Smoked turkey tails are so indulgent they’re like the pork belly of the bird. Here’s everything you know about how to smoke them.
Turkey tails are an underrated and often discarded part of the bird that actually offers a unique culinary experience. With their rich, meaty flavor and versatility, turkey tails deserve a place in your kitchen Here are 9 delicious ways to make the most of this tasty cut of meat
What Are Turkey Tails?
Turkey tails are the tailbone of the turkey, attached to a small piece of fatty, flavorful dark meat They are commonly removed and discarded during processing However, turkey tails have a long history in Southern cuisine where they are prized for their bold taste.
The meat on the turkey tail contains a high percentage of fat, giving it a tender and juicy quality when cooked. Many compare it to pork belly in texture. The skin crisps up nicely when smoked or fried too.
Boiling Turkey Tails
One of the simplest cooking methods for turkey tails is boiling. Simply cover the tails with water season with your favorite herbs and spices and gently simmer until fully cooked and tender. The low, moist heat from boiling makes the meat super tender while keeping all the juices locked in.
Boiled turkey tails pair nicely with vegetables, grains and traditional Southern sides like collard greens. Try boiling them with aromatics like garlic, onions, and bay leaves for extra flavor.
Roasting Turkey Tails
Roasting turkey tails in the oven yields crispy, golden brown skin covering tender and succulent meat inside. Season them generously with spices or rubs before placing them on a sheet pan lined with foil or parchment paper.
Roast at 400°F, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. The high heat helps render the fat and crisp the skin beautifully. Chop up roasted turkey tails to add richness and depth to dishes like dirty rice, sandwiches, tacos and more.
Frying Turkey Tails
For an indulgent, crispy treat, fry up some turkey tails. After seasoning the tails, dredge them in an egg wash followed by flour, cornmeal or panko breadcrumbs. Deep fry at 350°F until golden brown and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
Fried turkey tails make a crave-worthy snack, appetizer or topping for Southern comfort food. Try them on top of greens, beans, mashed potatoes or mac and cheese.
Smoking Turkey Tails
Smoking brings out incredible flavors in turkey tails. Rub the tails with spices and brown sugar before cooking them slowly over indirect heat for 2-3 hours, until fork-tender. Apple, cherry, pecan and hickory wood chips infuse irresistible smoky notes.
Chop up smoked turkey tails to make carnitas-style tacos, pile them on sandwiches or enjoy them whole with your favorite barbecue sides.
Braising Turkey Tails
For fall-off-the-bone tender turkey tails, try braising them in broth or tomato sauce. Brown the seasoned tails first to develop flavor before adding your braising liquid of choice.
Cook covered at a low simmer until extremely tender. The braising liquid becomes a delicious sauce or gravy for serving. Mix braised turkey tails into bean dishes, pile them on cheesy grits or serve over creamy polenta.
Making Turkey Tail Stock
Simmer turkey tails in water with vegetables, herbs and spices to produce a rich and flavorful turkey stock perfect for soups, stews, gravies and more.
After straining, you can pick any remaining meat off the tails and use it for chicken salad sandwiches, turkey tetrazzini or turkey pot pie. Don’t let anything go to waste!
Grilling Turkey Tails
The high, dry heat of the grill helps render fat while imparting delicious char. Prepare an indirect fire with a cooler side to cook the tails low and slow. Use a sweet glaze or barbecue sauce near the end to caramelize the skin.
Chop up grilled turkey tails to top loaded baked potatoes, nachos or chili.
Turkey Tail Stir Fry
Turkey tails work great in flavorful stir fry recipes too. Simmer and shred the meat before tossing it with crisp veggies and a savory sauce in a hot wok. Turkey tails match well with classic stir fry flavors like ginger, garlic and hoisin sauce.
Serve turkey tail stir fry over rice noodles or steamed rice.
Creative Ways to Use Turkey Tails
Beyond traditional cooking methods, get creative with how you use turkey tails!
-
Make unique turkey tail burgers by grinding and mixing the meat with spices.
-
Chop smoked turkey tails and add to your favorite casserole or soup recipe for extra richness.
-
Stuff peppers, squash or mushrooms with a mixture of turkey tail meat, veggies, cheese and grains.
-
Simmer turkey tails into bean dishes like chili, ham and beans or hoppin’ john.
With their versatility and bold flavor, turkey tails can elevate so many dishes. Don’t toss them out – try these tasty recipe ideas and discover their delicious potential.
How to prepare turkey tails
Let’s take a closer look at the turkey tail. It’s kind of an odd looking piece of meat.
The first thing that stands out are the pieces sticking out of the sides. These are the feather shafts. Most of the time they’re fully removed, but you might find a piece or two with a few left inside.
The easiest way to remove these is to take a small piece of a paper towel and then grip them and give them a pull. They’ll pop right out.
Turkey tails also have a gland attached to them, but fortunately those are removed during processing before they reach your grocery store.
If you happen to be buying turkey tails from a local farmer, be sure to ask them to remove that part. It can cause the meat to have a tainted taste.
This step is optional, but because I wasn’t familiar with the taste of turkey tails, I decided to give them a quick marinade in vinegar, water, garlic and turkey rub.
This is a tip I learned from my husband’s grandpa. He always used this marinade with chicken wings, and they were awesome.
Place them in a zip-top bag and keep them refrigerated for about an hour. You can go a little longer, but I wouldn’t go past 4 hours. Otherwise, the meat will start to get chewy.
This is a great time to light the grill.
After they’re marinated, remove them from the bag and pat them dry with paper towels.
The meat has been seasoned on the inside – thanks to the marinade. Now, it’s time to season the outside.
My turkey rub recipe works great for these, as does my Chicken Rub from Spiceology. Feel free to use your favorite poultry blend or just some simple salt, pepper and garlic.
The temperature for smoking turkey tails
When setting up your grill, shoot for a grill temperature of 250-275F degrees with an indirect zone.
At this temperature, the turkey tails will take about 2 1/2 hours to smoke.
If your temperature is lower (say around 225F degrees), they’ll take longer and the skin may not get as crispy.
You can speed up the process by raising the temp to 300F, but I haven’t tried cooking them hotter than that, because we’re smoking them, not grilling them.
Turkey tails – and what to do with them.
FAQ
What do I do with turkey tails?
Are turkey tails good eating?
What does turkey tails taste like?