Jump to Recipe· 5 from 2 reviews

These baked turkey wings are a succulent appetizer or main dish for the holiday season! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with simple ingredients.

Though I didn’t originally grow up in the South, I’m one of the many transplants that has fallen in love with many Southern favorites like Southern Fried Cabbage & Sausage, and Sausage Balls. Turkey wings are another tender and juicy Southern classic, and I knew that Thankgiving was the perfect time to share my take on it.

These baked turkey wings are my take on a classic, topped with a decadent orange glaze, making it perfect for the holidays!

Table of contents

Why you’ll love these Baked Turkey Wings

  • They’re easy to make! These baked turkey wings are delicious and have great flavor but require very little hands-on time.
  • It’s the perfect alternative if you don’t want to make a whole turkey. Though I do love my recipe for orange whole turkey , if you’re hosting a smaller gathering or just want less work, this is recipe, or even my baked turkey tenderloin is a great alternative!
  • Great for an appetizer or main course. I love how versatile these turkey wings are for serving as an appetizer for a holiday gathering, or adding a vegetable and calling it a winter dinner!

Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients for baked turkey wings and an orange glaze laid out in separate bowls.
  • Turkey Wings.
  • Dry rub.
  • Chicken Broth.
  • Orange glaze ingredients. We make a homemade custom glaze with orange juice, coconut aminos, and honey.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Maple syrup. This would be the perfect swap for honey!
  • Liquid aminos. You can swap this for coconut aminos, but keep in mind it has a higher sodium content and you’ll have to adjust the salt level to taste.
  • Rosemary. I prefer to add thyme to these wings, but rosemary also works.
  • Paprika. I don’t personally tolerate nightshades, but if you can add smoked paprika, that would be a great addition to the dry rub.

How to make Baked Turkey Wings

Raw turkey wings on a paper towel.

Step one. Pat the turkey wings dry.

Raw turkey wings coated in a herb dry rub.

Step two. Coat the turkey wings in the dry rub and allow to sit for 20 minutes.

Raw turkey wings in a baking dish with chicken broth.

Step three. Add the turkey wings to a baking dish.

Cooked turkey wings in a baking pan.

Step four. Bake the turkey wings until crisp.

Turkey wings in a bowl topped with an orange glaze.

Step five. Prep the glaze and coat the turkey wings.

One turkey wing on a plate with a fork.

Step six. Serve fresh with thyme leaves!

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure you baste your turkey wings! This ensures that they stay nice and moist. You can use a turkey baster or carefully spoon the liquid over the wings with a large spoon.
  • Use a digital meat thermometer. I always cook with a thermometor to make sure that I don’t over or under cook my proteins.

Serving Suggestions

These turkey wings pair perfectly with sides like…

Baked Turkey Wings FAQS

Where do you buy turkey wings?

Turkey wings are one of those things that are much easier to find during the holiday season. I easily found them at sprouts, but it’s something that you can likely find at a specialty butcher depending on the season.

How can you get turkey wings super crispy in the oven?

One key to making sure your wings get crispy is patting them down before you add the dry rub! However, if you still want them even crispier, you can turn on the broiler for 2-3 minutes at the end of the cook time.

How do you cut turkey wings?

It really just depends on the butcher, but many times, you’ll see turkey wings sold whole. To separate the flat from the drumette, you’ll want to use a sharp butcher knife to carefully cut between these two parts, where the wing makes a V. Set the drumette to the side, and repeat the process with the flat, to remove the small tip of the wing.

Baked turkey wings on a plate topped with thyme, with a small bowl of thyme on the side.

If you tried these Baked Turkey Wings or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting! 

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Baked Turkey Wings

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Michelle
  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Stovetop, Oven
  • Cuisine: Global
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

These baked turkey wings are a succulent appetizer or main dish for the holiday season! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

For the wings

  • 2 lbs turkey wings
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • Salt and pepper (omit pepper for AIP)
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 cup chicken broth

For the glaze & topping 

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 3 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • A spoonful of turkey pan drippings
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Pat the turkey wings dry and transfer them to a large bowl. Toss the dry seasonings together and coat the wings, tossing to totally coat the wings. Allow the wings to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
  3. Add the wings to a casserole dish, ensuring they don’t overlap, and top with avocado oil and chicken broth. Cover and transfer to the oven to bake for 90 minutes – 2 hours, depending on how thick the wings are. Carefully remove the cover and baste the turkey wings ever 20-30 minutes.
  4. Turn the oven up to 400 F and remove the cover for the last 15 minutes to allow the wings to crisp. They should be cooked to 165 F and be tender and crisp. Remove the wings from the oven and rest while you prep the glaze.  
  5. To make the glaze, combine orange juice, coconut aminos, honey, and a spoonful of the turkey pan drippings in a saucepan. Stir to combine and simmer until the mixture is reduced to a thick glaze, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and orange zest. Stir until the garlic is fragrant. 
  6. Add the wings (without the remainder of the cooking liquid) to a large bowl and toss with the glaze to coat.
  7. Add to a serving platter topped with fresh thyme leaves and serve warm!

Notes

The availability of turkey wings will always vary significantly by region and by season. I find that Turkey wings are easy to find in November and December in major grocery store chains.

If you want to add some spice to this recipe, add paprika to the dry rub, and/or top the wings with crushed rep pepper. 

Recommended tools: Turkey baster and a meat thermometer. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 291
  • Fat: 17.8g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.5g
  • Fiber: .4g
  • Protein: 23.3g