Smoked Turkey Wings are smoky and flavorful with a little spice. They are the perfect way to enjoy turkey in the summer and a delicious alternative to chicken wings. These wings can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish.
Last Thanksgiving, my husband smoked a whole turkey. Plenty of family was coming over, so I also cooked a turkey in the oven in case the smoked one didn’t turn out right.
As it turned out, the smoked turkey was the star of the entire meal. We thought of other smoked turkey recipes we could make after making this one because everyone loved it.
The obvious first choice are these Smoked Turkey Wings. I used the same chipotle dry rub that I use in my Chipotle-Honey Barbecue Ribs recipe. If you want a less spicy version, you can use regular chili powder instead of the chipotle chili powder.
Smoking turkey wings at 225°F produces tender, juicy meat with incredible smoked flavor But exactly how long does it take? The answer depends on a few key factors In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to perfectly smoke turkey wings, including brining, cooking times, temp monitoring, and more.
Overview of Smoking Turkey Wings
Smoking is a terrific way to prepare turkey wings. The low, indirect heat gently cooks the meat while infusing it with smoky richness Follow these basic steps
- Brine the wings to boost moisture and flavor
- Apply a dry rub or sauce for seasoning
- Smoke at 225-250°F until fully cooked and tender
- Rest, sauce, and serve
Brining is highly recommended as it makes the wings extra juicy and well-seasoned. A simple brine of salt, sugar, and water works great. Allow the wings to brine for at least 2-4 hours.
For flavor, coat the wings with a dry rub or sauce before smoking. Spice blends with paprika, garlic, pepper, and onion are excellent. Barbecue sauce also adds sweet, tangy flavor.
How Long to Smoke Turkey Wings at 225°F?
When smoking turkey wings at 225°F, it takes approximately:
- 1 hour per pound for unbrined wings
- 45-60 minutes per pound for brined wings
So if you have 2 pounds of brined turkey wings, plan for 90-120 minutes of smoking time.
These times are a general estimate. The exact duration can vary based on the size and shape of the wings, your smoker conditions, altitude, and other factors.
Internal Temperature
Rather than rely solely on time, use an instant-read thermometer to determine doneness. Turkey wings are fully cooked and safe to eat at 165°F.
Probe the thickest part of the meat, avoiding bone, to get an accurate reading. If they finish early, simply hold them in the smoker at 145°F until ready to serve.
Step-by-Step Guide to Smoking Turkey Wings
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly smoked wings every time:
1. Brine the Wings
- Make a simple brine using salt, brown sugar, spices, and water
- Submerge turkey wings and brine for 2-4 hours
- Rinse wings and pat dry
Brining ensures the wings stay incredibly moist and absorb flavor beautifully.
2. Prepare the Rub
- In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar
- Coat the wings generously with the rub
The rub adds a flavorful, textured bark when smoked.
3. Smoke the Wings
- Preheat smoker to 225-250°F
- Place wings directly on the racks
- Smoke for 45-60 minutes per pound, until 165°F
- Or smoke unbrined wings for 1 hour per pound
Maintain even, low heat and avoid peeking for best results.
4. Remove and Rest
- Carefully remove wings from the smoker
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving
Resting allows juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness.
5. Sauce and Serve
- Coat the smoked wings with your favorite sauce
- Serve warm alongside classic sides
Enjoy the wings fresh off the smoker or toss in sauce for a sticky, messy treat. Dig in!
Turkey Wing Smoking Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional pointers for getting perfect results when smoking turkey wings:
- Use a water pan in the smoker for moisture and even heating
- Rotate the wings midway through for even cooking
- Add a chunk or two of smoking wood for flavor
- Monitor temperature at the thickest part, avoiding bone
- Don’t peek too much or heat will escape
- Let the wings rest before saucing or serving
- To make them extra tender, smoke at 250-275°F after reaching temp
- Serve with biscuits, coleslaw, cornbread, and pickles
With minimal hands-on time, smoking turkey wings is an easy way to enjoy tender, succulent meat and incredible barbecue flavor. Brine them first for the juiciest results. Then coat with your favorite rub or sauce and smoke low and slow at 225-250°F until fully cooked. It may take some trial and error to dial in the ideal timing, but using a thermometer is foolproof. Let the wings rest before serving for maximum juiciness. Smoked turkey wings make for fantastic appetizers, game day treats, or casual dinners.
