Neckbone soup is a warm and comforting meal full of flavor. In this soup, pork neck bones are combined with diced tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots and then cooked on the stove until tender. This hearty and very tasty soup is easy to put together and will warm your heart and belly!

Homemade soup is one of the easiest dinners to make. It is economical and full of nutritious ingredients. This is a no-fuss pork neck bones soup recipe and it only takes 5 minutes to prep. Made in one pot, everything is simmered slowly on the stove until tender.

More recipes using pork neck bones: Baked neck bones, Air fryer neck bones or Instant pot neck bones ! All super easy and delicious!

The meat is flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. When served with biscuits, dinner rolls, or cornbread for dinner, this is will be a meal you will make on repeat!

This recipe is also great for meal prep because you can save any leftovers for easy work lunches or serve for dinner the next day.

Recipe ingredients

Pork neck bones. You'll need 2lb. Look for meatier packages of neck bones for this recipe because they can be cut irregularly with some packages having more meat than others.

Water. Just enough to cover the neck bones.

Tomatoes. A can of diced tomatoes adds sweetness and pairs well with pork neck bones.

Garlic and onion. Added to any great soup for a savory flavor.

Seasonings. Salt and black pepper to taste and beef bouillon to give a richer flavor to this soup.

Lipton onion soup.

Chopped veggies. A combination of shredded carrots and cubed potatoes.

How to make neckbone soup

To remove all impurities i like to boil pork neck bones in water for couple minutes. this way i am sure that the soup i will make later will not have any nasty bits in it.

raw neck bones in the pot — place neck bones in to the pot

So, place pork neck bones in the heavy bottom pot. Add water to cover and bring to boil. Drain the water but keep bones in the pot.

Open a can of diced tomatoes and add to the pot with juice. Chop onions, celery and mince garlic and add to the pot as well. Stir and add water. Cook for 1 hour.

boiled neck bones in the pot — boil them first for 5 minutes and drain

adding diced tomatoes to the pot — add other ingredients and cook

Meanwhile peel and cut potatoes. Cut them the size and shape you prefer. Add to the soup and cook for another 20 minutes.

What kind of meat is it

Pork neck bones are an inexpensive cut of meat that makes a wonderful soup or stew. The neck bones come from the neck/collar part of the pig, or whatever animal you are working with. Beef and turkey neckbones are also very popular options.

Even though this piece of meat is mostly bones, it does contain a little bit of meat that tastes similar to oxtails or short ribs. It gives any dish a rich and savory flavor while being a cost-effective dinner option.

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A common problem with neck bones is that they can be tough when cooked incorrectly. The best way to prepare neck bones is to cook them low and slow until the meat becomes fall-off-the-bone tender. Soups and stews are a great way to do this, so you won't have to worry about tough or dry meat.

Substitutions

Neck bones. Use beef or turkey neck bones instead.

Diced tomatoes. Use 2 - 3 fresh medium tomatoes or 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.

Water. Use beef stock or veggie broth instead of water for more flavor.

Carrots. Shredded carrots will also work well in this recipe.

Potatoes. Use small baby potatoes or fingerling potatoes instead of larger ones.

Variations

The beauty of homemade soups is that you can use whatever ingredients you like and it will be delicious. Here are a few of my favorite variations on this easy soup recipe.

Add your favorite vegetables or whatever you have on hand. Frozen mixed veggies, celery, cabbage, chopped mushrooms, or green beans are tasty options.

Use more diced tomatoes or 1- 2 cans of tomato sauce if you want a more tomato-based soup.

If you have meatier neckbones, try searing them first before adding the other ingredients to the pot for a richer flavor.

Use less liquid to turn this soup into a stew!

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for neckbones to cook?

Neck bones are a very tough cut of meat and they can take anywhere from 1.5 - 3 hours to become tender.

What do neckbones taste like?

Neck bones have a strong meaty flavor similar to oxtails or short ribs.

How much water do you need to cook neck bones?

Add just enough water to cover the neckbones. You want enough liquid to cook the neckbones until they are tender but not so much that they taste watery.

What are neck bones used for?

Neck bones can be added to soups or stews for extra flavor, used to make broth or stock, or cooked with gravy for a comforting meal served over rice.

neck bones soup in the pot with chopped green onions on top

Leftovers

You can store neckbone soup leftovers right in the pot in the fridge. Just make sure that its completely cool. Or move soup leftovers in to containers and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, covered with lid.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until heated through.

Neckbone Soup Recipe

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

2 lb pork neck bones
water to cover
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt
black pepper
½ onion, chopped
1 cup cut carrots
3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 package Lipton onion soup

Instructions

Place pork neck bones in the pot and cover with water. Bring to boil and drain the water.
Place all the ingredients except potatoes in the pot, cover with water again and cook on medium, covered for 1 hour.
Add potatoes and cook for another 20 minutes.

Notes

You can store neckbone soup leftovers right in the pot in the fridge. Just make sure that its completely cool. Or move soup leftovers in to containers and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, covered with lid.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until heated through.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 542Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 903mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 54g