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Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey

The smoked turkey helps flavor the green beans giving them a smokey flavor as well.

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!

The beans are cooked up slow and with the tomatoes, they have an additional acidic flavor.

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 you clean and trim the beans before cooking 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.

Other than the turkey, the beans get their flavor from the minced garlic and tomatoes as well.

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
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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
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Servings 5 -6
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!

Try these recipe as well!

Try these Soul Food Collard Greens

Soul Food Collard Greens

Try these Green Beans & Potatoes from I Heart Recipes

Green Beans, Bacon & Potatoes

Try this Southern Cabbage from I Heart RecipeSouthern Cabbage Recipe

Try this Braised Southern Kale from I Heart Recipes

Braised Southern Style Kale

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Comments


  1. 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

  4. 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

  6. 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


  9. 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


  10. 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. 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

  12. 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


  15. 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


  16. 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

  17. 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

    • 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. 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


  20. 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

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