Why This Recipe Works
This is a very easy recipe to create. The wings are just rubbed with the dry rub and left to sit for at least an hour before being put on the smoker for a couple of hours.
They are the smoky and spicy. We enjoyed them right off the smoker, but you could also add a barbecue sauce if you like.
These wings are gluten free and low in carbohydrates.
- 3 pounds of turkey wings. You can leave them whole or cut them into flats and drumsticks if you’d like.
- You can use regular chili powder instead of chipotle chili powder if you want a less spicy version.
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil: the oil will keep the wings moist while you smoke them.
In the recipe card at the end of this post, you can also find the full recipe with steps. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Cut the wings into flats and drumsticks, if preferred.
Pat the wings dry with paper towels and add to a large bowl or plastic bag.
Smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and onion powder should all be mixed together well in a small bowl.
Once you add the oil and seasoning to the bowl with the turkey wings, toss them around to cover all of the meat.
Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour.
When you are ready to begin cooking, preheat your smoker to 225-250°F.
Place the wings over indirect heat.
Add wood chips and maintain a steady smoke. We use pecan wood chips, but cherry or maple wood chips would also work well.
Cover and smoke for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portion (not touching the bone).
Remove the wings and let them rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve as is, or with your favorite sauce.
- You don’t have to separate the wings into drumsticks and flats, but you can if you want to.
- This recipe works best with pecan, maple, or cherry wood chips.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 days.
What Temperature Do You Smoke Turkey Wings?
Turkey wings should be smoked at a lower temperature so they don’t cook too quickly and dry out. Try to maintain a steady smoke between 225-250°F for the best results.
BEST BAKED SMOKED TURKEY WINGS!!! How to Make it the RIGHT Way!
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke chicken wings at 225 degrees?
Is it OK to smoke a turkey at 225?
Are smoked turkey wings fully cooked?
How long do you smoke Turkey wings?
Use this dry rub to coat the outside of the turkey wings. Smoke: Put the seasoned wings directly on the hot grill grates and smoke for about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until their internal temperature at the thickest part of the wing reaches 160 degrees F (use an instant-read thermometer).
How do you smoke a turkey wing?
With a smoker, your favorite hardwood, and turkey, learn to make the best-smoked turkey wings home. Step 1- Prep. Gently pat the turkey wings with paper towels and brush them with olive oil. Step 2- Season. Combine brown sugar and spices in a small bowl and season the turkey wings with the spice rub. Step 3- Smoke.
How many smoked turkey wings per person?
Depending on the size, plan on about 1-2 wings per person as a main course or appetizer. The two main methods for cooking smoked turkey wings are: Cold smoking: Smoking at temperatures under 200°F infuses flavor without cooking the wings through. This method requires an additional step of baking or grilling to fully cook.
What temperature do you smoke chicken wings?
Smoke the wings at 225 degrees. You will need to smoke the wings until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Cook time will vary based on the size of your wings. Flats will cook faster than drums. Keep a close watch and monitor if these need to be pulled from the smoker earlier than the other wings. I love to use apple.
Can you cook Turkey wings without a smoker?
Reheat gently in a 300°F oven or toaster oven until warmed through, 15-20 minutes. Microwaving can make the skin soggy. If you don’t have a designated smoker, you can still infuse delicious smoky flavor into turkey wings right in your oven. Here’s a simple oven-smoking method:
How do you cook Turkey wings in a crock pot?
Step 1- Prep. Gently pat the turkey wings with paper towels and brush them with olive oil. Step 2- Season. Combine brown sugar and spices in a small bowl and season the turkey wings with the spice rub. Step 3- Smoke. Place the wings in a preheated smoker and smoke until they reach 165°F, or for 2 hours. Step 4- Finish in the oven (optional).