How to Cook Smoked Turkey Wings: I’ve always loved smoking meat. It’s like the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You get a great flavor without having to do any work (other than the initial prep). Plus, I love how it makes meat look so good.
No one would ever guess that this is actually just a big hunk of meat you’re eating. The secret to cooking smoked turkey wings well is finding the right balance between smoke and heat. The more heat you put in, the less time you have to wait for the ribs to become tender; but too much fire will result in burnt, bitter wings.
If you have a smoker or grill with an offset rack, I highly recommend using them. They make the process of smoking your wings a lot easier, and they also help prevent flare-ups.
If you don’t have either of those things, you can still smoke your wings by putting them on a pan over indirect heat. However, if you’re planning on making a whole batch of wings, you’ll need to be careful not to let the outside burn before the inside is done.
A simple solution is to use the oven as an indirect heat source. Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper (or place them directly into a roasting pan) and set the oven to 400 degrees F.
Put your smoking wood chips at the bottom of the oven and close the door. If you’re using charcoal, you’ll need to light them up again when you open the oven door. This is because they will continue to smolder while cooking. When you are ready to eat, simply pull the wings out of the oven and enjoy!
The key to cooking these wings is to keep the temperature low enough so that you don’t overcook them; however, you want the smoke to penetrate deep inside their bones. You won’t know exactly what that means until you start cooking them.
How to cook smoked turkey wings
So, don’t worry about getting it perfect right now. Instead, follow the instructions below and just keep going until you’re happy with how the wings taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch of medium rosemary sprigs
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 4 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 8 cups applewood chips
- Turkey Wings
- 3 pounds turkey wings, cut into 3 pieces each
- 1 cup apple juice
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, salt, peppercorns, garlic, and applewood chips. Stir to mix thoroughly. Add the wings and toss to coat evenly with the seasoning. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Transfer the seasoned wings to a roasting pan or baking sheet and pour the apple juice over top. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip the wings over and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
4. To make the glaze, add all remaining ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and cover, allowing to infuse for 10 minutes.
5. Once wings are cooled, brush with a generous amount of glaze. Serve immediately.
If you aren’t feeling up to cooking wings yourself, you can buy pre-smoked wings from most grocery stores. Look for ones labeled “smoked” or “barbecued.” These tend to be the better quality options.
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