans! Since you only use a little bit, it doesn’t matter what brand you use. I like plain Italian dressing!
• garlic salt and dried minced onion – These spices add a more savory flavor to the keto green beans. You can find the minced onion in the spice aisle at the grocery store; make sure not to buy the fresh minced onion on accident.

How to make Southern Green Beans with Canned Beans:

Step 1: Dump all ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. If you use bacon grease instead of olive oil, you could also add in some bacon bits for extra flavor.

Step 2: Boil uncovered until almost all of the juice has evaporated. You can boil on medium/high so that they will be ready faster (approx 35 – 45 minutes) or boil on medium to low for an hour or longer, depending on how much time you have available. I’ve done both, and they turn out amazing either way!

Step 3: Stir occasionally. The beans will begin to fall apart as the juice cooks out. It is normal.

Step 4: Once the juice has evaporated and the southern green beans are finished cooking salt taste. Finally, enjoy!

ARE GREEN BEANS LOW CARB?

While green beans are in the same family as beans, they have far fewer carbs than most. One cup of cooked, canned green beans contains 10 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fiber. So, cooked, canned green beans contain only 6 total carbs per cup.

Green beans are the perfect keto/low-carb diet. I like to keep several cans of green beans in our pantry for times when I’m in a pinch and need a delicious healthy side for dinner.

CAN YOU USE FRESH OR FROZEN GREEN BEANS INSTEAD OF CANNED ONES?

You absolutely can! Remember that you will need to add some liquid since moisture is the key to cooking down these southern green beans until they about fall apart. You could use chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water.

Frozen green beans already contain some moisture, requiring less added stock or water. Watch your green beans as they cook down if you go this route. You may need to add more liquid to ensure the beans get cooked down properly as it evaporates.

In addition, fresh and frozen green beans have a different total carb count than canned, so make sure to calculate the proper amount if you are tracking macros.

How to Store Southern Green Bean Leftovers

I recommend storing any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can also freeze the green beans by putting them in a freezer-friendly container. These keto green beans should last about 3 months in the freezer. This is an excellent way to prep a healthy side dish if you’re ever in a pinch.

How to Reheat The Best Southern Green Beans Recipe

If your green beans were stored in the fridge, place them in a microwave-safe container, heat on high for 30 seconds, and stir. Repeat this cycle until the green beans have reached the desired warmth.

If the green beans were frozen, place them in the fridge to come to room temperature, and follow the steps above to rewarm.

What to Serve with the Best Southern Green Beans with Canned Beans

Here are some of my favorite keto main courses to go with green beans!

• Keto Pot Roast Instant Pot Recipe
• Mouthwatering Monterey Chicken
• Easy BBQ Low Carb Keto Meatloaf
• Keto Baked Chicken Thighs

Other low carb vegetable side dishes:

• Easy Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
• Keto Brussels Sprouts & Bacon
• Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
• Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe in Garlic Butter