Smothered Turkey Wings are a Southern comfort dish, baked to tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection in rich, homemade gravy. This soul food classic is perfect not just for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but anytime you're craving a hearty family meal.
For more delicious turkey recipes, try my Cajun Roasted Turkey Breast and Creamy Turkey Salad next.
Turkey Wings Recipe
Smothered turkey wings are the essence of down-home cooking with juicy, tender meat coated in a rich, savory gravy. There’s no dry turkey here! Just moist wings packed with deep flavor.
I add butter to the bird before baking, which infuses the meat with extra richness and keeps it perfectly juicy. This recipe comes together quickly, making it a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey when you want something hearty without the time commitment.
The turkey wings soak up all that flavorful gravy as they bake, so every bite is satisfying. It's perfect for a small Thanksgiving meal or whenever you're craving Southern comfort food.
Ingredients
Prepare the Turkey Wings:
- Turkey wings: Use full turkey wings (they include the drummette, middle wing, and wing tip). They are like chicken wings, just bigger. Clean and dry the wings before applying any seasoning.
- Olive oil: This ensures the skin browns and gets crispy.
- Seasoning: I use a blend of cajun seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, and black pepper.
- Veggies: Thinly sliced yellow bell peppers, red bell peppers, and onions slowly caramelize in the oven. They add color and taste amazing.
- Unsalted butter: The butter mingles with the aromatics and seeps into the turkey for depth of flavor.
For the Gravy:
- Chicken broth: This is the liquid base of your turkey gravy. You can use chicken stock or turkey stock as substitutes.
- Cornstarch: This naturally thickens the gravy so it has some body and sticks to the surface of the turkey.
- Browning seasoning: This enriches the overall flavor, adding smoky depth and a subtle sweetness. It also darkens the color of the gravy.
- Seasoning: Add cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
How to Make Smothered Turkey Wings
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
First, I preheat the oven to 375ºF and spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. I clean and pat dry the turkey wings, then drizzle them with olive oil, making sure they’re fully coated. Next, I sprinkle on the seasoning, using my clean hands or tongs to ensure every part of the wings is well-seasoned.
Once the wings are ready, I place them in the baking dish, spreading them out evenly, and top them with the sliced peppers and onions. I add two tablespoons of butter to each wing and set them aside while I prepare the gravy.
To make the gravy, I whisk together chicken broth, cornstarch, browning, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper in a bowl until everything is blended.
Then, I carefully pour the gravy mixture around the edges of the dish, making sure not to pour directly over the wings so the seasonings stay intact.
I cover the dish with foil and bake it for 45 minutes. After that, I remove the dish from the oven to baste the wings with the gravy.
Then I bake them for another 30 minutes, uncovering for the last 10 minutes to brown the wings.
How Long to Bake Turkey Wings
It takes about 1-2 hours to cook turkey wings in the oven. It depends on the size of the wings and the temperature of the oven. These smothered turkey wings have a cooking time of 1½ hours when baked at 375ºF.
Pro Tips
- This recipe does not require a marinade. But if time permits, you can marinate the wings overnight in the fridge.
- Do not season and cook the turkey straight out of the fridge. Allow them to come to room temperature before baking so they cook at an even rate.
- Remember to thoroughly dry the wings with paper towels before applying seasoning. Excess moisture on the surface of the wings prevents the skin from getting crispy in the oven.
- Keep the smothered turkey wings covered with aluminum foil for most of the cooking time. Then remove it in the last 10 minutes for crispy skin.
- The wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check. If you do not have one, cut a small slice into the turkey meat. The turkey wings are ready when the juices run clear.
What to Serve with Turkey Wings
Baked turkey wings taste delicious over white rice or mashed potatoes. Southern Collard Greens complement this turkey wing recipe too. Sop up that savory gravy with sweet cornbread.
Storage
Once the turkey wings have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can store the gravy separately if you prefer. For the best results, reheat turkey wings in the oven until warmed through.
FAQ
Why are my turkey wings tough?
If your wings are tough, they are either overcooked or undercooked. Use an instant-read thermometer to determine which (turkey is cooked when it reaches 165ºF). If they are undercooked, check them every 10 minutes until they are tender.
Should you wrap turkey wings in foil?
Yes, wrapping the turkey wings in foil while baking helps trap moisture, so they stay juicy and tender. In this recipe, I cover the baking dish with foil for the majority of the cooking time. This allows the wings to absorb the rich flavors from the gravy and butter while preventing them from drying out. For the last 10 minutes, I remove the foil to let the wings brown.
Can I make this with other cuts of turkey?
Absolutely! You can use this smothered turkey wings recipe for legs and thighs. The cooking time may increase but the meat is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. And while I'm using whole wings, you can split them.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the turkey wings in advance and reheat them in the oven. Just cover them with foil while reheating to keep the meat moist and prevent drying out.
More Holiday Entrees
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📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- Prepare the Turkey Wings:
- 2 whole Turkey wings
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- ½ Tablespoon Seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ Yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ Red bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ Onion thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons Butter unsalted
For the Gravy
- 2 ½ cups Chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Browning seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, and set it aside.
- Clean and thoroughly dry your turkey wings, and add them to a large bowl, or clean surface. Drizzle the turkey wings with the olive oil, and rub it around so that they are fully coated.
- Now sprinkle your seasonings all over each wing, including the: cajun seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, and black pepper.
- Use your clean hands, or tongs to make sure that each turkey wing is fully coated with the seasoning mixture. Once the seasoning is coating each wing, add the wings to your baking dish, spreading them out so they cook evenly.
- Now add your sliced peppers and onions right over the top of the turkey wings. Place 2 tablespoons of butter on each wing.
Prepare the gravy mixture:
- Add your chicken broth to a large glass or bowl, then add in the cornstarch, browning seasoning, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Whisk this together until everything is blended well.
- Gently pour the gravy mix around the edges of the dish, not directly over the turkey wings as you don’t want to remove the seasonings.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes, remove it from the oven and use a spoon to spoon the gravy mixture over the turkey wings. Baste them very well, then cover the dish back up with foil and place it back in the oven.
- Bake for another 30 minutes, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove from the oven and serve right away. Enjoy!
Notes
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