How Long To Boil Smoked Turkey Wings?

In this guide, you will learn how long to boil smoked turkey wings. This smoked turkey wings recipe is ideal for the holiday season, intelligently easy, and usually hands-off.

The wings are slow-smoked to juicy, crunchy perfection; they make the perfect nutritious appetizer or main course.

As you might be aware, turkey is similar to a chicken in a way that it comes with several mouth-watering cuts and a lot of delectable ways to cook it, including the wings.

Normally, I bake turkey wings, but since getting a smoker, Now, I’ve gotten a bit addicted to using any cut of protein in it.

Even though a lot of people usually smoke turkey breasts, I’ve customized my smoked chicken wings to do the wings but tweaked the cooking time and the seasonings. And these wings are undoubtedly an absolute winner.

Smoking Turkey Breasts And Legs

This recipe is for smoking turkey wings; however, the same dry rub and smoked flavor would also taste amazing on a turkey leg or breast.

With that being said, you should expect the breast to take 3 to 4 hours to smoke, while a full-sized drumstick will take about 3 hours.

Smoked Turkey Wings Recipe

This smoked turkey wings recipe is simple to make and yields turkey wings that are succulent and juicy with a rich, smoky flavor.

Course: Entrée
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Marinate Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 14 hours and 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

• Wireless meat thermometer
• Grilling heat-proof gloves
• Masterbuilt electric smoker
• Western wood chips

Ingredients

Wet Brine

• 2 cups of ice water
• 1 cup of ice
• 2 tablespoons of kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 2 cups of vegetable stock

Turkey Wings

• 3 Ibs of turkey wings, four wings (approximately ¾ Ib each)
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder

Laid-Out Instructions

In the section below, you will learn how to boil smoked turkey wings and, in turn, how long to boil smoked turkey wings.

Wet Brine

• To make the wet brine, you are to first add the vegetable stock and seasonings to a saucepan and then bring the mixture to a boil, ensuring that all the kosher salt has dissolved. After that, remove it from the heat.
• Allow the brining mixture to cool for 15 minutes, then add the ice to the mixture and pour it into a container large enough to hold the turkey wings. For this process, you can use a large zip-lock bag.
• When that is done, add the turkey wings to the brine, then add enough water to cover them.
• You are to also cover the container with cling wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least four hours (I suggest you do it overnight).
• Now, remove the turkey from the brine and ensure that you remove any excess liquid.

Turkey Wings

• To make this, you are to get a small bowl and add the garlic powder, black pepper, and onion powder to it and mix to combine. I don’t use so many spices in the dry rub since the brine will give most of the flavor to the turkey.
• After that, pat the legs dry with paper towels, then season the wings on all sides using the dry seasoning mixture.
• That being done, preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and allow the wings to come to room temperature while the smoker preheats. This will help them cook more evenly.
• Proceed to add your favorite wood chips to the smoker tube when the smoker has reached 275 degrees F. In my case, I use hickory wood chips for this recipe.
• Afterward, place the turkey wings directly on the smoker rack with a drip pan underneath to catch all the drippings.
• Then, place a temp probe in the thickest part of the wing. Keep in mind that we are cooking at an internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit; cook times will differ based on the size of the turkey and type of smoker.
• Make sure you remove them from the smoker when the wings have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• Allow them to rest for 15 minutes before you serve them, as this will give the juice time to redistribute.

Storage Instructions

Well, unlike chicken wings, which should normally be enjoyed fresh, leftover smoked turkey wings can be kept. Below is how you can do it.

If you intend to store, just get a sealable container and place the leftover wings in it, then store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

And, if you want to freeze to get extended storage, just place the wings in a tightly sealed container and store them in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Lastly, to reheat, microwave thaw will dry out these juicy wings. So, for the best taste, I suggest you cover them with foil and reheat them in an air fryer or oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Smoke Turkey Wings?

It can take anywhere from 1 ½ hours to 2 hours or so to cook, as this is based on the size and thickness of your wings.

However, remember that it is quite important that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest section. Ensure that it does not touch the bone.

Make sure you don’t allow the wings to smoke for too long, given that they might become drier.

What Temperature Do You Smoke Turkey Wings?

I suggest that you smoke the turkey wings at a lower temperature to prevent them from cooking too quickly and drying out.

For the best results, you should try to maintain a steady temperature between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Do You Serve With Smoked Turkey Wings?

There are an unlimited number of side dishes that you can serve with smoked turkey wings.

And some of my favorites include corn on the cob, roasted vegetables, side salad, and potato salad.

Do You Wrap Turkey Wings In Foil When Smoking?

Typically, when smoking, you really should not wrap your turkey wings in foil.

However, you can cover them with foil if they are baking too quickly, but otherwise, there’s no reason for you to cover or wrap them while cooking.

Wrapping or covering it in aluminum foil during the whole smoking process could lead to soggy skin.

Should I Smoke The Wings Whole Or Split Them?

Well, this is based on your personal preference. However, keep in mind that splitting the wings will help them cook more evenly and will help you achieve browner skin.

Even so, there’s not a lot of meat on the wings, and one whole turkey wing is the perfect single serving, so I suggest you keep them whole.

What’s the Best Wood for Smoking Turkey Wings?

Still, this is certainly a personal preference, but I prefer to use fruit wood to smoke wings.

If you want a milder smoky flavor, go for cherry wood or apple wood, and if you prefer a more prominent smoke flavor, just use maple, hickory, or pecan wood.

Final Thoughts

These smoked turkey wings are generously dusted with a boldly flavored BBQ dry rub and imbued with mesquite smoke.

They are also rather quick to cook, at least for a smoker. This concludes this guide, as you now know how long to boil smoked turkey wings.