Learn how to make some delicious fall-off-the-bone smoked turkey necks. The meat is slowly cooked until completely tender and definitely worth the wait. Go on and impress your family or guests with this super easy recipe for the holidays.
My family are big fans of both oxtail and turkey neck. While oxtail can be very pricey, turkey neck is the cheaper equivalent.
Many people frown at the thought of eating turkey neck BUT in my humble opinion, it is very underrated.
We usually play it safe when serving turkey neck, by that I mean we tend to just stew it and use the meat and bones to make stock or serve it in soup.
When I made this for my family, there were taken back by the smokey flavour along with the tenderness.
It was like eating oxtail, except that it wasnt, I must admit, even I surprised myself with just how delicious smoked turkey necks actually tastes.
Its more fun that smoke it yourself, plus you have better control over just how “smokey” the meat will be.
I thought the results would be underwhelming, however, it was far from that. Which is why I just had to share the recipe with my readers.
I dont have an outdoor smoker, I use an eletrical one that I can just plug in and use indoors and it yields the same results.
Dont worry its NOT a Presto electrical smoker as I know there was some controversy centred around it being recalled.
Smoking turkey necks is a great way to impart delicious smoky flavor into the meat while also making it incredibly tender. But getting the perfect texture and taste requires smoking the necks for the right amount of time. Undercook them and they’ll be too tough. Smoke them for too long and they’ll dry out. So how long should you smoke turkey necks? Let’s take a look.
Why Smoke Turkey Necks?
Before we get into cook times, it helps to understand why you’d want to smoke turkey necks in the first place. Here are some of the benefits:
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Turkey necks have a good amount of meat on them compared to other poultry necks You get plenty of tasty smoked meat to enjoy,
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The meat takes on a rich, dark flavor when smoked, similar to smoked turkey legs or wings.
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Smoking helps tenderize the meat so it becomes fall-off-the-bone succulent and moist,
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Adds lots of smoky flavor that can enhance soups, stews, vegetables, and more dishes.
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Provides a tasty way to cook turkey beyond just roasting a whole bird.
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Utilizes a flavorful cut of meat that often gets discarded or overlooked.
General Smoking Guidelines
When smoking turkey necks, follow these general guidelines for best results:
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Brine or marinate the necks before smoking. This helps keep the lean meat moist and infuses flavor. A simple salt, sugar, and aromatic brine works great.
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Use a low smoking temperature, between 225-250°F. High heat can cause the necks to dry out. Low, indirect heat is ideal.
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Choose fruit woods like apple, cherry, or peach for a nice mild complement to poultry.
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Smoke the necks until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. This ensures the meat is fully cooked for food safety.
How Long to Smoke Turkey Necks
The exact smoking time can vary quite a bit based on a few factors:
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Size of the necks – Whole necks take longer than cut pieces.
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Thickness of meat – Meatier necks require more time than skinnier ones.
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Smoking temperature – Lower heat means longer cooking time.
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Type of smoker – Different smokers work at different rates.
So there’s no universal time that works perfectly for all scenarios. But here are some general time ranges you can expect when smoking turkey necks:
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2-4 hours for bone-in smoked turkey neck pieces at 225-250°F.
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3-5 hours for whole turkey necks at 225-250°F.
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6-8 hours for whole necks when smoking “low and slow” between 180-220°F.
The best way to ensure they turn out perfectly cooked is to use an instant read thermometer. After a few hours, check the internal temp in the thickest part of the meat. Once it hits 165°F, the necks are done.
For smaller neck pieces, start checking after 2 hours. With whole necks or larger pieces, wait at least 3 hours for the first temperature reading.
Tips for Perfectly Smoked Turkey Necks
Follow these tips for getting the best results when smoking turkey necks:
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Apply a dry rub in addition to the wet marinade for extra flavor.
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Put a disposable pan filled with water in the smoker to provide humidity.
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Rotate the necks periodically so the meat cooks evenly.
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Let the smoked necks rest 10-15 minutes before serving.
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Slice whole necks before serving so the meat pulls off easier.
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Use the smoked necks in soups, stews, vegetables, pot pies, and more.
When smoked properly for the right amount of time, the turkey necks become fork tender and take on an incredible smoky essence. Use the guidelines above to smoke your necks low and slow for maximum taste and texture. Then enjoy these underrated turkey pieces in all sorts of mouthwatering ways.
how long to smoke turkey necks: 11
smoke turkey necks: 9
turkey necks: 18
smoking: 8
smoked turkey necks: 5
meat: 5
smoke: 4
internal temperature: 3
tender: 3
flavor: 3
temperature: 3
time: 3
taste: 2
texture: 2
delicious: 2
cooked: 2
smoker: 2
pieces: 2
hours: 2
Reasons to make this recipe
- It is a cheap/budget friendly choice of meat
- It is cheaper than oxtail yet tastes just as good
- A perfect choice to use during the holiday season
- Totally underrated
- The meat is very juicy and flavoursome
- You can serve this as a side dish or serve along with a main course
Preparing your turkey neck
Similar to oxtail, turkey requires a few hours to cook.
If you know how to prepare your turkey neck and cook it properly then the results will be very juicy, tasty with a sweet smokiness to it.
Just like any other meat recipe, I adhere to my own Caribbean customs, which is to thoroughly clean the meat before applying the marinade.
The marinade has a little kick to it, thanks to the use of the hot sauce. I personally like to leave the meat to marinate for at least a few hours or overnight or Im not in a hurry.
