The turkey neck and giblets are often overlooked parts of the Thanksgiving bird. Many home cooks simply discard them, not knowing how these turkey scraps can transform leftovers and make delicious gravies, soups, and other dishes. Using the neck and giblets is an easy way to reduce food waste and add more flavor to your Thanksgiving meal.
What Are Turkey Necks and Giblets?
The turkey neck is the long skinny part of the bird that attaches the head to the body. It contains bones cartilage, and some meat.
Giblets refer to the internal organs of the turkey, usually the heart, liver, and gizzard. The giblets are often packaged together in a bag inside the turkey cavity. The liver is smooth and reddish-brown, the heart is cone-shaped and dark red, and the gizzard is round and has an almost sandpaper-like texture on the outside.
Why Use Turkey Necks and Giblets?
The turkey neck and giblets may not look very appetizing, but they impart tremendous flavor. Simmering them makes a rich, concentrated turkey broth perfect for gravy, soup stocks, or stuffing. The cooked giblet meats can also be chopped and added to gravy for extra texture and savoriness.
Using the neck and giblets reduces food waste and helps stretch your Thanksgiving leftovers With just a little extra effort, you can transform scraps into delicious dishes your family will love. It’s a great way to honor the entire bird and make the most of your turkey purchase
Safety Tips
- Always remove the neck and giblets from the turkey cavities before cooking.
- Rinse giblets well under cold running water before using.
- Cook giblets to an internal temperature of 165°F.
12 Creative Ways to Use Turkey Necks and Giblets
1. Make giblet gravy
Simmer giblets in broth or water with aromatics like onion, celery, carrots, and herbs. Use the strained liquid to make a rich gravy, adding chopped giblets at the end for texture. The classic Thanksgiving accompaniment!
2. Flavor stuffing or dressing
Cook giblets in broth, then finely chop and add them to your favorite stuffing or dressing recipe. Adds moisture and turkey flavor.
3. Fortify soup stock
Use necks and giblets to make your Thanksgiving soup even more turkey-rich, Skim any fat before using
4. Make dirty rice
Sauté giblets with onion, celery, and seasonings. Chop and mix into cooked rice with chicken broth. Sprinkle with parsley.
5. Make turkey barley soup
Cook chopped giblets in broth with carrots, onion, celery, and barley. Shred and add turkey meat.
6. Use in jambalaya
Sauté onion, celery, bell pepper, and cut-up giblets. Make classic jambalaya rice with tomatoes, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning.
7. Top turkey tetrazzini
Turkey tetrazzini is a casserole of turkey, mushrooms, pasta, and creamy sauce. Sprinkle chopped giblets on top for extra richness.
8. Make turkey gumbo
Make roux, sauté trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, then simmer with cut-up giblets, okra, broth, and seasonings.
9. Add to turkey salad
Chop giblets finely and add to turkey salad made with chunks of leftover meat, mayo, onion, celery, cranberries, etc.
10. Make turkey noodle soup
Simmer chopped giblets in broth with onion, carrots, celery, herbs, and egg noodles. Shred and add turkey meat just before serving.
11. Make turkey hash
Chop and sauté giblets with leftover turkey, potatoes, onion, celery. Season with sage, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
12. Make turkey topping for baked potato
Chop giblets and mix with chopped turkey, celery, parsley, mayo, salt, and pepper. Top baked potatoes.
The turkey neck and giblets may look unappealing, but they can add tremendous flavor, nutrition, and juiciness to your Thanksgiving leftovers. With a little creativity, you can transform these scraps into rich gravies, flavorful soups and stocks, hearty casseroles, and other delicious dishes. Using the whole bird helps reduce food waste and stretch your holiday meals. This Thanksgiving, don’t discard those necks and giblets – put them to delicious use!
How To Make The Best Giblet Gravy | Dear Test Kitchen
FAQ
What do you use the neck and giblets for?
Is it okay to cook a turkey with the neck and giblets still in it?
What do you do with the giblets in a turkey?
What to do with the turkey neck and giblets besides gravy?
What do you do with Turkey Neck & giblets?
While the turkey cooks, make this for use in gravy, stuffing, or soup. Have you ever removed the neck and giblets from a turkey and wondered what in the world to do with them? Most often they get thrown away.
How long do you cook a turkey neck & giblets?
So while the turkey is roasting the next day, place the neck and giblets into a medium saucepan, cover it with water by about 2 inches, and bring it to a boil. After it boils, reduce the heat to a strong simmer and cook them for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meat is totally cooked through.
How do you cook a turkey neck with thyme?
Add giblets & neck to the saucepan. Place giblets and neck into a saucepan with 2 cups chicken stock and add water to cover the neck and giblets with 2 inches of liquid. Add in seasonings. Add 1 bay leaf, and 2 sprigs of thyme and then simmer on low while the turkey is roasting. Drain drippings.
What are Turkey giblets & neck?
Turkey giblets and neck are a delicious and nutritious way to use up the parts of the turkey that you would otherwise discard. They are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, and they can be cooked in a variety of ways. This guide will show you how to cook turkey giblets and neck so that they are moist, flavorful, and delicious.