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Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey

10/28/15

Southern green beans with smoked turkey

How to make amazing southern green beans with smoked turkey.

Often when we think of soulful vegetables we usually think of collard greens and cabbage. Although I love both, I have another option for you- Southern style green beans! These green beans aren’t your average “boiled with a tad a butter” green beans. These are southern green beans with smoked turkey! These soul food style green beans make a perfect side dish during the holidays &  for Sunday dinner, and they are quite easy to make. Let me show and tell you how I make my southern style green beans!

Slow cooked green beans flavored with tomatoes and turkey

First things first, lets talk about the main ingredient- the GREEN BEANS. For this tutorial ( and usually any other time that I make this) I used frozen green beans. I used frozen green beans, because I had them in my deep freezer. Also, they are already cleaned, cut , and good to go, which makes it a plus for me. If you prefer to use fresh green beans, please do so. Just make sure that you wash them thoroughly, and cut off the ends.

Make sure to trim the beans before you cook them

Now let’s talk about the smoked turkey that I used for these southern green beans. I used a smoked turkey leg. I actually slow cooked it in my CrockPot for several hours. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can cook the smoked turkey on your stovetop. Just make sure that the turkey leg is thawed, then place it into a large pot, and pour enough water into the pot to cover the turkey leg. Cover the pot, and turn the heat on medium high, and cook until the smoked turkey is “falling off the bone” tender! Also remember to save the liquid from the pot! You will need it later on!

The reason I use my slow cooker for this recipe is because it’s foolproof. I don’t have to watch the smoked turkey cook. I just turn on my CrockPot, and go on about my business. To be honest, when the smoked turkey is in the Crock Pot, I usually tend to my other Thanksgiving recipes. Sometimes I even let the smoked turkey cook overnight, and make the rest of the dish the following day.

Minced garlic adds additional flavor

Other than the smoked turkey ( and broth from the pot that we boiled the turkey in) I use a few other ingredients to season the green beans such as : minced garlic, diced tomatoes, and black pepper. I actually don’t add salt, because the smoked turkey has plenty of salt in it. If you feel that you need to as salt you may add it.

Watch how I make my Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey

green beans and smoked turkey
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey

These Southern Style Green Beans are made with smoked turkey, tomatoes, onions and garlic to add to the flavor profile.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Soul Food, Southern
Keyword Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author I Heart Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb frozen green beans
  • 1 lb smoked turkey leg or wing
  • 6-8 cups of water
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 14 oz can of stewed tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the smoked turkey into a Slow Cooker, and pour in enough water to cover the turkey ( about 6-8 cups).
  • Cover the slow cooker, and cook the turkey on high for 4 hours.
  • Once the turkey is done, remove it from the slow cooker and reserve 4 cups of broth from the slow cooker.
  • Next,remove the turkey meat from the bones, and shred it. Also get rid of all the skinny bones that may be buried in the meat.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • In a 9x9 bake dish, toss in the green beans, chopped onions, garlic, stewed tomatoes, and smoked turkey.
  • Sprinkle in the black pepper, and pour in the broth.
  • Give everything a nice stir, then place the green beans into the oven uncovered, and let bake for 40 minutes.
  • Once done, let the green beans cool until they are safe to eat.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

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Filed Under: All Posts, Holiday Recipes, Thanksgiving Recipes Tagged With: christmas, dinner, easter, holiday, side dish, soul food, southern, Thanksgiving, vegetables

Comments

  1. ali wehr says

    October 28, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    5 stars
    I saw your vid on utube and had to come over for more info. Girl, I could eat the whole dish of this! LOL So good!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 28, 2015 at 7:10 pm

      LOL!! Yes me too!! Thanks for coming by! XOXO

      Reply
      • Chris Lange says

        July 10, 2016 at 9:08 am

        Can I finish this in the slow cooker instead of the oven? Its summer…

        Reply
        • Rosie says

          July 10, 2016 at 4:06 pm

          You sure can! 😉

          Reply
          • Chris Lange says

            July 10, 2016 at 4:16 pm

            Thanks so much for answering!

      • Kandy says

        December 24, 2017 at 9:34 pm

        5 stars
        I made this for Thanksgiving 2017 with canned green beans. It tasted just like my mom’s green beans. Thank you for such fantastic recipes!

        Reply
  2. jill says

    October 30, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    What if you don’t have a slow cooler to cook the turkey wing or leg in?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 30, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      I covered that in the post 😀

      Reply
      • jill says

        October 30, 2015 at 10:19 pm

        Thanks

        Reply
  3. Tariana says

    October 31, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    what can i use as a substitute for the turkey?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 1, 2015 at 4:28 pm

      bacon, ham hocks. It’s endless.

      Reply
  4. Robert says

    November 2, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    My godmother had a recipe for a cold green been salad.
    She had onions,ham,and other ingredients that I can’t recall.
    Sadly she passed away before I could get her recipe,do you know what I’m taking about?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 5, 2015 at 1:09 pm

      I don’t think I’m familiar with that recipe, I’m sorry 🙁

      Reply
  5. Arlene says

    November 8, 2015 at 5:17 am

    I’m trying this now can’t wait to see the end results.

