Smoked Turkey Necks: Tender, flavorful, fall-off-the-bone turkey goes well with all the Southern sides for a holiday meal that isn’t your typical fare. Turkey necks are totally underrated but great on their own. And they add loads of flavor to your favorite stews, soups, and veggies. .
If you are a fan of no-waste cooking, this recipe has your name all over it. Even if you aren’t, you might be surprised at how good this part of the turkey that you don’t usually eat tastes when it’s cooked right.
My family wasn’t sure either, but as soon as they tried these smoked beauties, they were sure that turkey necks should be considered soul food. Give this amazing recipe a try, and I guarantee you’ll never throw a turkey neck out again. In fact, you’ll probably find yourself adding turkey necks to your grocery list on the regular.
Smoked turkey necks are a delicious Southern specialty When prepared properly, they become fall-off-the-bone tender with a wonderful smoky essence The rich, savory flavor of smoked turkey necks pairs perfectly with stews, greens, beans, pasta, and more. But you don’t need an actual smoker to achieve great results. With a few simple techniques, you can learn how to smoke turkey necks right in your oven or grill for finger-licking good flavor.
Why Smoke Turkey Necks?
There are several advantages to smoking turkey necks rather than cooking them using other methods:
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Smoking allows flavorful smoke to completely permeate the meat, infusing it with a sweet, wood-fired taste. This adds incredible depth of flavor.
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The low, slow smoking process tenderizes tough turkey neck meat, resulting in succulent meat that easily pulls right off the bone.
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Smoking enhances and deepens the savory umami flavors already present in turkey necks
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Smoked turkey necks make delicious additions to soups, stews, greens, beans, grains, and more, bringing a smoky essence.
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Turkey necks can be smoked whole for use in recipes or chopped/shredded to use as a meaty garnish.
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Smoked turkey necks are great as an appetizer on their own, lightly seasoned or paired with barbecue sauce for dipping
How to Smoke Turkey Necks Without a Smoker
You don’t need fancy smoking equipment to make deliciously smoky turkey necks at home. Two easy methods for smoking turkey necks without a traditional smoker include using your oven or grill.
Oven Smoking Method
Things you’ll need:
- Raw turkey necks, rinsed and patted dry
- Wood chips – apple, hickory, cherry, etc.
- Foil or parchment paper
- Roasting pan
- Spices and seasonings
Steps:
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Soak wood chips in water for 30 mins to an hour. Drain well.
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Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a roasting pan with foil.
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Place drained wood chips in bottom of pan. Add roast rack. Arrange necks on rack.
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Season necks with spices like paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Roast for 2-3 hours until fork tender, adding more wood chips as needed.
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Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
Grill Smoking Method
You’ll need:
- Raw turkey necks, rinsed and patted dry
- Drained wood chips
- Foil pouch
- Tongs
- Spices and seasonings
Steps:
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Soak wood chips in water for 30 mins to an hour. Drain well.
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Prepare grill for low indirect cooking on one side.
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Place drained wood chips in a foil pouch. Poke holes in pouch. Place on hot side.
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Arrange turkey necks over indirect heat, as far from wood chips as possible.
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Grill with lid closed for 1-2 hours until 165°F, adding more wood chips as needed.
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Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
Tips for Maximum Smoky Flavor
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Combine smoking methods. Soak necks in liquid smoke brine before smoking.
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Use a lower temperature (200-225°F) for a longer time to let smoke fully permeate.
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Look for necks with skin/fat for added moisture and flavor.
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Apply a dry spice rub before smoking.
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Use fruit wood chips like apple, cherry, or pecan for milder smoke flavor.
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Allow smoked necks to rest before chopping or shredding.
Serving Suggestions
Smoked turkey necks are extremely versatile. Here are some tasty ways to serve them:
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Chopped/shredded in soups, stews, chilis, and chowders
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Mixed into cooked rice, quinoa, or grits
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Added to cooked greens like collards, mustard, or turnip greens
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Mixed into potato, pasta, or grain salads
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Served over roasted vegetables or black eyed peas
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On their own as an appetizer, topped with barbecue sauce
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Used in sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and more
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Added to canned beans like pinto or black beans
So next time you’re looking for a way to infuse rich, smoky flavor into a dish, try smoking some turkey necks using your oven or grill. With just a little effort, you can enjoy juicy, tender smoked turkey necks without investing in special equipment. Get creative with different wood chips, rubs, and serving suggestions. Your tastebuds will thank you!
Serving and Storage Instructions
After taking the turkey necks out of the smoker, let them rest for about five minutes. Then, serve them hot with any Southern sides you like. (Don’t forget the hot sauce. ) .
Store leftover turkey necks in an airtight container. You can either refrigerate them for 3-5 days or freeze them for three months.
To warm up smoked turkey necks again, put them in the microwave or air fryer for a few minutes. You can also plop them into soups or stews as you cook. You can let them thaw in the fridge overnight or add them right to your stew or soup and cook them until they are hot.
Good question. If you buy already smoked turkey necks, then yes, they are cooked. For this recipe, you need raw turkey necks, and you’ll do the smoking to cook them.
You can rinse the turkey necks with water and cut off any extra membrane if they look like they need to be cleaned. Be careful when cutting membrane off wet necks, though – they can be slippery. And pat them dry before you marinate them.
Although turkey necks have a fair amount of fat, it’s not too much since turkey is a leaner meat than most others.
Reasons I Love Smoking Turkey Necks
The first reason is that turkey necks taste great and add a lot of flavor to any dish. That alone makes them a strong choice. Still, there are other good reasons to fall in love. They’re actually nutritious and have way more meat on them than chicken or pork neck bones. Turkey necks, in my opinion, are a fabulous gem in Southern cooking so let’s get cooking! .
- Turkey Necks—Of course, you need these to start this tasty recipe. It’s enough to have one package with two pounds of meat.
- For the turkey neck marinade, you’ll need Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, oil and vinegar, and some good ole S
The ONLY Way to Make Mouth Watering Smoked Turkey Necks
FAQ
Can you smoke a turkey in the oven?
What is a good substitute for smoked turkey?
Is smoked turkey neck already cooked?
How do you smoke a turkey neck?
Learn to smoke turkey necks so they are tender and fall off the bone. Clean and prep your turkey necks. Mix olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.cy. Then just let the necks marinate in the overnight. Go ahead and preheat your smoker at 250°F. Make sure to close the lid of the smoker.
Should turkey necks be smoked before cooking?
You’ll find that the majority of recipes for turkey necks call for the meat to be smoked beforehand. While it’s possible to buy smoked turkey necks commercially, we prefer to take care of that step ourselves. That way, we can control the amount of smoke flavor that we get. It also helps us to ensure that the meat is of the highest possible quality.
What goes well with smoked turkey necks?
For example, smoked turkey necks pair really well with Texas sides dishes like southern-style collard greens and nicely roasted potatoes. Or see the what sides go with turkeys necks here. See our 7 super simple steps below for smoked turkey neck.
Do turkey necks have meat on them?
Even if you’ve never cooked turkey necks before, you’ve probably noticed that they have plenty of meat on them. In fact, you don’t have to wait until next Thanksgiving to obtain one. Most butcher shops will have plenty of meaty turkey necks on hand. If they don’t, you can ask them to place a special order for you.
Should you buy turkey necks from a butcher?
Most butcher shops will have plenty of meaty turkey necks on hand. If they don’t, you can ask them to place a special order for you. Like the rest of the dark meat, turkey necks are rich and succulent. When they’ve been cooked properly, they’re fall-off-the bone tender—the ideal comfort food for a chilly day.
How do you marinate a turkey neck?
Place the cleaned turkey necks in a shallow glass roasting pan and cover with the marinade. Refrigerate until the smoker has reached the proper temperature. Tip: If time allows, leave the turkey necks in the marinade overnight. The extra time will allow the mixture to fully permeate the meat, contributing to a more intense flavor.