Southern Green Beans Recipe
These Easy Southern Style Green Beans are the best thing you’ll make this week! Slow simmered green beans and potatoes are made that much more flavorful using smoked turkey necks in this classic southern recipe!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 115kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 cups water or as needed
- 6 meaty smoked turkey necks or smoked ham hocks
- 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
- 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
- 1 1/2 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
- 1 lb small to medium red or russet potatoes quartered and peeled if using russet
- 2 lbs string beans stemmed and halved crosswise
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large stockpot over high heat, combine the water and turkey necks and bring to a rolling boil. Turn the heat to a low boil, cover and cook for 2 hours.
- After the 2 hours, add more water if needed just to cover the necks, then add the onion, garlic and bouillion powder and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and if you think there needs to be a little salt, add now but I wouldn't go overboard since the liquid will already have some good flavor for sure.
- Add the potatoes and string beans, re-cover, and keep cooking on that low boil until the potatoes get tender and the beens are nice and soft. This takes about 45 minutes. Add the pepper and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Take off heat but leave covered.
- Pull the turkey necks from the broth and set them aside just until they are cool enough to handle. Pull the meat from the necks, discarding the skin and bones, and add the meat back to the broth. If you are using ham hocks, you can simply break them up with a cooking spoon in the pot, or remove them, pull the meat, and add it back into the broth, discard the bones and skin.
- Serve the beans and potatoes in bowls along with some of the broth and meat.
Notes
Fridge: Any leftover southern string beans should be cooled completely and transferred to an airtight container. Tuck the beans away in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: Add to resealable ziptop bags and remove the air. Label and store. They should last about 6 months.
Reheating: Southern-style green beans reheat really well. Place the leftovers in a saucepan set over medium-low heat. Stir frequently and wait for the string beans to come up to your desired temperature. You could also reheat them in a crockpot on low.
Nutrition
Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 487mg | Potassium: 708mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1055IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2mg