It depends on my schedule but a few hours at the minimum is recommended for the ingredients to penetrate the meat.
As I mentioned earlier any type of smoker will do for this recipe, be it an outdoor or indoor one. The main thing is to achieve that smokey flavour.
You definitely dont want to rush this process, so finding the right temperture is important.
It the temperature is too high it wont cook properly and the texture will be too tough and if its too low, the meat will take forever to actually cook.
You definitely, want to keep an eye on the turkey neck, as once it has cooked through, you should remove it from the smoker straight away.
I like to accompany the turkey neck with some gravy made from the drippings leftover in the smoker.
You should have enough liquid to make roughly one cups worth.
It also doubles up as some dipping sauce, depending on how you intend to serve your turkey necks.
- Place the turkey necks in a large bowl or zip lock bag.
- Mix the olive oil, browning sauce, soy(a) sauce, hot sauce, all purpose seasoning, brown sugar, onion granules, garlic granules, thyme, shado beni, black pepper and pink salt in a small bowl.
- Do a taste test of the rub before adding it to the turkey neck to ensure that there is enough pink salt and adjust accordingly.
- Drizzle and coat the meat with the wet rub and leave to marinate or several hours or overnight (if you are using a zip lock bag be sure to secure it).
- Preheat the smoker to 248F/120C and prepare your wood chips (I used apple wood).
- Remove the turkey necks from the marinade and place them on the smoker racks (being careful not to overcrowd).
- Smoke the turkey necks for approximately 2 hours, check them frequently and rotate them if necessary to ensure even cooking. You will want to smoke the meat until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F/74C (a themometer can determine its readiness).
- Once cooked, leave the turkey neck to rest.
- While it is resting, prepare the gravy, in a medium sized saucepan, on medium heat, add the turkey stock, tomato paste, drippings from the turkey neck and thyme.
- Stir until a thick-ish gravy is formed (this should take several minutes).
- Do a taste test and add pink salt and black pepper if needed.
- Add the turkey neck to the saucepan (this is an optional step) and coat with the gravy.
- Alternatively, you can skip the above step and serve the gravy on the side as a dipping sauce.
- Serve accordingly.
- For best results, eat the turkey neck immediately.
- If you need to re-heat, wrap the meat, tightly in foil and place in the oven to heat through.
- If you are using store bought browning sauce then use no more than 1 teaspoon.
- Here are the links to the Browning Sauce, the All Purpose Seasoning and Hot Sauce recipe.
- Any leftovers should be refrigerated and eaten within 3 days.
- If you cannot get onion/garlic granules use the powdered version instead.
- Make sure the meat is cooked through, if it is your first time smoking turkey necks then use a thermometer to ensure its readiness.
- If you cannot get hold of any shado beni then use coriander instead.
- Make sure to do a taste test of the marinade before applying it to the meat.
- You can use dried thyme instead.
- Make sure the turkey neck is thoroughly washed and blotted dry before starting the recipe.
- You can use either an indoor or outdoor smoker to make this recipe.
- I used apple wood chips but you may want to use another flavoured wood chip(s).
The ONLY Way to Make Mouth Watering Smoked Turkey Necks
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a turkey at 225?
Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F.
How long does it take for turkey necks to get done?
Turkey necks take at least 2 hours to boil. Longer simmering times, up to 3 or 4 hours, can result in more tender and flavorful meat.Jan 6, 2024
Can you smoke a turkey in 3 hours?
Cooking time depends how hot you can get your smoker. There is no need to smoke low and slow and higher heat will give you less rubbery skin. If you are smoking a whole 10-12 lb bird at 325-350 it will take 2.5-3 hrs. If you smoke a whole 10-12 lb bird at 225-250, it may take 5-6 hours.
Do you wash smoked turkey necks?
You don’t need to wash smoked turkey necks. You may want to cut turkey necks into chunks for easier handling. You should warn those eating it to watch for bones. But it usually turns out that the meat on the necks comes off the bones and you just dodge the neck bones in the dish.
How long does it take to cook smoked turkey necks?
Then, simmer them in a broth or sauce until they are tender and fully cooked. How long does it take to cook smoked turkey necks on the stove? Cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the turkey necks, but typically, it takes about 1 to 1 ½ hours to cook them on the stove.
What temperature should turkey necks be smoked?
You should smoke your turkey necks at 250°F. How Long Does it Take For Turkey Necks to Cook? You want the internal temperature of the turkey neck reaches 165°F, this takes around 2-4 hours. What Side to Have With Smoked Turkey Necks?
Can smoked turkey necks be cooked?
Yes, smoked turkey necks can be used in various dishes. They can add rich flavor to soups, stews, collard greens, and other braised dishes. You can also use the cooked meat in sandwiches or shred it and incorporate it into salads. Can I cook smoked turkey necks on high heat to reduce the cooking time?
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.
How long does it take to cook a turkey neck?
Cover the pot and let the mixture simmer gently for about 1 to 1.5 hours. This slow cooking process will allow the flavors to meld together and the turkey necks to become tender. 8. Serve and enjoy Once the turkey necks are tender and the flavors have developed, remove the bay leaves and discard them.
How do you cook smoked turkey necks in a Dutch oven?
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some oil or butter over medium heat. Add the diced onions, celery, and carrots, and cook until they start to soften and become fragrant. This will create a flavorful base for your dish. 4. Add the turkey necks Once the vegetables are cooked, add the smoked turkey necks to the pot.