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Smoked Turkey Wings

This Smoked Turkey Wings recipe will show you the best way to make tender and juicy turkey in no time. These wings can be made with any smoker or pellet grill for Thanksgiving, BBQs, summer cookouts, or any occasion!

smoked turkey wings on a plate
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Brandi’s Key Ingredients

  • Turkey Wings
  • Olive Oil
  • Brown Sugar or Sweetener
  • Poultry Rub
Brandi Crawford kitchen headshot photo

Why We Eat Turkey Wings

A lot of us don’t like to make a whole turkey. There are also many of us that do not eat all of the meat on the turkey. We all have our favorites! A recipe like this is perfect for smaller groups. A lot of people also complain turkey is dry! We all know wings aren’t. So these are absolutely perfect for any spread.

Turkey is usually considered lean meat in comparison to most. It has a lot fewer calories and can be paired with just about any side dish.

Where to Buy and How to Shop

Some standard grocers will keep brands like Butterball and Jenni-O on hand year round. Many retailers only carry them seasonally around fall. A local butcher is usually really helpful. Most major grocery stores, such as Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and Publix, carry turkey wings in the meat or poultry section, especially during the holiday season.

Ensure the packaging is sealed properly, with no tears or holes. Look for clear labeling regarding sell-by or use-by dates to ensure freshness. For fresh wings, the meat should have a pinkish color, firm texture, and no off-putting odors. Avoid wings that look grayish or have an unpleasant smell.

Do You Use Whole Wings or Split?

This is up to you. Split wings (split into drums and flats) will cook at a more even temperature. This is also better for even browning of the skin. I use these cooking shears from Amazon to cut into the wings and split them.

The wing is is made up of 3 parts: the drumette, the wingette, and the wing tip. The drumette looks like a small drumstick and usually has more meat.  It’s mostly dark meat, and is slightly juicier than the wingette.

raw turkey wings on a flat surface

The wingette is often called the flat, is the middle section that is made of two bones running horizontally through the middle of it with meat in the middle.  Because it’s thinner, this part normally crisps up easier when cooking them with the thicker drumette portions.

The wing tip doesn’t have much flavor, but you can save it if you plan to make homemade broth.

You can separate the wings yourself by cutting at the elbow joint to separate the drum from the wingette. From there you can remove the wing tip to display a flat if you wish.

raw turkey wings on a flat surface

How to Season the Turkey

I use my Homemade BBQ Rub and Seasoning for these. It’s a combination of the following:

turkey rub spices in a white bowl
raw, seasoned turkey wings
raw, seasoned turkey wings on a flat surface

How to Smoke Turkey Wings

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Pat the wings dry and rub the spices into the wings.
  2. Place the wings on the smoker. Smoke.
  3. If you like crispy skin, once the wings have cooked, adjust the temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until crisp.
raw, seasoned turkey wings on a Traeger pellet grill

Smoker Temperature

Smoke the wings at 225 degrees.

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

You will need to smoke the wings until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Cook time will vary based on the size of your wings. Flats will cook faster than drums. Keep a close watch and monitor if these need to be pulled from the smoker earlier than the other wings.

smoked turkey wings on a Traeger pellet grill

What Type of Wood/Pellets to Use

I love to use apple. You can also use the Traeger Signature blend, cherry, pecan, oak, peach, or alder.

How to Tell When the Turkey is Done

You will need to use a meat thermometer. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of one the turkey wings. According to the USDA, Poultry must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees.

The skin should be golden-brown and crispy. When you cut into the turkey wing, the juices should run clear, not pink or red. Pink juices indicate the turkey may need more cooking time. The meat should easily pull away from the bone when it’s done. If it’s still tough or chewy, it likely needs more time in the air fryer.

How to Get Crispy Skin

Once the wings have finished smoking, increase the temperature to 350 degrees. Cook both sides of the wings until crisp.

smoked turkey wings on a plate

How to Smother Them in Gravy

Check out the gravy details from my Smothered Turkey Wings recipe here.

Can You Use Turkey Legs or Drumsticks?

Yes. Turkey legs will follow a similar cook time and at the same temperature.

Can You Use Chicken Wings?

Absolutely. You can also use chicken drumsticks. Be sure to test if the chicken is done my inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest parts of one of the pieces of chicken. Chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.

How to Store Them

Cooked wings can be stored in the fridge tightly covered for 3-4 days.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftover wings tightly covered and sealed. For best taste, they will last up to 3 months. Defrost the wings overnight in the fridge and reheat.

More Turkey Recipes

Smothered Turkey Necks
Slow Cooker Crockpot Boneless Turkey Breast
Baked Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Slow Cooker Crockpot Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Baked Turkey Legs
Smoked Turkey Legs
Grilled Turkey Legs

Leftover Turkey Recipes

Leftover Turkey Chili
Leftover Turkey Nachos
Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Turkey Bone Broth Recipe

Turkey and Cheese Sliders

smoked turkey wings on a plate

Pair this with Oven Baked Roasted Corn on the Cob.

More and Traeger and Smoker Recipes

Traeger Smoked Bacon
Traeger Smoked Burgers
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Traeger Smoked Salmon
Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
Traeger Smoked Turkey
Smoked Salsa

Traeger Chicken Wings
Smoked Lobster Tail
Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken
Traeger Smoked Brisket

Pair this with my Turkey Graving From Drippings, Yellow Gravy Without Drippings, or Keto Low Carb Gravy.
Watch step by step video instructions on how to make this recipe on Youtube.

smoked turkey wings on a plate
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Smoked Turkey Wings

This Smoked Turkey Wings recipe will show you the best way to make tender and juicy turkey in no time. These wings can be made with any smoker or pellet grill for Thanksgiving, BBQs, summer cookouts, or any occasion!
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword smoked turkey wings, smoked turkey wings recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 585kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat smoker to 225 degrees.
  • Pat the wings dry. Drizzle both sides of the wings with olive oil and then sprinkle the spices onto both sides of the wings. Be sure to use enough spices to cover the skin of both sides of the wings. Add additional as necessary to prevent bland wings.
  • Rub the spices into the wings.
  • Place the wings on the smoker. Smoke the wings until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Cook time will vary based on the size of your wings. Mine took about 2 hours. Flats will cook faster than drums. Keep a close watch and monitor if these need to be pulled from the smoker earlier than the other wings.
  • If you like crispy skin, once the wings have cooked, adjust the temperature to 350 degrees. Cook for 15-20 minutes until crisp, flipping both sides.
  • Cool before serving.

Video

Notes

  • You can use whole wings or split wings. I prefer split because they cook at even temperature and will easily fit in the air fryer. I also prefer the wing tip removed.
  • I love to use apple wood pellets. You can also use the Traeger Signature blend, cherry, pecan, oak, peach, or alder.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 0.5wing | Calories: 585kcal | Protein: 60g | Fat: 24g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 2 votes
Recipe Rating




Marsha

Friday 12th of May 2023

Absolutely love this recipe! Love the spices used.

staysnatched

Monday 15th of May 2023

Wonderful! So glad to hear it.

Jenn

Friday 12th of May 2023

This is brilliant! I adore the flavors of turkey and never thought to cook up the wings and drummies -- thanks so much for the recipe!

staysnatched

Monday 15th of May 2023

You're welcome!