Turkey Necks and Rice for Under $7
Turkey Necks and Rice for Under $7
A deeply flavorful, soul-warming comfort food that’s surprisingly EBT-friendly. Turkey necks create a rich broth that infuses every grain of rice.
Total Cost of Ingredients Used: $5.50-$6.50
(Cost reflects only what’s used in the recipe, not full package prices)
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs turkey necks
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 celery stalks (chopped)
- 1 carrot (peeled and chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1.5 cups long-grain white rice (rinsed)
Instructions
Brown the turkey necks: Pat turkey necks dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown turkey necks on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Sauté the aromatics: In the same pot, add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot. Cook for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
Deglaze and season: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for 1 minute. Pour in 4 cups of water, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Add bouillon, thyme, bay leaf, and black pepper.
Simmer the turkey necks: Return the turkey necks to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the turkey necks are very tender and falling off the bone.
Cook the rice: Remove turkey necks and set aside. Skim any excess fat from the broth if desired. Stir the rice into the hot broth, bring back to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, shred meat from turkey necks, discarding bones.
Combine and serve: Stir the shredded turkey meat back into the rice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Let stand covered for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if using.
Rich, savory turkey necks create an incredibly flavorful one-pot meal that feeds a family for under $7.
Turkey necks are one of the most underrated EBT-friendly proteins. They’re incredibly affordable and packed with collagen that creates a rich, velvety broth perfect for cooking rice. This is stick-to-your-ribs comfort food at its most budget-friendly.
Budget Grocery List + Cost Breakdown
All items EBT-eligible. Prices based on Walmart/ALDI/Dollar Tree.
Protein
Used in recipe: 2 lbs turkey necks ($3.00)
Package cost: $3.00 (typically sold in 2lb packs)
Veggies & Aromatics
Used in recipe: 1 onion ($0.35) + 2 celery stalks ($0.25) + 1 carrot ($0.20)
Package cost: $0.70 + $2.00 (bunch) + $1.00 (bag) = $3.70 total
Pantry & Starches
Used in recipe: 1.5 cups rice ($0.45) + oil ($0.10) + flour ($0.05) + bouillon ($0.15)
Package cost: $1.50 (rice) + $2.00 (oil) + $2.50 (flour) + $1.50 (bouillon) = $7.50 total
Total Used in Recipe: $5.55-$6.10
Cost per serving (4-6 servings): $0.93-$1.53
Note: This makes a large amount of food! Leftover rice reheats beautifully for lunches.
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