These southern green beans with smoked Turkey meat are a hit at every holiday event! It’s filled with potatoes, bacon, and turkey meat and then given a good old chicken broth bath! Green beans with smoked Turkey meat are like a dream come true when you see this beautiful dish sitting at your table for the holidays. Well, enough of my yapping. Let’s get to making this recipe!
Why make this southern green bean recipe?
This recipe was inspired by my mother. Boy, that woman will always cook us a good old Southern meal. Well, for starters, let’s get into the delicious taste. It’s truly a taste like no other. Especially when you take the time to bake those turkey legs. Trust me; you don’t wanna skip out on that part. It’s a must.
Ingredients
Whoa! I love a recipe with a small number of ingredients but have a big amount of flavor! Yes, that is these string beans with smoked turkey meat. The list of ingredients is coming right up, folks!
Fresh Green Beans- yes, I recommend using fresh green beans for this recipe, but you can also use frozen green beans for this recipe as well.
Smoked Turkey Legs- Smoked turkey legs may take a while to finish in the oven, but I promise that they make these southern green beans recipe super good.
Bacon-I used thick bacon. Try not to use thin bacon because it will be less meat.
Russet Potatoes- I used russet potatoes, honestly, because that’s what I had on hand, but you can choose to use any potatoes of your choice. Just remember that potatoes do break down and become soggy the more you boil them.
Onions- The onions help to give this recipe a ton of flavor and delight.
Minced Garlic-Minced garlic is another good way to add flavor.
How to make
Gather all of your ingredients and meet me in the kitchen, folks!
Remove your smoked Turkey legs from the oven and allow them to rest for 5 minutes.
Next, remove the meat from the bone and place it in a bowl, then sit to the side.
Next, remove the meat from the bone and place it in a bowl, then sit to the side.
Grab a stock pot and place it at a medium-high temperature.
Add in your bacon and allow to cook until done.
Add your chopped potatoes, onions, green beans, minced garlic, smoked Turkey legs, chicken broth, and seasonings to the same pot, then stir well.
Place a lid over the pot, turn the stove to medium-low, and allow to simmer for 1 hour.
Variations for Southern Green Beans
Here is the thing that I love about these green beans with smoked Turkey meat.
You can add or take away from this recipe.
Meat- you can choose to use as much meat as you like, or you can take the smoked Turkey meat out of this recipe and use other meat, such as smoked sausages, ham hocks, or smoked turkey necks. Also, If you wish to take the meat out and don’t use any at all, that’s fine too.
Spicy– I didn’t use many spices in this recipe, but you can make it spicy if you like. Hot sauce, red crushed peppers, or more black pepper. Completely up to you.
Kid Friendly- If your children are like my children and don’t eat meat, then you can totally make this a meatless recipe. Just follow all the steps but leave the meat out, and there you have it, meatless green beans.
Equipment
To make these southern green beans with bacon. You will need to use a big pot to hold all of the meat, chicken broth, and green beans. I would recommend a 5-quart pot.
Commonly asked questions
What are southern green beans?
Let me start off by saying that southern green beans are called string snaps or pole beans in the south. Now, southern green beans are slow-cooked green beans with a variety of meat and potatoes. They are enjoyed year-round but are especially popular during the holiday season.
How long to cook frozen green beans southern style?
The good news about this recipe is that you can use frozen green beans. When using frozen green beans, you will only need to cook them until they have become slightly softened.
Where to buy fresh green beans?
Green beans can be found at the nearest Walmart.
How to season green beans southern style?
Seasoning southern-style green beans are completely up to you. You can go lite on the seasonings or go heavy. It’s really all about your sense of taste.
Here are other southern recipes.
Southern Green Beans with Smoked Turkey
Ingredients
- 2 lb Green Beans
- 1 Turkey Leg Pre-Smoked
- 2 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 2 Russet Potatoes chopped(Medium)
- 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Chicken Bouillon
- 1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning
- 1/2 Sweet Onion Chopped
- 2 Slices Bacon Fried
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
- Wrap your smoked Turkey legs in aluminum foil and place them in a preheated oven of 400 degrees for 3 hours1 Turkey Leg
- Remove your smoked Turkey legs from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- Next, remove the meat from the bone and place in a bowl then sit to the side.
- Grab a stock pot and place on a medium high temperature.
- Add in your bacon and allow to cook until done
- To the same pot add in your chopped potatoes, onions, green beans, minced garlic, smoked Turkey legs, chicken broth and seasonings then stir well.2 lb Green Beans, 2 Cups Chicken Broth, 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic, 2 Russet Potatoes, 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Chicken Bouillon, 1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning, 1/2 Sweet Onion Chopped, 2 Slices Bacon
- Place a lid over the pot and turn the stove to medium-low and allow to simmer for 1 hour.
- Enjoy!
Thanks for the tip about baked the smoked turkey legs. I am going to try that.