There’s something magical about KFC’s green beans that transforms this humble vegetable into a craveable side dish. The secret lies in their perfect balance of seasoning and tender-crisp texture, which pairs beautifully with any main course. This easy copycat recipe captures that same delicious flavor using simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
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What Makes KFC Green Beans So Good?
Green beans don’t get the kind of respect they should. While most people won’t find themselves with a sudden craving for green beans, they aren’t too likely to turn their noses up at them either.
That goes double if the green beans you serve are well-seasoned with just a hint of garlic, like this KFC green beans recipe. This dish is the perfect accompaniment to just about any main course and stores well.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
The magic of southern-style green beans lies in slow-cooking them with butter, onions, and the perfect blend of seasonings. Unlike plain steamed green beans, this method allows the vegetables to absorb all the savory flavors while maintaining their tender texture. The garlic powder adds depth without overpowering the natural flavor of the green beans.
Green Beans KFC-style Ingredients
Fresh Ingredients:
- Yellow onion – Provides a sweet, savory base flavor that complements the green beans
- Water – Creates steam for proper cooking and prevents burning
Pantry Staples:
- Cut green beans, canned – Convenient base ingredient that cooks quickly and evenly
- Unsalted butter – Adds richness and helps carry the seasonings throughout the dish
- Kosher Salt – Enhances all other flavors and brings out the natural taste of vegetables
- Black pepper – Adds subtle heat and complexity to balance the sweetness
- Garlic powder – Provides aromatic depth without the bite of fresh garlic
Ingredient Notes, Substitutes, and Additions
You can use any cut of canned green beans that you have on hand. Fresh green beans are also acceptable, but you will need to cook them for a slightly longer period. You can also use wax beans.
For a sharper flavor, you can use red or white onions instead of yellow onions.
The original KFC green beans did not contain bacon. However, if you would like bacon in the dish, then add some cooked bacon bits to the mixture. You may want to reduce the amount of salt because the bacon will increase the saltiness of the dish.
Bell peppers are another vegetable you can add along with the onions. Use either a medium green pepper or a red bell pepper.
Add a dash of soy sauce for a hint of umami flavor.
How to Make KFC Green Beans
To prepare this KFC green beans recipe at home:
- Chop the yellow onion finely.
- Drain the green beans and give them a good rinse.
- Place them on the bottom of a medium saucepan and add the butter, finely chopped yellow onions, and the seasonings to the pan.
- Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and add only enough water to cover the beans.
- Cover the saucepan and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the green beans are tender. Do not cook them for too long or they will get a mushy texture. Give the green beans a good stir from time to time to prevent them from burning.
- Drain any excess liquid and serve hot.
What to Serve Them With
Green beans pair exceptionally well with casual chicken dishes, such as Smoked Beer Can Chicken or KFC Copycat Fried Chicken. Serve with other traditional sides, including vegetables, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, and cornbread.
This recipe is also an excellent start for preparing a green bean casserole. Just add a couple of cans of cream of mushroom soup and some milk, and mix everything. Transfer to a casserole dish and top with toasted breadcrumbs. Bake the casserole in the oven until hot.
Storage & Reheating Instructions for Leftover Green Beans
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cool completely before refrigerating.
- Reheating Method: Reheat in the oven at 400°F for 15 minutes, covered, or gently warm on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of water if needed.
- Freezing: Not recommended, as the texture becomes mushy when thawed.
More KFC Copycat Recipes
- KFC Biscuits
- KFC Chicken Pot Pie
- KFC Cole Slaw
- KFC Fried Chicken
- KFC Honey BBQ Wings
- KFC Potato Wedges
Favorite Side Dish Recipes
- Asian Cabbage Slaw
- BBQ Baked Beans
- Dill Potato Salad
- Mac and Cheese with Bread Crumbs
- Panda Express Super Greens
- Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Stick of Butter Rice
Check out my easy side dish recipes and the best copycat fast food recipes on CopyKat!
KFC Green Beans Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 14.5-ounce cans cut green beans drained
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place the green beans in a pot and top with the rest of the ingredients. Add enough water to cover the green beans.
- Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain and serve.
Hello!
Can you use frozen green beans in this recipe?
Thank you,
I think you could, the cooking time would be a little longer.
We have used : Frozen, fresh and canned beans that are green or yellow with excellent results in this recipe. But, we melt the butter separately and add the garlic, salt, pepper to the melted butter and then mix that to the cooked beans and onion. Flavours are more intense.