    Reply
  6. Vhudson84 says

    December 24, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Hi! I subscribed to your channel on YouTube. Cooking all the side dishes for Xmas this year, and I’m going to give this and your collards a go.. Can’t wait to show off for the fam. Happy Holidays! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Henrietta Mc says

    March 18, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    5 stars
    looks good can’t wait to try for easter. Girl you can cook!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 20, 2016 at 12:20 pm

      Thank you!! Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Olivia says

    November 13, 2016 at 4:48 am

    5 stars
    Can I use canned green beans

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 13, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      You can, if that’s your preference.

      Reply
  9. Ihardlycook says

    November 13, 2016 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    So I made this recipe leaving out tomatoes, and forgot the garlic! Its still good but i feel like i missing out on flavor, should I add seasoned garlic powder in and stir?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 13, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      No, the garlic should have been put in before the dish was done.

      Reply
  10. Sunshina says

    November 14, 2016 at 8:35 am

    4 stars
    I have never baked green beans before this looks amazing with the turkey I don’t eat pork so this was a plus ty!

    Reply
  11. Hazel Bartlett says

    November 16, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    5 stars
    Girl, you are sure enough a southern cook. All
    of your recipes are finger licking goooooooogdd.
    Keep up the good work. How can I get one of your recipe books?
    Keep cooking and br Blessed.
    Hazel

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 16, 2016 at 9:07 pm

      Thanks Hazel! XOXO

      Reply
  12. Courtney says

    November 30, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    will it taste different if you leave out the tomatoes, I’m not a fan of tomatoes but I saw someone else say they left them out

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 30, 2016 at 6:14 pm

      Leave them out if you don’t like them. XOXO

      Reply
  13. Lindsey B. says

    December 4, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    4 stars
    Can I use fresh green beans and the same amount of time to cook them?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      December 4, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      Absolutely.

      Reply
  14. Nora says

    January 2, 2017 at 5:36 am

    How would I alter the recipe if I purchased smoked turkey legs or wings?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      January 2, 2017 at 10:15 am

      I don’t understand the question.

      Reply
  15. Anika says

    April 16, 2017 at 7:07 am

    5 stars
    This is now my go to dish. lol I always get compliments and hear people saying “WHO MADE THE GREEN BEANS!” lol Today I made it with the stewed tomatoes though. (Because honestly l just forget to get some) But with or without this is a great dish. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 16, 2017 at 9:09 am

      Glad that you like the recipe! Happy Easter!

      Reply
  16. Tish says

    April 16, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    5 stars
    So I’ve tried this recipe and absolutely LOVE it!! You give awesome, easy to follow instructions! My boyfriend is allergic to tomatoes so I leave them out and it tastes great! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 17, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Thanks for trying my recipe!

      Reply
  17. Ieisha says

    November 21, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    I’m going to try this recipe for thanksgiving, which in a few days, so I hope you’ve get this in time..

    Can I cook the green beans in the crockpot on low for 4-6 hrs?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 21, 2017 at 3:27 pm

      You can add the smoked turkey in the crockpot, and cook on low for 6 hours. Add the green beans, and other ingredients during the last 1 1/2 hours of cooking 🙂 . Happy Holidays.

      Reply
  18. Nicole says

    November 22, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    Can I cook everything in the crock pot? Also, I want to add some red potatoes. At what point would I add those please?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 22, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      Please check out my Green Beans, bacon & Potatoes video

      Reply
  19. E says

    December 1, 2018 at 11:40 am

    Do I need to thaw these frozen green beans??

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      December 1, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      No, you don’t.

      Reply
  20. Rhonda Woolford says

    December 29, 2018 at 6:10 am

    5 stars
    i was looking for a different way to prepare string beans for Christmas, because I was tired of the smoked meat boiled down soggy string bean recipe. I googled searched and was lead to your recipe, and GIRLLLL let me tell youuuuuu, they were the best string beans I’ve had in a longgggg time. My daughter fell in love with them so much that she didn’t want anybody else to have none and she asked that I make them for her, for her New Year’s Day dinner. Thanks so much and i will be trying more of your recipes.

    Reply
  21. deanna says

    September 3, 2019 at 6:42 pm

    5 stars
    I still can’t believe I got something so good from frozen green beans!! Thank you so much

    Reply
  22. Debbie says

    December 6, 2019 at 11:23 am

    So glad I found this. I’ve been tasked with the green beans for this Sunday’s baby shower brunch. Thanks everyone for your questions, and thank you Rosie for your answers. I feel I’m prepared to go forth and cook these beans. Wish me luck.

    Reply
  23. Sara Ann Grizzard says

    April 12, 2020 at 7:40 am

    I have tried so many recipes from other soul food cooks and I must say no one beats you. Rosie you are all that and more. Thanks for sharing, I have made so many of your dishes and loved them. Every meal has a touch of you. God Bless.

    Reply
  24. Quincie Humphrey says

    May 24, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    Hi Rosie – I’m new to your blog but SO GLAD I’m here! Got a question. I am preparing to do the Southern Green Beans with Turkey Leg and I dont have “Stewed Tomatoes”, but I have “Crushed” Tomatoes – please tell me that will work as well.
    thanks and look to hear from you soon. I’m preparing this for the Memorial Holiday (5/25/2020)

    Reply
  25. Jermaine says

    November 14, 2022 at 8:12 am

    Hi Rosie, could I substitute some of the water with chicken broth, would that be ok or would it make it too salty

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 15, 2022 at 8:25 am

      Hi Jermaine! Chicken broth would definitely work. If you’re worried about it being too salty, you can use salt free or low sodium broth.

      Reply

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