Baked Turkey Wings

Article By: Emily Saladino

This baked turkey wings recipe uses an easy, two-step approach to ensure the meat is perfectly tender and the skin is crunchy, deeply seasoned, and golden brown. The Food Network Kitchen team streamlined the process so most of the time is hands-off, too.

How to Make Baked Turkey Wings Like a Pro

A few simple tips keep turkey wings baked in the oven moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Here’s what the Food Network Kitchen team recommends.

Start with split wings. When you split turkey wings into drumettes and flats, the pieces cook and brown evenly and are easier to serve and eat. Since wing tips can burn in the oven, our recipe developers suggest removing them and saving them for turkey broth.

Dry the wings. Pat the turkey wings with paper towels before you season and bake them to eliminate extra surface moisture. This helps them crisp up in the oven.

Don’t rush the dry brine. Let the turkey wings sit for 8 to 24 hours in a mixture of salt, brown sugar, and spices to pack in flavor and tenderize the meat. Our recipe developers say that the salt in the dry brine is especially crucial: It draws out moisture from the turkey, and then the seasonings dissolve into that liquid and reabsorb into the meat.

Try different seasonings. Swap in white pepper, add dried basil or oregano, or bump up the amount of cayenne in the dry rub to customize the flavors of your oven-baked turkey wings.

Cover the pan. The Food Network Kitchen team finds that keeping the pan covered while you’re baking turkey wings in the oven locks in their internal moisture and allows the meat to cook gently, so it stays tender.

How Long to Bake Turkey Wings in the Oven

Bake turkey wings in the oven in a covered pan for two hours at 350 degrees Fahrenheit; then, uncover the pan and raise the heat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to crisp the skin.

The long duration helps the meat cook evenly and stay moist, the Food Network Kitchen team says. The final step quickly expels any surface moisture, so the baked turkey wings turn out golden brown with crunchy skin.

Baked Turkey Wings Meals

Baking turkey wings in the oven not only makes your kitchen smell delicious, but it also gives you plenty of time and counter space to prepare sides to round out the meal.

Serve baked turkey wings with creamy mashed potatoes or tangy potato salad, plus classic buttered green beans, sautéed vegetables, or a leafy green salad. Or make them part of a party or game-day buffet with slices of cornbread, garlicky veggie dip with crudite, and pimento cheese with crackers.