Smoked Turkey Wings
Learn how to cook smoked turkey wings using both a smoked wings brine and dry rub so you end up with tender, juicy meat; a smoky flavor, and crisp, fully rendered skin.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the Turkey Wings
- ¼ cup iodized salt, for brining
- ¼ cup sugar, for brining
- 4 turkey wings, from 2 birds
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For the Wing Sauce
- 4 Tablespoons melted butter
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons reserved spice mixture
Instructions
- Dissolve ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup sugar in 2 quarts cold water in large container. Submerge turkey wings in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
- In a bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons each onion powder and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon each dried oregano, paprika, chili powder, ground thyme, and black pepper. Measure out 2 teaspoons of the spice mix and set aside to use in wing sauce.
- Remove wings from brine (discard brine) and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle all over with remaining spice mixture and let sit at room temperature while you preheat the smoker to 275 degrees F. Fill with your choice of wood chips (I recommend hickory, apple, or pecan).
- Place wings in smoker and cook for 30 minutes at 275 degrees F, then reduce temperature to 250 degrees F and continue to smoke for another 2 to 2 ½ hours until they reach an internal temperature of 175 - 180 degrees F using an instant read thermometer. Transfer wings to a large plate or rimmed baking sheet. Collagen doesn’t fully break down at 165 degrees F. It needs more heat and time to transform into gelatin, which gives smoked turkey wings and legs that rich, silky, fall-apart texture.
- In a bowl, stir together all of the wing sauce ingredients. Brush the smoked turkey wings all over with the sauce.
- Turn grill burners on high and let the grill get nice and hot for about 5 minutes. Transfer wings to hot grill and cook on one side for 3 minutes, flip over and cook on the other side for 3 minutes more. Transfer turkey wings to platter and let rest for 10 minutes, then serve.
