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southern pork neck bones on a white plate with rice, collard greens, and cornbread
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Pork Neck Bones Recipe

Pork neck bones might not be fancy, but chile, they’re straight-up soul food comfort. Listen, not everybody grew up eating pork neck bones, but where I’m from, they’re a staple. This is real-deal Southern cooking, taking a cut that’s often overlooked and turning it into something rich, hearty, and worth every single bite. My family has been cooking them this way for generations, and I promise this recipe will give you the same melt-in-your-mouth results.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine Southern
Keyword how long to cook neck bones, pork neck bones, Southern neck bones
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 397kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ - 2 pounds pork neck bones Raw, not cooked or smoked.
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups broth Any broth: chicken, pork, vegetable or simply water. Use enough liquid to cover the neck bones.
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup chopped onions I used white onions.

Instructions

  • Pat the neck bones dry and season both sides of each with the spices.
  • Place a Dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat. When hot add the olive oil along with the seasoned neck bones.
  • Sear each side of each neck bone.
  • Add the onions and saute for 2-3 minutes or until soft and fragrant.
  • Add the broth to the pot and deglaze the pot by scooping up any brown bits (leave them in the pot for flavor) with a spatula or wooden spoon.
  • Add the bay leaf. Adjust the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and simmer for 2-4 hours. The longer the neck bones cook, the more tender they will be. Fall-off-the-bone neck bones typically take 3-4 hours.

Notes

Just like ham hocks, you may find packages of neck bones with little to no meat, which are mostly bones. Pay close attention and look for packages with meatier bones.
I find them readily available in local grocery stores. You can also check specialty markets, even some Asian grocery stores.
You will need to simmer them on the stove for a couple of hours. If you like them really tender, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone, it will take 3-4 hours to cook.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz | Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 27g