If you’re looking for a delicious and budget-friendly meat option, turkey tails can be your best bet. They are savoury, delicious, and above all, take a few minutes of preparation time. Smoked turkey tails recipe are a great instant snack. They are easy to prepare and taste great. Here we share two quick recipes for turkey tails that are perfect for busting those unpredictable cravings!
How to Make Smoked Turkey Tails With Collard Greens
Step 1: Prepare the Turkey Tails
Cover the pot and cook the tails for 30-35 minutes on medium heat.
As soon as the turkey tails get soft, remove them from the pot.
Step 2: Remove the Meat
You need to remove the meat from the bone.
For that purpose, you can take two folks and remove the meat. Then, set this meat aside on a plate until you prepare the greens.
Step 3: Clean Collard Greens
Even store-bought greens can have traces of dirt on them, and it’s essential to get rid of any sand or dirt.
The best way to wash collard greens is to clean your sink, fill it up with water, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and submerge your collard greens in it.
Make sure that the water is cold; otherwise, your greens will wilt. Let your greens submerge for an hour. After an hour, drain the sink water and rinse them with cold water.
To test whether or not they’re cleaned properly, fill a bowl with water and add your greens to it.
If the water remains clean, it indicates that you washed the greens properly. If it turns murky, you need to repeat the procedure.
Step 4: Cut the Greens
Then, stack a few together, and cut them into small pieces.
Step 5: Cook Collard Greens
Cook the greens for an hour.
Step 6: Add Seasonings and Eat Up!
If you like your food spicy, you can drizzle some hot sauce on the top and enjoy!
Related Recipes
- Smoked Turkey Recipe
- Smoked Lobster Tail Recipe
- Smoked Lobster Recipe
- Smoked Turkey Brine Recipe
- Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe
- Butterball Smoked Turkey Recipe

Smoked Turkey Tails With Collard Greens Recipe
Equipment
- Pot
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 7-8 smoked turkey tails
- 1 small diced onion
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 6 bunches of collard greens
- 4 cups water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp creole seasoning
Instructions
- Add water to a pot and submerge the turkey tails.
- Cover the lid and cook them for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove the meat from the turkey tails with two folks.
- Add all the ingredients (except dry seasoning) in the pot followed by turkey meat and cook for an hour.
- When the greens get tender, add dry seasonings and cook for 20 minutes.
- Drizzle some spicy sauce and enjoy.
How to Make Smoked Turkey Tails With Rice
If you’re not a fan of greens, you can try smoked turkey tails with rice. Here’s an easy yet delicious recipe for smoked turkey tails.
Here are the details:
Step 1 – Saute the Onions
Begin by melting butter in a stockpot. Then add chopped onion, celery, peppers and cook until onions turn soft and translucent.
This process will take no longer than 5 minutes. Make sure you keep the flame on medium heat. You are requested to follow of every steps of smoked turkey tails recipe.
Step 2 – Prepare the Roux
To prepare the roux, you’ll need to add 4 cups of flour. Then, stir the mixture until the roux turns light brown in color.
Now add the chicken stock or broth and mix until the roux gets dissolved into the liquid.
Keep on whipping until the sauce begins to thicken.
Step 3 – Prepare the Smoked Turkey tails.
Before you place smoked turkey tails in the oven, you need to follow two essential steps.
First, you have to preheat your oven to 350°F. Second, you need to marinate the smoked turkey tails, of course.
All you need to do is place the tails in a large roasting pan and add onion powder, garlic powder, and dry thyme into the sauce.
Now pour the sauce over the turkey tails.
Step 4 – Cook the Tails
After marinating the tails, place the roasting pan in your preheated oven. Make sure you cover the pot with aluminum foil or a lid.
Cook the tails for about 2 hours. After the specified time has gone by, uncover the smoked turkey tails and stir them gently.
Then, cover the lid again and cook for another hour. Remove the pan from the oven and spread the tails on white rice.
If you do not like boiled rice, you can go for garlic rice.
Step 5 – Garnish and Enjoy
Lastly, sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on the dish and enjoy.

Smoked Turkey Tails FAQs
What’s the Best Thing About Smoked Turkey Tails Recipe?
You can bake, fry, roast, or smoke them, however, you prefer.
Also, you can try different recipes and play with a range of seasonings. We shared two popular turkey tail recipes in our guide. However, you can also try turkey tails with macaroni shells or prepare sashimi.
Here’s a quick look into both recipes.
Macaroni Shells
Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the turkey tails with chopped onions. Add your favorite seasonings followed by macaroni shells.
Once the macaroni is done, add your favorite greens (spinach or collards) and place them in the oven. Make sure you cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil.
Now bake for about 45 minutes, and there you have it! Delectable turkey legs with macaroni shells.
Sashimi
Dip the tails in boiling water for 7-8 seconds and immediately transfer them to ice-cold water. Now separate the meat from the bone with a fork.
Thinly slice the meat and dip it in soy sauce with a splash of vinegar, sesame seeds, ginger, and minced garlic.
If you’re a sushi lover, I bet you’ll love this recipe!
How to Heat Cooked Turkey Tails?
Then, keep them at room temperature for 20 minutes. After this, preheat the oven to 350°F and place the tails in a pan with some water.
The water will ensure that the tails don’t turn dry. For 3-4 turkey tails, 45 minutes of heating will do. However, 7-8 turkey tails will take longer.
How Long Does It take to Boil Turkey Tails?
Are Turkey Tails Healthy?
Yes, they are delicious and cheap but are full of fat and high in cholesterol. Therefore, eating turkey tails more frequently can lead to obesity.