Whenever I cook collard greens, green beans, or stovetop cabbage, I add smoked meat for extra flavor — smoked turkey tails, ham hocks, or neck bones. So my fondness for turkey tails comes naturally.
This baked, smothered smoked turkey tails recipe is simple, flavorful, and destined to become a dinner staple in your home. It’s straightforward to make and comfort-food satisfying. Give it a try.
What makes this a good recipe?
- Easy to make: The process is uncomplicated: clean the turkey tails, chop the vegetables, mix a flour-and-broth slurry, assemble in a baking dish, and bake. You won’t be sweating over the stove.
- Delicious: Tender, smoky turkey tails braised in a savory gravy are hard to resist. The rich, fatty flavor of the tails makes the dish especially tasty.
- Comfort food: This is hearty, warming fare — ideal for chilly evenings when you want something filling and soul-satisfying.
How this recipe came about
One evening I needed to prepare dinner at the last minute and the freezer didn’t have much — only pork chops (I wasn’t in the mood) and smoked turkey tails. I’d always used turkey tails to flavor collards, but I wanted to make them the main attraction.
I knew their richness would stand up well to a gravy, and I like adding onions and green peppers to gravy, so I included those plus some celery. I started with basic seasonings — salt, garlic powder, and black pepper — and refined the blend as I tested the recipe.
I baked the tails with the gravy and they turned out great. After a few tweaks I shared the method on my YouTube channel and viewers loved it. Below is a photo of the finished dish.
Baked Smothered Smoked Turkey Tails — a fresh idea
Serving smoked turkey tails as a main dish isn’t common, which makes this recipe feel new to many people. It’s a simple way to elevate an ingredient often used just for seasoning into the centerpiece of a comforting meal.
Baked Smothered Smoked Turkey Tails Video
Temperature and cooking time
- Baking time and temperature: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Total cook time is about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- How to get them tender: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours to tenderize the meat. Then uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes to brown the turkey and thicken the gravy.
What to serve with smoked turkey tails
- White rice: A classic pairing — the rice soaks up the rich gravy.
- Egg noodles: Noodles smothered in gravy are an excellent match.
- Mashed potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes and gravy are a comforting combination.
- Collard greens: Collards seasoned with turkey tails complement this dish well.
- Spinach: Sautéed spinach pairs nicely with the savory flavors.
- Sweet corn: A touch of sweetness balances the savory gravy.
Storage and reheating
- Storage: Refrigerate leftover turkey tails in a sealed container. Keep them tightly covered and consume within a few days.
- Reheat in the oven: Wrap in aluminum foil and warm at 350°F until heated through.
- Reheat in the microwave: Place in a microwave-safe dish and heat for about 3 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Reheat the gravy: Spoon the gravy into a skillet, add a splash of water or broth, and simmer while whisking until smooth and hot.
That’s it for now. If you try this recipe, please like, share, and leave a comment to let me know how it turned out. Enjoy!
Baked Smothered Smoked Turkey Tails Recipe
- Author: PhillyboyJay
- Prep Time: 15 Mins
- Cook Time: 2Hr 30 Mins
- Total Time: 2 Hr 45 Mins
- Yield: 4
- Category: Soul Food
- Method: American
- Cuisine: Soul Food
Description
Tender, juicy smoked turkey tails smothered in a savory gravy with onions, celery, and peppers — a perfect comfort dish for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs smoked turkey tails
- 1/2 cup onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
- 1/3 cup celery, chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 chicken-flavor bouillon cubes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Soak and clean the turkey tails, then rinse thoroughly.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Chop the onions, green peppers, and celery into small pieces.
- Whisk the chicken broth and flour together to make a smooth slurry for the gravy.
- Place the turkey tails in a baking dish.
- Add the chopped onions, peppers, and celery over the turkey tails.
- Sprinkle in the seasonings, then pour the slurry over the contents of the dish.
- Add the butter and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered for 2 hours to tenderize the meat.
- Remove the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes to brown the turkey and thicken the gravy.
