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Made from scratch, these smothered turkey wings are a true Southern favorite. Seasoned and roasted turkey wings are baked in a rich homemade gravy for a hearty and comforting family meal.
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Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving and Christmas! This Southern smothered turkey wings recipe can be enjoyed all year round, and let me tell you, they are nothing short of delicious!
Seasoned turkey wings are roasted, and then a rich homemade turkey gravy is made from the drippings, for a bite full of flavor.
This recipe takes a little time to make, but the good news is that they actually require very little hands on time, and it’s a really straight forward recipe that’s made with a few simple ingredients.
Be sure to try my Air Fryer Turkey Breast and Air Fryer Turkey Burgers too!
How to make smothered turkey wings
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the turkey wings in a roasting pan and drizzle them with the olive oil.
In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sprinkle the seasonings over the wings making sure to cover both sides of the wings.
Top the wings with the sliced onions and bell peppers and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
After removing the wings from the oven, pour the drippings into a measuring cup (or a something to make it easier to pour).
To make the gravy: Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter starts bubbling, add the onions and garlic cloves into the skillet. Cook until soft.
Then stir in the sage, smoked paprika, and flour. Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Stir in the pan drippings from the wings, then slowly stir in the stock. Let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes until it thickens a little.
Then pour the gravy over the wings.
Bake the wings uncovered for 35-45 more minutes or until they are tender.
Serve and enjoy.
Can you make it ahead of time?
These smothered turkey wings are best served as soon as they are ready so that the wings are nice and juicy. You can do the first bake of the chicken wings, make the gravy a few hours ahead, and then do the final cook when you are ready to serve.
If you have leftovers, store them covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 360 degrees Fahrenheit, covered with foil, until warmed through. You can also freeze any leftovers.
Can you make this with other cuts of turkey?
This recipe is delicious with turkey wings, but you can also make it with turkey legs and thighs as well. Cooking times remain pretty much the same, but use an instant-read thermometer to check that they are fully cooked through. They should register at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
What do you serve them with?
I love serving these smothered wings on white rice, and mashed potatoes will also work great. Serve them up with your favorite veggie sides like Instant Pot Green Beans and Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes. And if you’re looking for other smothered recipes, you’ll love these smothered pork chops and this smothered chicken recipe too.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Pat the wings dry before seasoning them to help get the skin nice and crispy.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the wings are cooked through. They should register at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Larger wings will take longer to cook. Cook the wings until tender and the meat falls easily off the bone.
What temperature will turkey fall off the bone?
Turkey is safe to eat at 165°F. However, for tender meat that falls off the bone, it should be cooked to 185-200°F. This allows the connective tissue to fully break down.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, smothered turkey wings can be frozen. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage. When reheating, allow the dish to thaw completely in the refrigerator before baking.
Does this recipe work with chicken wings?
You can use this recipe with chicken wings, but since they are smaller, you will need to reduce the cooking time. A meat thermometer can help ensure they are cooked properly.
I hope you like these smothered turkey wings as much as we do. If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
More Turkey Recipes
- Baked Turkey Thighs and Vegetables
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Ground Turkey Tacos
- Air Fryer Roasted Turkey Legs
- Air Fryer Turkey Thighs or Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Chili
Savory Southern Smothered Turkey Wings Recipe
Made from scratch, these smothered turkey wings are a true Southern favorite. Seasoned and roasted turkey wings are baked in a rich homemade gravy for a hearty and comforting family meal.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword how to cook turkey wings, oven roasted turkey wings, turkey wings with gravy
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 2 hours hours
Total Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 765kcal
Author Tanya
Ingredients
Turkey Wings
- 3-4 pounds turkey wings split into flats and drums
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 large yellow onion sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
Gravy
- 4 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ⅛ teaspoon rubbed sage
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- Pan drippings from wings
- 2 cups turkey stock or chicken stock room temperature
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F. Place the turkey wings in a roasting pan and drizzle them with the olive oil.
In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sprinkle the seasonings over the wings making sure to cover both sides of the wings.
Top the wings with the sliced onions and bell peppers and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
After removing the wings from the oven, pour the drippings into a measuring cup (or a something to make it easier to pour).
To make the gravy: Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter starts bubbling, add the onions and garlic cloves into the skillet. Cook until soft.
Then stir in the sage, smoked paprika, and flour. Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Stir in the pan drippings from the wings, then slowly stir in the stock. Let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes until it thickens a little.
Then pour the gravy over the wings. It will thicken more in the oven. Bake the wings uncovered for 35-40 more minutes or until they are tender. Serve with rice.
Notes
- Pat the wings dry before seasoning them to help get the skin nice and crispy.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check that the wings are cooked through. They should register at 165F.
- Larger wings will take longer to cook. Cook the wings until tender and the meat falls easily off the bone.
Nutrition
Calories: 765kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 193mg | Sodium: 1476mg | Potassium: 921mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1530IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 5mg
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This post was originally published on July 29, 2021. It has been updated with additional helpful information.
