Crock-Pot Smoked Neck Bones: Tender, Flavorful, Easy!

how to cook smoked neck bones in crock pot

Smoked neck bones can be cooked in a crock pot in a variety of ways. The cooking time varies from 4 hours on high heat to 24 hours on low heat. Some recipes call for the addition of vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, and celery, while others suggest using dry seasonings, sauces, and vinegar. The neck bones can be cooked with or without broth, and the final dish can be served with rice, beans, or gravy.

Characteristics Values
Type of dish Bone broth
Crockpot temperature Low
Crockpot duration 10 hours
Ingredients Smoked pork neck bones, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke seasoning, soy sauce, French onion soup, pinto beans

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Prepare the neck bones

To prepare the neck bones, start by rinsing the neck bones and patting them dry with a paper towel. You can use pork or beef neck bones, depending on your preference. If you're using smoked neck bones, they will already be quite flavourful, but you can always add more seasoning.

Next, you'll want to trim any excess fat or veins from the neck bones. This step is important to ensure that your final dish is not too greasy. Once the neck bones are trimmed, you can begin to build the flavour by sprinkling them with dry seasonings. Some popular seasoning options include thyme, salt, cayenne pepper, oregano, and garlic powder. You can also add some minced garlic cloves and roughly chopped onions to the mix for extra flavour.

If you're feeling creative, you can make a wet rub by mixing Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke seasoning, soy sauce, and French onion soup in a separate bowl. Apply this mixture generously to the neck bones, ensuring an even coating. At this stage, you can also add some acid to help tenderize the meat and enhance flavour. A splash of vinegar or white wine is a great option, and it won't be detectable in the final dish.

Finally, you can add some vegetables to the crockpot to cook alongside the neck bones. Carrots, celery, and potatoes are all excellent choices that will complement the dish. You can also add beans, such as pinto or black beans, for extra protein and texture.

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Add seasonings and sauces

To add seasonings and sauces to your smoked neck bones in a crock pot, you can start by sprinkling dry seasonings over the neck bones. You can use thyme, salt, cayenne pepper, oregano, and sazon. You can also add some minced garlic and chopped cilantro for extra flavour.

Next, you can mix together a few sauces and liquids to pour over the neck bones. In a bowl, combine Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke seasoning, soy sauce, and French onion soup. You can also add a splash of white wine or vinegar to the mixture, which will help to leach minerals out of the bones and enhance the flavour. If you're making a broth, you can simply cover the neck bones with water.

If you're baking the neck bones, cover them tightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 2.5 hours for 2 lbs of pork neck bone. Baste every half hour and remove the foil towards the end to let them brown.

For a crock pot recipe, simply pour the sauce mixture over the seasoned neck bones, cover with a lid, and cook on low for about 10 hours. The meat will be tender and fall off the bone when it's done.

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Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for smoked neck bones in a crock pot can vary depending on the desired level of doneness and the specific recipe. Here are some general guidelines and tips:

If you are aiming for tender meat that falls off the bone, cooking the neck bones on low heat for an extended period is recommended. One recipe suggests cooking the neck bones in the crock pot on low for about 10 hours. This longer cooking time ensures that the meat becomes tender and easily separates from the bone.

In contrast, if you are in a hurry, you can cook the neck bones on high heat for a shorter duration. For example, one recipe suggests cooking the neck bones in a crock pot on high for approximately 4 hours until the meat is tender.

Additionally, the type of neck bones and their weight can impact the cooking time. For instance, pork neck bones tend to take longer to cook than chicken or beef neck bones. As a reference, one person bakes 2 lbs of pork neck bones in the oven at an unspecified temperature for about 2.5 hours, basting every half hour.

It's worth noting that personal preferences and taste also play a role in determining the cooking time. Some people prefer their bone broth to be strong and gelatinous, which requires a longer cooking time. Others might prefer a milder broth and choose to shorten the cooking time accordingly.

Lastly, the addition of other ingredients and liquids can influence the cooking time. For instance, one recipe that includes potatoes and gravy doesn't specify the total cooking time, but it does mention that the potatoes are added to the crock pot with the neck bones, suggesting that they cook simultaneously.

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What to serve it with

There are several side dishes that go well with smoked neck bones cooked in a crock pot. Here are some ideas:

  • Rice, specifically arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas)
  • Green beans
  • Collared greens
  • Roasted fingerling potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes
  • Butter beans mixed with okra

You could also try serving the crock pot neck bones with some sort of stew or soup, such as a ramen broth or a feijoada-style dish of meat and beans over rice.

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Recipe variations

There are several ways to cook smoked neck bones in a crock pot, and various recipe variations to choose from.

One option is to make a broth by simply covering the neck bones with water and adding vegetables such as onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. You can also add spices like thyme and salt to taste. Let this cook for at least 24 hours for a strong gelatinous stock, tasting and adjusting the seasoning as needed.

Another variation includes adding potatoes to the crock pot with the neck bones. You can also add gravy to this combination for extra flavor. If you're using boneless neck bones, you can partially cook them and then cook them in a wine-based red sauce for about 6 hours.

For a different flavor profile, you can sprinkle dry seasonings over the neck bones, then add a mixture of Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke seasoning, soy sauce, and French onion soup. Cover and cook on low for about 10 hours until the meat is tender.

If you're looking for a side dish to serve with your neck bones, consider rice with pigeon peas (arroz con gandules) or butter beans mixed with okra. You can also serve the neck bones with green beans or pinto beans, removing the bones before adding the beans to the crock pot.

Frequently asked questions

It is recommended to cook smoked neck bones in a crock pot for 7-10 hours on low heat.

You can add thyme, salt, black beans, pinto beans, beef broth, potatoes, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and other vegetables of your choice.

Rinse the neck bones and sprinkle your choice of dry seasonings over them.

You can serve smoked neck bones with rice, green beans, potatoes, or butter beans mixed with okra.

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