Description
Simmering Cajun smothered green beans & potatoes bring Southern comfort to dinner tables with rich, spicy flavors. Hearty ingredients blend perfectly, creating a soul-satisfying side dish you can’t resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps butter (optional)
- 1 12 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 lb baby potatoes, halved or quartered
- 6–8 oz smoked sausage or bacon (optional)
- 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsps Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, gently sautéing diced onions and minced garlic until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate smoked sausage or bacon, allowing it to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior, which takes around 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes throughout the skillet, thoroughly distributing the spices to create a robust flavor profile.
- Introduce fresh green beans and chunky potato pieces into the skillet, carefully pouring chicken broth to envelop the ingredients, ensuring everything is well-integrated.
- Elevate the mixture to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce temperature to low, covering the skillet to create a steamy environment that will tenderize the vegetables.
- Allow the dish to simmer quietly for 20-25 minutes, periodically checking that potatoes reach a fork-tender consistency while the broth reduces and concentrates its flavors.
- Enhance the final dish with a splash of bright lemon juice, tweaking seasonings to personal preference for a perfectly balanced Cajun-style side dish.
- Finish by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the top, adding a touch of color and fresh herbal note before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh green beans for the crispest texture and brightest flavor, avoiding canned varieties which can become mushy during cooking.
- Dice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming overcooked while others remain firm.
- Swap smoked sausage with turkey sausage for a leaner protein option that maintains the same robust Cajun flavor profile.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and monitoring additional salt added during seasoning, especially if using pre-seasoned sausage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg