Not Ham, Not Bacon: The Smoked Meat That Makes Beans Twice As Hearty And Comforting
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Nothing says "cold weather comfort food" like a warm bowl of beans. Perfect for tailgates and outdoor potlucks, meat and beans are a hearty crowd pleaser packed with protein, to boot. But, when it comes to that protein element, we're skipping the pork this season. The most flavorful meaty addition to classic beans isn't that oft-turned-to ham or bacon — it's smoked turkey. As it cooks, all of the turkey's savory, smoky flavor soaks into the beans as they hydrate, giving the dish a subtler depth with less saltiness. It's the star of our smoky turkey chili recipe, after all.
To make smoked turkey-infused beans, combine your choice of dried beans (washed and rinsed) with your usual array of slow cooker bean accouterments. Depending on your taste preference, this could include any combination of diced onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, collard greens, paprika, thyme, butter, apple cider vinegar, chicken bouillon, and more. Then, top the whole array with a couple smoked turkey legs, pop on the lid, and let the slow cooker do its thing. Leaving the bone intact in those turkey legs will slowly release the tender collagen and bone marrow under the low, slow, and moist heat of the cooker, creating an even more luscious flavor for your beans. When serving time comes, just pick up the still-hot drumstick using a pair of tongs — the meat will likely fall right off the bone.
Smoked turkey gives beans ultra-savory dimensionality without the salty overkill
For specific directions on how to smoke the perfectly succulent, mouthwatering turkey, feel free to take a cue from our smoked turkey with mulled pomegranate glaze recipe. If you skip the glaze, you'll end up with versatile smoky meat that can be incorporated in myriad recipes — including all of your go-to bean dishes. This bean upgrade can even be a thrifty way to use up any leftover smoked turkey that may be waiting in your fridge or stocked in your freezer. Or, for even quicker prep, store-bought smoked turkey totally works as well, and it won't break the budget. At Walmart, a 32-ounce tray of Royal Premium Quality Smoked Whole Turkey Drums currently costs $8.94. These pre-smoked drumsticks are already packed with savory, dimensional flavor, without any need to fire up the smoker — simply heat 'em to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to enjoy.
Foodies can substitute smoked turkey for bacon in their other go-to bean recipes as well. Try swapping in smoked turkey in our herby ham and bean soup recipe, which requires just 10 minutes of hands-on prep time. The rosemary, thyme, leeks, garlic, and creamy Great Northern beans provide a toothy, aromatic base to make that smoked turkey shine. Tender chunks of smoked turkey can also be folded into a steaming pot of homemade baked beans or even used to zhuzh up canned baked beans on the stove. Leftovers hold up well, too, especially when served with a side of warm cornbread or honey-buttered biscuits.
@maeshomesweethome CROCKPOT 15 BEAN SOUP WITH SMOKED TURKEY & GREENS | Inspo: @Good Vibes Cooking @Maddie 🥐🫐 Ingredients * 1 bag 15-bean soup mix + seasoning packet (washed and rinsed) * 2 smoked turkey legs * 1 onion, diced * 1 green bell pepper, diced * 2 celery stalks, diced * 4 garlic cloves, minced * 1 1/2 bunch collard greens (washed and stems removed) * 10 cups water * 1 tsp each: @Tony Chachere's creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper & chicken bouillon * ½ tsp smoked paprika * 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar * 1 thyme sprig * 1 stick butter Directions Add everything to @Crock-Pot . Cook LOW 8 hours. Stir gently, remove bones and thyme and serve with cornbread.