How Long to Bake Smothered Turkey Wings for Maximum Juiciness and Flavor

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.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips/tricks in theblog post.

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.

Smothered turkey wings are a beloved comfort food in the American South. These juicy saucy baked wings are simple to make but require the right technique to achieve maximum tenderness. Knowing how long to bake smothered turkey wings is key to success.

Smothered turkey wings consist of turkey wings roasted then smothered with an onion-studded gravy. The gravy is made from the flavorful pan drippings of the roasted wings.

Turkey wings are an inexpensive and flavorful cut of meat. The connective tissue and skin on the wings softens and melts during baking keeping the meat incredibly moist. Slow roasting followed by a gravy bath creates ultra-tender wings that slide right off the bone.

Smothered turkey wings are the ultimate comfort food. The rich gravy soaks into the meat, adding unbelievable depth of flavor. These saucy wings are commonly served over white rice with sides like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, or candied yams.

How Long Should Smothered Turkey Wings Bake?

Proper baking times are essential for smothered turkey wings. Underbaked wings will be tough and chewy. Overbaked wings turn dry and stringy.

For maximum tenderness, smothered turkey wings need to bake long enough for the connective tissue to break down. This makes the meat fall-off-the-bone tender.

Most recipes call for baking smothered turkey wings for 2-3 hours total. This includes an initial uncovered baking followed by a second bake coated in gravy.

Here is a typical baking timeline:

  • 60-90 minutes: Roast uncovered at 350°F to crisp the skin and render fat for the gravy.

  • 30 minutes: Make the onion gravy with the pan drippings.

  • 30-60 minutes: Return wings to oven and bake covered in gravy until fork tender.

  • 185-200°F internal temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Meat should shred easily.

Factors That Affect Bake Times

Several factors impact how long smothered turkey wings need to bake:

  • Turkey wing size – Larger, meatier wings will require longer baking than smaller wings.

  • Amount of wings – More wings in the pan retain more heat, decreasing bake time. Fewer wings may need time increased.

  • Cookware – Dark metal pans speed up cooking while glass and ceramic pans extend times.

  • Convection setting – Convection ovens can decrease bake times by 25% due to increased hot air circulation.

  • Altitude – At high altitudes above 3000 feet, moisture evaporates faster. Bake times should be increased.

Tips for Perfectly Baked Smothered Turkey Wings

Follow these tips for smothered turkey wings with juicy, fall-off-the-bone meat:

  • Pat wings dry before seasoning to help crisp the skin.

  • Use a meat thermometer to accurately determine doneness, not just bake time.

  • Check wings early once tender; they can overcook quickly.

  • Tent foil when baking to lock in steam and moisture.

  • Let wings rest 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.

  • Simmer gravy after baking to thicken – it will coat wings better.

Signs Your Smothered Turkey Wings Are Under or Overcooked

It can be tricky to nail the bake time for smothered wings. Watch for these signs that your wings need more or less oven time:

Undercooked

  • Meat is tough, chewy, or rubbery
  • Skin is pale and flabby
  • Meat does not pull cleanly from bones
  • Thermometer under 185°F

Overcooked

  • Meat is stringy or dry
  • Skin is darkened and dried out
  • Bones are exposed and meat shredded
  • Thermometer over 200°F

Use these visual and temperature cues to determine when your smothered turkey wings are perfectly cooked through.

For the ultimate tender, juicy smothered turkey wings, allow 2-3 hours of baking time. Roast wings uncovered before smothering in gravy. Use a meat thermometer to judge doneness, not just bake time. Remove wings as soon as they reach 185-200°F for the best texture. Adjust bake times based on wing size, amount, cookware, and altitude. Mastering the technique for how long to bake smothered turkey wings results in incredible flavor and moisture.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

What do you serve them with?

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

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.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

Top the wings with the sliced onions and bell peppers and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

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.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

Then stir in the sage, smoked paprika, and flour. Cook for 1-2 more minutes.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

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.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

Then pour the gravy over the wings.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

Bake the wings uncovered for 35-45 more minutes or until they are tender.

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

how long to bake smothered turkey wings

Smothered Turkey Wings #SoulFoodSunday

FAQ

Why are my turkey wings tough?

Your turkey meat will be tough if you cook it in a high-temperature oven for a long time without any liquid. How to make turkey wings tender? We found that the best way to tenderize turkey wings is to cook them at a low temperature (I recommend 300 degrees F.) for a long time (about 1 ½ hours.)

How do you know if turkey wings are overcooked?

Overcooking and undercooking turkey wings are the main reasons they turn out tough. I know I sound like a broken record, but please use a meat thermometer to double-check. Once the meat reaches 165F, it’s ready to eat!

What to eat with smothered turkey wings?

Tasty and juicy smothered turkey wings are finger-licken good! A seriously delicious dinner recipe that the whole family will love. A thick, creamy, and generously seasoned gravy brings this dish together. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes, and be prepared to go back for seconds!

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