Alright, let’s talk about makin’ them crockpot green beans with ham, ya hear? It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. Just good, plain cookin’ like my mama used to make. First off, you gotta get yourself some green beans. Them fresh ones from the garden are the best, but if you ain’t got none, the store-bought ones will do just fine. Just make sure they ain’t all bruised up and lookin’ sad.
Now, about that ham… You can use any kind you like, really. A ham hock, leftover ham from Sunday dinner, even them little ham cubes from the store. I like to use a ham hock myself, gives it that real smoky flavor, you know? Just chunk it up a bit, don’t need to be fancy.
Get that crockpot ready! Put that ham right in the bottom. Then, wash them green beans real good. I like to snap ‘em into pieces, makes ‘em easier to eat. Just throw ‘em right on top of that ham. Don’t be shy, pile ‘em in there!
Next, you need some onions and garlic. Chop ‘em up, not too fine, mind you. We ain’t makin’ no fancy restaurant food here. Just sprinkle them onions and garlic right over the beans and ham. Smells good already, don’t it?
- Now for the seasonings! Salt, pepper, that’s all you really need. Don’t go overboard with the salt, though, that ham’s already salty, you see. A little bit of garlic powder and onion powder is always welcome.
- Some folks like to add a little chicken broth or water. Me? I just let them beans cook in their own juices. That’s where all the flavor is at. If you have some ham broth, add that, even tastier!
- If you like things a little spicy, you could add some red pepper flakes, yeah, that’s the ticket. Not too much though, unless you wanna breathe fire later.
Put the lid on that crockpot and set it on low. Now, this is the important part, you gotta let them beans cook for a good long while. I usually let ‘em go for six or eight hours, sometimes even longer. The longer they cook, the more tender they get, and that ham just falls right off the bone. Low and slow, that’s the secret.
You’ll know they’re done when them beans are nice and soft and that ham is fall-apart tender. Give ‘em a good stir, make sure everything’s mixed up nice. And that’s it! Crockpot green beans with ham, just like my mama used to make. Simple, ain’t it? But let me tell you, they taste like heaven.
Now, some folks get all worried about cookin’ beans in a slow cooker. They say it ain’t safe, especially for certain kinds of beans. But I ain’t never had no trouble with green beans. Just make sure you cook ‘em long enough, and they’ll be just fine. And don’t use no kidney beans, them’s different. They need special attention. We’re stickin’ with green beans today, capiche?
Serve them beans up with some cornbread, maybe some mashed potatoes. That’s a real country meal right there. And let me tell you, them leftovers are even better the next day. Just heat ‘em up and enjoy. Nothin’ fancy, just good, honest food.
So there you have it. My way of makin’ crockpot green beans with ham. It ain’t hard, and it don’t take a lot of fancy ingredients. Just a little bit of time and a whole lotta love. And that, my friends, is the secret to good cookin’. So go on, try it yourself. You won’t be disappointed. And if you’ve got leftovers don’t be shy, send them my way! I always got room for more of them green beans! They remind me of home and that’s always good.
One last thing, if you’re using canned green beans instead of fresh, don’t cook them all day, they’ll turn to mush. Just add them in towards the end, maybe the last hour or two, just to heat them through. And if your ham ain’t salty enough, add a little more salt. It’s all about adjusting to what you got. That’s what cookin’ is all about, makin’ do with what you got and makin’ it taste good.
Tags: Crock Pot Green Beans, Slow Cooker Recipes, Ham and Green Beans, Easy Dinner Recipes, Southern Cooking, Country Cooking, Comfort Food.