Slow Cooker Green Beans, Ham and Potatoes

 

Slow Cooker Green Beans, Ham, and Potatoes: A Southern Classic Made Easy

Few dishes say comfort food quite like a pot of Green Beans, Ham, and Potatoes slow-cooked to tender perfection. This hearty, one-pot meal is a beloved Southern staple — rustic, flavorful, and incredibly simple to make. With just a handful of ingredients and your slow cooker doing all the work, this recipe brings home-cooked warmth to your table with minimal effort.

Perfect for busy weeknights, Sunday dinners, or even holiday sides, this dish is proof that a little patience and a few pantry staples can go a long way.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• 🕰️ Set It and Forget It: The slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day.

• 🧄 Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Just ham, green beans, potatoes, and a few seasonings.

• 🥔 One-Pot Wonder: No need for extra dishes or complicated steps.

• 🍽️ Great as a Side or Main: Serve it solo or alongside cornbread and a salad.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed

• 4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

• 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (use leftover ham or a ham steak)

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 cups chicken broth or water (or a mix of both)

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• Optional: a pinch of red pepper flakes, a dash of smoked paprika, or fresh herbs like thyme

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Instructions

1. Layer the ingredients
   In your slow cooker, layer the potatoes, green beans, ham, and onions. Sprinkle garlic over the top.

2. Add liquid and season
   Pour in the broth or water until the ingredients are just covered. Season with salt, pepper, and any optional spices you like.

3. Slow cook
   Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the potatoes and green beans are tender and full of flavor.

4. Taste and serve
   Adjust seasoning if needed before serving. Serve hot as a main or hearty side dish.

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Tips & Variations

• Use a ham bone: For even more flavor, throw in a leftover ham bone while it cooks. Just remember to remove it before serving.

• Add other veggies: Carrots, corn, or lima beans can be added for extra color and nutrition.

• Make it smoky: Add a dash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika to deepen the flavor.

• Keep it vegetarian: Omit the ham and use vegetable broth for a meat-free version.

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Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs wonderfully with:

• Cornbread or biscuits

• Fried or baked chicken

• A crisp green salad

• Pickled onions or chow-chow relish on the side for a tangy contrast

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Final Thoughts

Slow Cooker Green Beans, Ham, and Potatoes is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug from grandma’s kitchen. It’s nostalgic, filling, and perfect for feeding a hungry family without standing over the stove all day. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just craving a taste of home, this recipe brings big Southern flavor with hardly any hands-on time.

Set it, forget it, and get ready for a bowl of slow-cooked comfort.