Grilling turkey wings is a fantastic way to add depth of flavor and juiciness to this often underutilized cut of meat. When done right, grilled turkey wings come out tender on the inside with a perfect char on the outside. If you’ve never grilled turkey wings before, don’t worry – this comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to grill turkey wings like a pro.
Why Grill Turkey Wings?
There are several great reasons to throw turkey wings on the grill
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They’re inexpensive – turkey wings are an economical choice compared to pricier cuts like turkey breasts
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Lots of flavor – turkey wings have more fat, skin, and connective tissue than breast meat. This translates to richer, more pronounced turkey flavor when grilled.
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Great for grilling – turkey wings hold up wonderfully on the grill. The skin gets crispy and the meat stays moist.
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Fun finger food – guests will love picking up grilled turkey wings with their hands. They make fantastic appetizers!
Picking the Best Turkey Wings
When shopping for turkey wings, look for ones that are evenly sized so they’ll cook evenly. Avoid wings with bones cracking through the skin or an overly fatty appearance. For even cooking, choose wings between 1-2 pounds each. Opt for fresh, never frozen wings when possible for maximum juiciness.
Prepping Turkey Wings for the Grill
Proper prep ensures your turkey wings come out great on the grill. Here are some tips:
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Trim excess skin/fat: Use kitchen shears to trim off any loose skin or large fatty areas. Some fat is good but too much can cause flare-ups.
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Remove wingtips: The skinny wingtip section often burns before the rest of the wing is done. Cut them off and reserve for making stock.
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Pat dry: Make sure wings are patted dry before seasoning or oil will not adhere well.
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Season generously: Rub wings all over with a dry seasoning blend. Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, jerk seasoning, and barbecue rubs all work wonderfully.
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Add oil: Lightly coat wings with oil after seasoning. This helps the skin get crispy.
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Marinate (optional): For extra flavor, marinate wings in a zip-top bag with a marinade like Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and spices for up to 24 hours.
Setting Up Your Grill
To cook turkey wings properly without burning or drying them out, you’ll need to setup your grill for indirect heat:
On a gas grill: Preheat grill to medium-high heat, then turn off the burners under where the wings will go. Leave burners on only on one side to generate indirect heat.
On a charcoal grill: Bank hot coals to one side, leaving the other side empty. Wings will go over the empty side.
The indirect heat allows wings to cook gently and evenly without burning. If desired, you can quickly sear them over direct heat at the end to crisp the skin.
Grilling Times for Turkey Wings
Turkey wings need a relatively long grill time to become tender:
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1 – 1 1⁄2 pounds: 60 – 75 minutes
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1 1⁄2 – 2 pounds: 75 – 90 minutes
Rotate wings and swap their positions once halfway through grilling to ensure even cooking. Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness; wings are safe to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. If browning unevenly, quickly sear all sides over direct heat.
Basting, Glazing, and Saucing Turkey Wings
One advantage of grilling is getting to add fun flavors with sauce and glazes. Here are tips for incorporating them:
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Brushing with oil: Occasionally basting wings with oil helps keep the skin from drying out.
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Flavorful glazes: Whisk things like honey, brown sugar, hot sauce, soy sauce, hoisin, etc. into a glaze and brush on wings during the last 10-15 minutes of grilling.
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Quick sauces: Toss cooked wings with thick, sticky sauces like barbecue, buffalo, or Asian. The sauce will cling nicely to the charred exterior.
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Avoid sugary sauces too early: Sauces with a lot of sugar in them can burn if applied too soon. Wait until late in the grilling process.
7 Delicious Turkey Wing Recipes to Try Grilling
If you’re new to cooking turkey wings on the grill, start with these fantastic recipes:
1. Classic BBQ Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, barbecue rub, barbecue sauce
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Method: Season wings with a bold barbecue rub. Grill over indirect heat, basting with barbecue sauce at the end to glaze.
2. Jerk Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, store-bought jerk seasoning/marinade
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Method: Marinate wings in a jamaican jerk sauce. Grill over indirect heat until cooked through.
3. Honey Sriracha Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, sriracha sauce, honey, soy sauce, cilantro
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Method: Toss cooked wings in a sticky glaze of sriracha, honey, and soy. Garnish with cilantro.
4. Thai Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, thai red curry paste, coconut milk
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Method: Marinate wings in thai curry paste and coconut milk. Grill until done, then toss with chopped peanuts.
5. Mediterranean Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil
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Method: Marinate wings in a lemony Greek dressing. Grill and finish with a squirt of fresh lemon juice.
6. Buffalo Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, hot sauce, butter
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Method: Grill wings over indirect heat. Toss cooked wings in a creamy buffalo sauce (butter + hot sauce).
7. Teriyaki Turkey Wings
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Ingredients: Turkey wings, teriyaki sauce/marinade
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Method: Marinate wings in teriyaki sauce. Grill over indirect heat, glazing again with more teriyaki at the end.
Mastering the Grill Times
Grilling turkey wings requires patience since they need a fairly long cooking time over moderate heat. Here are some tips:
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Resist the urge to grill them over direct high heat, which leads to burning.
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Allow 1 – 1 1⁄2 hours for wings to fully cook through. Check doneness with a meat thermometer.
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If browning unevenly, quickly sear the wings over direct heat at the end.
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Brush with oil or glaze during grilling if wings appear dry. Keeping them moist prevents drying out.
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For extra smoky flavor, add hardwood chips to grill, either over direct heat or in a foil pouch.
With the right techniques, you’ll be rewarded with finger lickin’ good grilled turkey wings!
Serving Up Your Grilled Wings
The possibilities for serving grilled turkey wings are endless! Here are some fun ideas:
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Offer as an appetizer for a backyard barbecue or tailgate party. Provide wet wipes for easy finger-food eating!
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Serve wings on a platter with crunchy celery and carrot sticks and ranch or blue cheese dip.
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Pile wings on a hoagie roll for a fun handheld meal. Top with pickles, slaw, and barbecue sauce.
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Chop grilled wings and toss with pasta, lettuce, diced tomatoes, parmesan, and dressing for a tasty turkey wing pasta salad.
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Stuff grilled wings into tacos or quesadillas along with cheese, guacamole, and pickled onions.
However you choose to enjoy them, properly grilled turkey wings are sure to be a hit! Juicy, smoky, and packed with finger-licking flavor, grilled turkey wings make for a fun, satisfying meal.
3 The Cook
- When you’re at temp, put cooking oil on a folded paper towel. Grab the oiled paper towel with long-handled tongs and oil the grate thoroughly.
- Place the turkey wing sections on the hot side of the grill and cook for approximately 5 minutes per side until browned and crisp.
- Then, move the turkey wing sections to the cool side of the grill.
- Cover the grill, and allow the wings to smoke for about 40 minutes, until cooked through, and have reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F on a digital meat thermometer.
- Apply your favorite BBQ sauce to the wings and allow them to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the sauce is sticky.
For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
1 Food Prep
Fuel: We recommend We recommend Kingsford® Original Charcoal Briquets. Also add 3 or 4 chunks of Kingsford® BBQ Smoking Chunks. Be sure to soak the chunks in water for at least 30 minutes before spreading them onto the coals.
Temp: 400°F (Medium Heat)
Crispy Grilled Turkey Wings
FAQ
How long does it take to cook wings on the grill?
How many hours does it take to grill a turkey?
Why are my turkey wings tough?
How do you cook Turkey wings on a grill?
Place the turkey wings in a pot, cover with the water and bring to a boil. Cover the pan with a lid and boil the wings gently for 15 minutes, then set them aside in the broth until ready to grill. To make the grilling sauce, mix together all the remaining ingredients and set side. You should have about ½ cup.
How do you cook chicken wings on a grill?
When ready to grill, remove the wings from the broth (freezing the stock for future use in soup or stew), place them on a grill (preferably with a cover) over medium-high to high heat, cover and grill for about 12 minutes. Turn the wings over (the underside should be nicely browned) and brush them with the sauce.
Are smoked turkey wings good for grilling?
Smoked Turkey Wings are a Huge Hit! Simple – This recipe uses Turkey Wings, a dry rub and olive oil spray, which is used as a binding agent. Once it is on the grill, it is hands-off! Inexpensive – Turkey Wings are usually inexpensive and I can find them on sale periodically at the grocery store.
How do you Grill Turkey wings on a Traeger Grill?
It also comes with a brine kit to knock out the brining task in one easy step. The simplest way to grill turkey wings on Traeger grill is at a temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Preheat the grill for around 15 minutes with the lid closed, then set the wings inside.