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 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!
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.
How To Make This Recipe
- 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, 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.
- 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!
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Southern Green Beans
Equipment
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.
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