Neither ham nor bacon: the smoked meat that makes beans more substantial and comforting

Nothing beats a warm bowl of beans on a cold day. Perfect for outdoor gatherings, beans and meat are a hearty dish that everyone loves and is packed with protein. But when it comes to protein, we're skipping the pork this season. The tastiest ingredient for classic beans isn't ham or bacon, but smoked turkey. As it cooks, all the smoky flavor of the turkey infuses the beans as they hydrate, giving the dish a more subtle depth and a less salty taste. After all, it's the star ingredient in our smoked turkey chili recipe.

To make smoked turkey-flavored beans, combine your choice of dried beans (washed and rinsed) with your usual slow cooker bean ingredients. Depending on your preference, you can include chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, kale, paprika, thyme, butter, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and more. Then, add a couple of smoked turkey thighs, cover the slow cooker, and let it cook slowly. Leaving the bone intact allows the collagen and bone marrow to slowly release under the slow cooker's gentle, moist heat, giving the beans an even more delicious flavor. When serving, simply pick up the still-warm thigh with tongs; the meat will likely fall right off the bone.

The smoked turkey gives the beans a dimension of intense flavor without being overly salty.

For specific instructions on how to smoke a perfectly juicy and delicious turkey, you can take inspiration from our recipe for Smoked Turkey with Spiced Pomegranate Glaze. If you omit the glaze, you'll have a versatile smoked meat that you can incorporate into countless recipes, including all your favorite bean dishes. This upgraded version of beans can be an economical way to use up any leftover smoked turkey you have in the refrigerator or freezer. Or, for an even quicker prep, store-bought smoked turkey works perfectly well too and won't cost you a fortune. These pre-smoked thighs are already bursting with complex flavor, no need to fire up the smoker; simply heat them to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to enjoy.

Food lovers can also substitute smoked turkey for bacon in their favorite bean recipes. Try using smoked turkey in our Ham and Herb Bean Soup recipe, which takes only 10 minutes to prepare. Rosemary, thyme, leeks, garlic, and creamy Great Northern beans provide an aromatic and textured base that enhances the flavor of the smoked turkey. You can also incorporate tender pieces of smoked turkey into a steaming pot of homemade baked beans or even use them to add a special touch to canned baked beans. Leftovers keep beautifully, especially when served with warm cornbread or honey-buttered crackers.