Description
Soulful Cajun Smothered Green Beans & Potatoes bring Louisiana’s hearty comfort straight to your dinner table. Southern spices and tender vegetables meld into a rich, savory side dish that welcomes you to savor authentic Creole cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 1.5 pounds fresh green beans
- 1.5 pounds red potatoes
Proteins and Flavor Enhancers:
- 4–6 slices bacon
- 1 pound smoked sausage (optional)
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1.5 tablespoons (22.5 milliliters) Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) butter
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Hot sauce (optional)
Optional Garnish:
- Bell peppers
- Parsley
- Green onions
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious pot over medium heat until golden and crisp, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Transfer crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving rendered fat in the pot.
- Melt butter in the same pot and sauté diced onions until translucent and softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30-45 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Add cubed potatoes and chicken broth, raising heat to high and bringing mixture to a rapid boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer potatoes for 12-15 minutes until nearly tender.
- Incorporate green beans into the pot, mixing gently with the potatoes and liquid.
- Return crispy bacon to the pot, cover, and continue simmering for an additional 10-12 minutes.
- Verify vegetables are fork-tender and liquid has slightly reduced.
- Optional: Enhance with a dash of hot sauce for extra heat.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or sliced green onions before serving hot.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness in the dish.
- Use fresh green beans when possible for better texture and vibrant color.
- Consider removing seeds from jalapeños if you prefer a milder Cajun heat level.
- Adjust chicken broth quantity based on desired sauciness of the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 168 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg