Smothered turkey wings make for such a savory delicious main dish. With their crispy skin and tender meat soaked in a rich flavorful gravy, they are an absolute comfort food favorite. But what are the best side dishes to serve alongside these succulent wings? I did some research and tested out a variety of options to find the top pairings. Here are 16 of my favorite sides for smothered turkey wings.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with a classic like creamy mashed potatoes. The smooth, rich potatoes are the ideal complement to smothered turkey wings. Opt for Yukon gold potatoes for an extra creamy consistency. Jazz them up with roasted garlic, chives, cheddar, or your other favorite mix-ins. Drizzle the whole dish with some of that delicious turkey wing gravy for the ultimate comforting meal.
Mac and Cheese
Another classic pairing for smothered turkey wings is ooey-gooey mac and cheese. The cheesy, velvety pasta combines so well with the savory wings. Make it extra decadent by using a mix of cheddar, gruyere, and parmesan, or spice it up with bacon bits or sautéed mushrooms. The creaminess of the mac and cheese balances beautifully with the juicy turkey wings.
Cornbread
Warm, buttery cornbread is a standard accompaniment for smothered turkey wings. The slightly sweet cornbread soaks up all that delicious gravy and provides a textural contrast to the juicy wings. Jazz it up by adding jalapeños, green onions, or sharp cheddar to the batter. Serve it up warm right alongside the turkey wings for a match made in comfort food heaven.
Collard Greens
Earthy, vibrant collard greens make for a healthy, flavorful side with smothered turkey wings. Slow cook the greens with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and chicken broth for maximum depth of flavor. The nutritious greens will cut through the richness of the wings. Reduce the fat even further by swapping the traditional ham hock for a smoked turkey leg.
Coleslaw
Cool, crisp coleslaw provides a refreshing contrast to hot and saucy smothered turkey wings. The tangy crunch of the cabbage pairs so nicely. Make it yummy by using a mayo-based dressing spiked with lemon juice, mustard, and a touch of sugar. Apple, carrots, raisins, or cranberries add extra flavor, texture, and nutrition. Chill it for at least an hour before serving for the best flavor.
Green Beans
For a lighter and healthier accompaniment, go with fresh green beans. Sauté them up with garlic, onion, olive oil, and a splash of chicken broth until crisp-tender. Toss in sliced almonds or crispy bacon bits for extra texture and flavor. For variation, use haricots verts or swap in asparagus or broccoli instead. The vibrant veggies balance the rich wings beautifully.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato wedges roasted to absolute caramelized perfection make an indulgent pairing for smothered turkey wings. Coat the wedges in olive oil, sea salt, cumin, and chili powder before roasting at 400°F until browned and crispy on the outside while remaining soft inside. The natural sweetness plays off the savoriness of the wings spectacularly.
Glazed Carrots
For another sweet side, make deliciously glazed carrots. Simmer peeled baby carrots in butter, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and thyme until super tender. The sweet glaze complements the wings while the hint of garlic adds depth. Rough chop regular carrots for a chunkier texture. The burst of sweetness offsets the rich, savory gravy flawlessly.
Baked Beans
Old-fashioned baked beans doused in tangy barbecue sauce are a fun addition to a smothered turkey wing feast Slow bake navy beans with onion, bacon, mustard, and brown sugar for the iconic flavors Or speed things up by doctoring canned beans instead. The sweet, smoky beans pair perfectly with the succulent turkey wings.
Stuffing or Dressing
No turkey wing meal is complete without some sort of bread-based side dish, like stuffing or dressing Make it with cubed bread, chicken stock, sautéed onions/celery, herbs, butter, and eggs Add sausage, cranberries, pecans, or other mix-ins if desired. Bake it up in the turkey itself as stuffing or cooked separately as dressing. Either way, it’s a warm, comforting accompaniment.
Creamed Spinach
Silky creamed spinach is an indulgent partner for smothered turkey wings. Make a rich sauce from butter, flour, garlic, and cream, then wilt the spinach leaves right in it. The velvety greens balance so nicely with the wings. Sprinkle on some nutmeg and parmesan to take it over the top. The iron-rich spinach also offers a good nutritional boost.
Rice Pilaf
Simple rice pilaf provides a starchy base that soaks up all that delicious turkey wing gravy. Sauté rice with olive oil, garlic, and onion, then add broth and seasonings and simmer until tender. Mix in peas, carrots, mushrooms or other vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition. The aromatic, buttery rice rounds out the saucy wings wonderfully.
Roasted Root Vegetables
An array of roasted root veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, and carrots makes a hearty, colorful side dish for smothered turkey wings. Toss the vegetables in olive oil and seasonings like rosemary before roasting until caramelized. The natural sweetness of the veggies balances nicely with the savory wings and gravy.
Corn Pudding
For a retro Southern side, whip up some creamy corn pudding. The sweet corn combined with eggs, cream, cheddar, and butter bakes up so rich, moist, and delicious. Add some diced red bell peppers for extra flavor and color. It’s the ideal pairing for those saucy, juicy turkey wings. The sweet corn flavor provides balance while the silky texture contrasts beautifully.
Potato Salad
Creamy potato salad is a classic accompaniment for smothered turkey wings. Make it tangy and flavorful by using a mayo and mustard dressing spiked with pickle juice, fresh herbs, garlic, and hot sauce. Let all the flavors meld for at least an hour before serving alongside the wings for the perfect match of flavors and textures.
Savory Bread Pudding
As an alternative to plain stuffing or dressing, make an impressive savory bread pudding with spinach, bacon, and cheddar. Cubed bread gets baked in a rich custard of eggs, cream, and cheese for an ultra creamy dish that pairs brilliantly with smothered turkey wings. The unique spin on classic bread stuffing is sure to be a hit.
So there you have it – 16 of my top side dish recommendations for serving with smothered turkey wings! From Southern classics like mashed potatoes and collard greens to fresh sides like roasted veggies and green beans, you are sure find the perfect match for soaking up all that delicious gravy. Give some of these tasty pairings a try at your next smothered turkey wings dinner.
Recipe for soul food style Smothered Turkey Wings, Legs, and Thighs
I uploaded a recipe for smothered turkey wings almost two years ago. Since then, I’ve been getting a ton of request for a updated version. Since everyone seemed to really love my smothered turkey wings recipe, and had many questions about it, I just decided to upload the recipe again. However, this time around I’m making a homemade gravy- AND you can make smothered turkey wings, legs or thighs with this recipe!
This smothered turkey wings, legs, and thigh recipe is a very soulful one. In fact, if you grew up in a household that ate soul food on the regular, you know that this is the real deal! This time around, I’m not using any canned cream of mushroom, or taking any shortcuts. I’m making everything homemade, gravy and all.
Believe it or not, making your own gravy is a lot easier than it sounds. Also, homemade gravy tastes a lot better than any canned, jared, or powdered gravy. The gravy that we are making for our smothered turkey legs, wings, and thighs is absolutely amazing. Not only is it great to smother the turkey, it taste great on top of mashed potatoes and rice as well!
In the video clip below I will be using turkey legs. Keep in mind that you CAN use this same recipe for smothered turkey wings, thighs, and even turkey necks!
Watch the video tutorial
