Smoked Turkey Necks

Tender, flavor-packed, fall-off-the-bone turkey goes beautifully with all the Southern fixins for a non-traditionally traditional holiday meal. Turkey necks are totally underrated but great on their own. And they add loads of flavor to your favorite stews, soups, and veggies.

Course dinner, Main

Cuisine American, Southern

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 3

Marinate Time 12

Total Time 15 5

Servings

Calories 271kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

2-3 pounds turkey necks
Salt and pepper
3-4 tablespoons virgin olive oil
2-3 tablespoons red vinegar
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
1-2 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

Remove turkey neck from packaging, and pat dry with a clean paper towel to remove any excess liquid. Place in a large bowl.
Mix olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Pour the marinade over the turkey necks and mix until the turkey necks are fully covered in marinade. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let them marinate in the fridge until ready to use. You can do this a day ahead and marinate them for up to 24 hours.
When ready to smoke, add your choice of wood or pellets to the smoker and preheat it to 250℉/120℃.
Place turkey necks directly on the smoker racks, cover, and smoke for 2-4 hours, moving them around for even cooking. (Some parts of the smoker are hotter than others, so use your best judgment.) Smoke until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165℉/74℃.
When ready, remove them from the smoker and let them rest for about five minutes. Then add them to make soups or stews or brush them with BBQ sauce and serve warm with a side of veggies and potatoes.

Notes

Sometimes some parts of the smoker get hotter than other parts. That's why you move the necks around occasionally as they cook. You know your smoker, so just use your best judgment here.
The necks are cooked when a meat thermometer shows 165℉/75℃.
Most of the time, turkey necks come packaged whole. You can cut them into smaller pieces before marinating or leave them whole, whatever you prefer.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition