The skin on these baked turkey wings is perfectly seasoned and crispy, and the meat inside is the juiciest and moistest it has ever been. Minimal prep is needed, it’s SO delicious.
When most people think of turkey, they picture the whole bird roasted or just the breast. But have you ever tried cooking other parts of the bird, like the wings?
My oven-roasted turkey wings are a fun change from chicken wings that give you more meat for your buck. I mean, one turkey wing is satisfying enough as a meal on its own. I thought that these wings would only be easy to find around the holidays, but my butcher told me that they are available all year!
Turkey wings are an underrated and often overlooked cut of meat. Many home cooks aren’t quite sure what to do with them But these meaty wings are versatile and can be used in a variety of delicious recipes. Here are 15 amazing ways to cook turkey wings so you can take advantage of this budget-friendly cut
1. Baked Turkey Wings
One of the easiest and most popular ways to prepare turkey wings is to simply bake them in the oven. A basic baked turkey wing recipe involves coating the wings with oil and seasoning them generously with spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper Bake at 350°F for 45-60 minutes until completely cooked through and crispy on the outside The baked wings make a perfect appetizer or main course.
2. Braised Turkey Wings
Braising is a great cooking technique for tougher cuts of meat like turkey wings. Braised turkey wings turn out incredibly moist, tender and full of flavor. Brown the seasoned wings first in a pan with oil. Then add chicken stock, herbs and vegetables like onions, carrots and celery. Simmer everything together on the stovetop or bake in the oven until wings are fall-off-the-bone tender.
3. Fried Turkey Wings
For an indulgent, crispy version try fried turkey wings. After marinating the wings in buttermilk, coat them in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs. Fry at 350°F until deeply golden brown and cooked through. Fried turkey wings are hard to resist, especially when paired with a tangy barbecue or honey mustard dipping sauce.
4. Smoked Turkey Wings
Smoking brings out the best flavor in turkey wings. Season the wings liberally with a dry rub, then smoke for 2-3 hours at 225°F using your preferred smoking wood like hickory or apple. The smoked wings make delicious appetizers or sandwiches.
5. Turkey Wing Gumbo
In the South, turkey wings are often used to make the rich local specialty, gumbo. This stew starts with a dark roux, then turkey wings, veggies and seasonings like thyme, bay leaves and cayenne pepper are added. Turkey wing gumbo is commonly served over rice and makes for a hearty, comforting one-pot meal.
6. Oven-Roasted Turkey Wing Soup
Make an easy oven-roasted turkey wing soup by roasting wings and vegetables like onions, carrots, potatoes and celery with broth and herbs in the oven. Once cooked through, blend the wings and vegetables into a creamy, savory soup loaded with turkey flavor. For variation, add rice, pasta or more veggies.
7. Sous Vide Turkey Wings
For the juiciest turkey wings, try cooking them sous vide. Season and vacuum seal the wings, then cook for 12-24 hours in a water bath set to 165°F. Finish by searing the exterior of the wings quickly in a hot pan. Sous vide concentrates the flavor and guarantees every bite is perfectly moist and tender.
8. Turkey Wings with Rice
Serve braised, baked or fried turkey wings alongside rice for an easy, hearty meal. Turkey wings pair especially well with dirty rice, jambalaya rice or cajun-seasoned rice. The rice soaks up all of the delicious flavors from the wings.
9. Turkey Wing Soup Dumplings
Ground turkey wing meat makes a wonderful filling for homemade soup dumplings. Mix the turkey with aromatics like ginger, scallions and garlic, then wrap in dumpling wrappers. Steam or pan-fry until the filling is piping hot and the dumpling wrappers are cooked through. Be careful when taking a bite, as these dumplings are filled with hot, savory broth.
10. Turkey Wing Pho
For a Vietnamese-inspired dish, add turkey wings to a steaming bowl of pho. Simmer the wings in the broth to infuse it with more richness of flavor. Ladle the broth over rice noodles, then top with turkey meat, basil, bean sprouts and jalapeños for a comforting pho enhanced with the goodness of turkey wings.
11. Turkey Wing Chili
Ground turkey wing meat also works great in chili. Brown it along with aromatics like onions and peppers, then add tomatoes, beans, spices and chicken broth. Simmer until thickened and flavorful. Garnish with cheese, sour cream or avocado. The turkey wings add meaty texture and taste to the hearty chili.
12. Turkey Wing Pot Pie
Make a turkey wing pot pie by braising wings in chicken stock with carrots, peas and potatoes. Shred the cooked turkey meat and mix it with the tender vegetables and a roux-thickened gravy. Spoon this filling into a pie crust and top with a second crust. Bake until the crust is golden. The pot pie makes for the ultimate comfort food.
13. BBQ Turkey Wings
Marinate turkey wings in your favorite barbecue sauce or dry rub, then grill or broil them until caramelized. The barbecue flavors pair perfectly with the savory, rich dark meat. Serve the saucy wings with potato salad, coleslaw or cornbread on the side.
14. Turkey Wing Stir Fry
Stir fries are a great way to use up leftover turkey wings. Slice or shred the cooked turkey meat, then quickly stir fry it in a pan with colorful veggies like broccoli, bell peppers and snap peas. Cook everything in a savory sauce flavored with garlic, ginger and soy or oyster sauce. Enjoy this fast turkey and veggie stir fry over rice.
15. Turkey Wing Salad
Finally, don’t forget about using turkey wings in salads! Dice or shred roasted, fried, grilled or smoked turkey wings. Toss the turkey with your favorite salad greens, veggies, cheese, nuts, croutons and dressing for a protein-packed main dish salad.
As you can see, there are so many possibilities when it comes to cooking with turkey wings. They can be the star of the show in baked and braised dishes, or used to add richness and heartiness to soups, stews, stir fries and more. So next time you come across turkey wings at the store, grab them and give these tasty recipes a try!
How to make baked turkey wings
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post to print out the full recipe instructions and amounts of the ingredients.
Step 1—Prep. In a mixing bowl, mix the olive oil with salt, dried herbs, and spices.
Step 2- Season. Coat the wings in the spice mix, then put a lid on them and let them sit for 5 to 30 minutes.
Step 3- bake. Transfer the wings to a baking dish and pour the chicken stock around them. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Step 4- Broil. The wings should be golden and crispy around the edges after this point. Take off the foil and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Baked turkey wings cooking time
This depends on how big the wings are and how well your oven cooks food. Turkey wings can be done in 30 minutes or an hour. With my oven (I have a Miele 2. 0), it typically takes around 45 minutes.
The BEST way to tell if your wings are done is to use a meat thermometer to probe the middle of them. The FDA recommends cooking the turkey until it reaches 165F in the thickest part of the wing.
- Pat dry the wings. This helps the wings get crispy faster when you broil them.
- Don’t skip the chicken stock. By pouring the stock around the wings and baking them with their covers on, you make a tasty steam that cooks the turkey to perfection and gives it a lot of flavor and moisture. Don’t fret though- the exterior will be super crispy.
- Save the drippings. I love making simple gravy with the turkey pan drippings. Add about 1/2 cup more chicken broth, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and some extra salt and pepper. Mix everything together with a whisk.
- Use turkey legs. This recipe works perfectly well for turkey legs, too.
- Change up the seasonings. Before I bake the wings, I sometimes like to use poultry seasoning or cover them in a tasty sauce. Like chicken wings, they are so easy to adapt.
To store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze. Baked wings can be frozen for up to 3 months.
To reheat. Putting these in the oven with foil on top is the best way to warm them up, whether they are frozen or just out of the fridge. Once heated through, broil the wings for a few minutes to crisp them up again.
Overcooking and undercooking turkey wings are the main reasons they turn out tough. I know I sound like a broken record, but please use a meat thermometer to double-check. Once the meat reaches 165F, it’s ready to eat!.
This particular baked turkey wings recipe is healthy. Turkey wings are high in protein and a range of other essential nutrients. With this said, turkey wings are considered dark meat. This means they are higher in calories and fat than turkey breast. So, consume them in moderation and paired with healthy side dishes.
Yes, you can bake turkey wings smothered in gravy. However, this cooking method will not yield crispy results.
I prefer fresh turkey wings because, through recipe testing, I find they retain the most juice and flavor. Frozen wings will work, too, but you’ll need to let them thaw all the way and pat them dry to get rid of any extra water.
Why I love this recipe
- Perfectly seasoned yet simple. Some simple herbs and spices are all you need to make wings that taste great.
- Hands-off cooking. I love how baking the wings in the oven lets me do almost nothing.
- Crispy and flavorful. Turkey wings that are cooked with the lid on first are juicy and tender, while turkey wings that are cooked with the lid off at the end get crispy skin.
- It’s easier than a whole turkey. My family LOVES a roasted turkey, but I save that for special events most of the time. The wings, though, I can make every week. They are also way cheaper.
- These are great for the holidays! I’ve started making them for Thanksgiving dinner, and my family and friends like them better than the real bird.
- Whole turkey wings. Separated and bone-in. Usually, turkey wings are split into three parts: the drumettes, the wingettes, and the wingtips. My butcher (and it seems like most butchers) can separate them for you, but it’s really easy to do yourself if your whole wing is still together.
- Chicken stock. Homemade or store-bought. Turkey stock will work too.
- Olive oil. To coat the wings with the spices before baking them
- Spices. For this recipe, all I use is paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. It may not look like much, but trust me, the flavors are strong.
- Herbs. Dried thyme, Rosemary, and parsley pair well with turkey. It might be tempting to use fresh herbs, but they burn instead of soak into the meat when you roast or bake them. Because of this, I recommend only the dried kind.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
The BEST Juicy & Tender Oven Baked Turkey Wings
FAQ
What are turkey wings good for?
What to do with wings of turkey?
What do you eat with turkey wings?
How long do turkey wings need to cook?
What to put on baked turkey wings?
Stock: Use either chicken broth or turkey stock to give your baked turkey wings extra succulent meat. Fresh herbs: Though this garnish is optional, fresh herbs—like parsley, thyme, and rosemary—will transform your tender baked turkey wings into a gourmet meal, infusing each bite with herby, bright flavors.
How do you heat up leftover Turkey wings?
To heat up leftover turkey wings, bake them in the preheated oven until browned, 1 hour. Stir cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup water together in a bowl; pour over turkey wings into a casserole dish and return to the oven, uncovered. Continue baking until the turkey is brown and tender, 1 hour.
How do you cook Turkey wings in a casserole dish?
To cook Turkey wings in a casserole dish, first pour 1/2 cup water into the casserole dish and cover it. Bake the turkey wings in the preheated oven for 1 hour, until they are browned. In a bowl, stir together 1 cup water and cream of mushroom soup. Pour this mixture over the turkey wings in the casserole dish and bake, uncovered, until they are brown and tender, for another hour.
How do you cook Turkey wings in the oven?
Pour 2 1/2 cups of broth or water into the bowl, stir, then pour the broth or water into the bake dish. Cover the baking dish and cook the wings in the oven at 350 F for about 1 &1/2 hours to 2 hours Periodically remove the wings from the oven and baste. Turkey wings are done when cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Can you make baked turkey wings all the time?
I made a Sweet Potato Cheesecakeand a Down-Home Cornbread Dressingalong with these turkey wings for a complete and delicious holiday meal. Now it’s time for y’all to realize that turkey doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions like holidays! With a recipe this good, you should be making baked turkey wings all. the. time!
Do you need a wing for Turkey wings?
Here’s what you need: Turkey Wings:as I said above, the wing is superior. Try a local butcher shop if you can’t find fresh or frozen turkey wings at your local grocery stores. For this recipe, feel free to buy whole wings and chop them up into pieces (I prefer to remove the wing tip).