Go Back
Homemade Bill Miller Green Bean
Antonio Morelli

Bill Miller Green Bean Recipe

This Bill Miller green bean copycat brings the famous San Antonio BBQ side dish straight to your stovetop. Fresh green beans slow-simmered in a smoky bacon and Roma tomato broth until every bean absorbs the flavor completely. Seven ingredients, one pot, and 35 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 0 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish / Vegetable
Cuisine: Southern / Texas BBQ
Calories: 95
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
  • 3 oz bacon (3 to 4 strips), cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup white or yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup Roma tomatoes, diced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ tsp fine salt, adjusted at the end
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes, 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Equipment

  • Large stockpot or Dutch oven
  • Wooden spoon
  • Sharp knife and cutting board
  • Colander
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Slotted spoon for serving

Method
 

  1. Wash and trim green beans. Cut into 1.5 to 2 inch pieces. Set aside.
  2. Cook chopped bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes until fat renders and bacon is lightly crisped. Do not drain the fat.
  3. Add diced onion to the bacon fat. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and stir for 60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add diced Roma tomatoes. Cook on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until tomatoes soften and break down into a light sauce.
  5. Add the trimmed green beans and pour in the chicken broth. Stir to coat. Season with salt, black pepper, and any optional additions.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring every 8 to 10 minutes, until beans are fully tender and deeply colored from the broth.
  7. Taste and adjust salt. Serve hot with a slotted spoon.

Notes

  • Never drain the bacon fat. It is the entire flavor base of the broth. Removing it produces a flat, one-dimensional result.
  • Let the tomatoes break down fully before adding beans. A rushed tomato step produces a thin, underdeveloped broth.
  • Simmer at least 20 minutes. This is where the flavor absorption happens. Cutting it short at 10 to 12 minutes gives you under-flavored beans.
  • Season at the end, not the beginning. Bacon and broth both contribute salt during cooking. Taste after the simmer and adjust from there.
  • Tastes better on day 2. Make ahead and refrigerate overnight for peak flavor. Reheat in a saucepan with a splash of broth.
  • Freezer-friendly for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
  • Vegetarian option: Swap bacon for 1 tbsp olive oil plus 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. Use vegetable broth.