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Pink Owl Kitchen » Recipes » southern recipes » Southern Green Beans

Southern Green Beans

Published: Nov 10, 2022 by Ashley Boyd · This post may contain affiliate links

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Authentic southern-style green beans made with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and plenty of spices cooked until very tender. These green beans are a must-have for Thanksgiving and are so easy to make you can enjoy them anytime!

southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

Southern green beans are loaded with flavor and are super easy to make. Smoked meat gives them the most delicious smoky flavor and cooking them until they are very tender is a must for southern-style green beans.

For more authentic southern recipes to round out your soul food spread, check out our Southern Collard Greens and Southern Candied Yams recipes next!

Table of Contents
  • Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
  • How To Make This Recipe
  • Variations and Substitutions
  • Can I Make This Recipe with Canned Green Beans?
  • What Are The Best Seasonings For Green Beans?
  • What To Serve With Southern Green Beans
  • Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
  • More Southern Recipes You Will Love!
  • 📖 Recipe

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

Measurements and detailed recipe instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Smoked turkey necks. For delicious smoky flavor and richness. You can also use smoked turkey wings, smoked turkey legs, or smoked ham hocks.
  • Chicken stock. For added flavor.
  • Water. Combined with the broth to create the cooking liquid.
  • Fresh green beans. Rinse the beans, snap the ends off, and snap the larger beans in half.
  • Yellow onion. For extra flavor.
  • Fresh garlic. Garlic makes everything better and these green beans are no exception!
  • Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and cracked black pepper. To season the green beans.
southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

How To Make This Recipe

  1. Add the turkey necks to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed stock pot. Pour the chicken broth in along with enough water to just cover the turkey necks. Bring the turkey necks to a boil then lower the heat to medium, cover, and simmer the turkey necks for 2 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, rinse the green beans well, snap the ends off, and snap the larger beans in half.
  3. After 2 hours, add the green beans, onion, garlic, and spices to the pot with the turkey necks and give everything a good stir with a wooden spoon. Cover the pot and simmer the green beans for 40 to 50 minutes, or until very tender.
  4. Remove the turkey necks from the pot, allow them to cool enough to handle, carefully remove the meat from the bones, add the meat back to the pot, and discard the bones. Watch out for tiny bones when removing the meat.
  5. Taste the beans for seasoning and add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
step by step instructions for making southern green beans.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Smoked turkey wings, turkey legs, or ham hocks can be substituted for turkey necks.
  • Southern green beans can also be made with bacon. Brown the bacon in the pot until very crispy, then add the rest of the ingredients and cook the greens beans until tender.
  • Add two tablespoons of butter when the green beans finish cooking for added richness.
southern green beans with smoked turkey in a pot.

Can I Make This Recipe with Canned Green Beans?

While I recommend fresh green beans, you can also make a similar version of this recipe with canned green beans.

Just drain the canned beans and cook them for about 10 minutes versus 40 to 50 minutes. Cook the onion in olive oil until softened before adding it to the pot with the green beans.

southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

What Are The Best Seasonings For Green Beans?

Green beans are a bit bland on their own and need a little help in the flavor department with the addition of spices and herbs.

Just about any seasoning complements green beans well. These are some of my favorite spices and herbs for green beans:

  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Homemade cajun seasoning
  • Homemade blackening seasoning
  • Seasoned salt
  • Chili powder
  • Thyme
  • Oregano
southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

What To Serve With Southern Green Beans

This is the fun part! There are so many dishes that pair well with green beans. Create an unforgettable southern meal by serving southern green beans with some of these dishes:

  • Cajun Smothered Chicken
  • Southern Oven Fried Catfish
  • Southern Baked Spaghetti
  • Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
  • Southern Pecan Pie
  • Buttermilk Cornbread
southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions

These green beans are the perfect make-ahead side dish. They can be made up to two days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Reheat southern green beans on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Leftover green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

southern green beans with smoked turkey in a pot.

More Southern Recipes You Will Love!

  • Best Southern Pecan Pralines
  • Southern Buttermilk Pie
  • Homemade Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
  • Cajun Crawfish Etouffee
  • Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Southern Sweet Potato Pie

📖 Recipe

southern green beans in a white serving bowl on a white wood table.

Southern Green Beans

Ashley Boyd
Authentic southern-style green beans made with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and plenty of spices cooked until very tender. These green beans are a must-have for Thanksgiving and are so easy to make you can enjoy them anytime!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Total Time 3 hours hrs
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prevent your screen from going dark
Servings 6 servings
Calories 204 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound smoked turkey necks
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans
  • 1 medim yellow onion - chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika - or sweet paprika
  • ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt
  • Cracked black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Add the turkey necks to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed stock pot. Pour the chicken broth in along with enough water to just cover the turkey necks. Bring the turkey necks to a boil then lower the heat to medium, cover, and simmer the turkey necks for 2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, rinse the green beans well, snap the ends off, and snap the larger beans in half.
  • After 2 hours, add the green beans, onion, garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper to the pot with the turkey necks and give everything a good stir with a wooden spoon. Cover the pot and simmer the green beans for 40 to 50 minutes, or until very tender.
  • Remove the turkey necks from the pot, allow them to cool enough to handle, carefully remove the meat from the bones, add the meat back to the pot, and discard the bones. Watch out for tiny bones when removing the meat.
  • Taste the beans for seasoning and add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Smoked turkey wings, turkey legs, or ham hocks can be substituted for turkey necks.
  • Southern green beans can also be made with bacon. Brown the bacon in the pot until very crispy, then add the rest of the ingredients and cook the greens beans until tender.
  • Leftover green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.5g | Protein: 24.3g | Fat: 5.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 5.9g | Sugar: 3.2g | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @thepinkowlkitchen on Instagram! And don't forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. GoodWifeMom

    April 19, 2025 at 3:55 pm

    5 stars
    I used frozen fresh greens beans. I probably could have stopped at 30 mins vs the 45 I let the beans cook. I didn't have any garlic, so I used a little more garlic powder. These are delicious! Just found my new go to green bean recipe.

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      April 23, 2025 at 6:20 pm

      I'm so happy you love the green beans recipe! Thank you for the kind comment!

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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I’m Ashley, the wife, mama, and heart behind Pink Owl Kitchen. Cooking brings me so much joy, and I love sharing the comforting Southern flavors that shaped my childhood. My hope is that each recipe fills your home with warmth, love, and the sweet presence of Jesus.

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