Smokey Baked Turkey Wings
Marinated with roasted peppers, chipotles in adobe sauce, and a handful of herbs and spices, these Smoky Baked Turkey Wings are delightfully crispy with just the perfect amount of heat. Easy to make, these turkey wings in the oven are perfect for casual dinners and special occasions alike.
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These baked turkey wings may be my new favorite way to cook turkey. They’re marinated in a simple sauce made with chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and roasted red peppers that gives them an incredibly smoky, warm flavor without being too spicy. (Though I have included suggestions below for turning the heat down even more!)
I wasn’t sure that crispy turkey wings in the oven were possible but this recipe provided me wrong. If you have the convection setting on your oven, you won’t even need to flip them to ensure every side is perfectly crispy.
Another thing I love about this recipe is that it can easily be prepared a night in advance or even turned into a freezer meal. More on that below!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Turkey wings – whole or separated, it doesn’t matter.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – Be sure to remove the seeds from the peppers.
- Adobo sauce – Adds the smoky flavor and subtle heat that makes these baked turkey wings stand out.
- Roasted red peppers – Jarred red peppers add even more of a smoky flavor with a slightly sweet undertone.
- Oil – I recommend canola oil or avocado oil – your choice.
- Herbs & spices – These crispy baked turkey wings are seasoned with garlic, cilantro, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Lemon – Half of a juiced lemon adds a bit of acidity to the dish.
- Green onions – A final garnish just before serving.
How to Make Smoky Baked Turkey Wings
- These baked turkey wings begin with a marinade. Blend the peppers, adobe sauce, garlic, paprika, cilantro, salt, and oil in a blender until smooth.
- Place the turkey wings and the chipotle mixture in a large bowl. Mix well to coat, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
- When the wings are fully marinated, preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the wings on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake until crispy for 35 to 40 minutes, double-checking that the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- I like to use the convection setting for these to create extra crispy baked turkey wings but if you don’t have this setting option, just flip the turkey wings every 15 minutes so they get crisp on all sides. Baste with the reserved marinade with every rotation. Or if you prefer you can use an air-fryer to cook these. Just reduce the time to about 25 minutes if using this method and keep an eye on them.
- Before serving, squeeze the lemon juice over the top of the baked turkey wings and sprinkle with sliced green onions.
Are These Crispy Baked Turkey Wings Spicy?
Yes, these turkey wings do have a bit of a kick to them but they aren’t too spicy. If you want to tone down the spice, you can leave out the extra adobo sauce and/or replace all but one chipotle pepper with the roasted red peppers.
Can These Crispy Turkey Wings Be Made in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can definitely make these smoky turkey wings in the air fryer. You don’t even have to change the recipe at all – just follow the directions for the convection method.
Since all ovens and air fryers are different they may crisp up and cook faster in an air fryer so check them at about 25 minutes. Make sure though that the internal temperature in the meatiest part is 160°F before taking them out.
Serving Suggestions
This turkey wing recipe will pair with pretty much any side dish you’d like. If you’d like to stick with traditional holiday-like sides, you can never go wrong with some sweet potato crunch or fluffy mashed potatoes.
I also really love these roasted vegetables and Italian potato salad.
A bright green salad is never a bad idea either!
Can I Make This Recipe With Chicken or Other Cuts of Poultry?
You bet! This smoky chipotle marinade would be incredible on chicken wings or even chicken thighs, as well as other cuts of poultry. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time according to the cut of meat and you’ll be good to go.
You could even use this marinade on pork chops.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover turkey wings can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the oven or microwave, just take care to not reheat them too much so as to dry them out.
Can I Turn These Baked Turkey Legs Into a Freezer Meal?
Yes, this makes a great freezer meal recipe!
Prepare the marinade as directed and pop the wings and marinade in a resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as normal.
More Great Turkey Recipes:
- Herbed Honey Baked Turkey Breast
- Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
- One-Pot Turkey Chili
- Oven Roasted Turkey Made Simply
- Individual Turkey Pot Pie
Smokey Baked Turkey Wings
Ingredients
- 2 lb turkey wings; whole or split
- ¼ cup canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce; seeds removed
- ¼ cup jarred roasted red peppers
- ¼ cup canola or avocado oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ cup cilantro; about a 1/4 bunch
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ lemon; juiced
- 2 green onions; sliced on an angle.
Instructions
- Add the chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, roasted red peppers, garlic, paprika, cilantro, salt, and oil in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Place the turkey wings in a large dish and add the chipotle mixture. Mix well to coat the turkey wings. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400°F on the convection setting. Place the turkey wings on a parchment-lined or non-stick baking tray and bake in the oven until crispy for 30-35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. If your oven does not have a convection setting flip the wings every 15 minutes and add about 10 more minutes to the cooking time.
- Remove from the oven, squeeze the lemon juice over top and sprinkle with the sliced green onions before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
