Trim the ends of the green beans and rinse them under cold water.
Chop the bacon into small pieces and cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.
Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving some grease in the pan.
Sauté the diced onion in the bacon grease until translucent.
Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
In the crockpot, combine the green beans, sautéed onion, and garlic.
Pour in the chicken broth, olive oil, soy sauce, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
Stir to combine all ingredients well.
Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
Before serving, stir in the cooked bacon and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.