Turkey wings are just about the only part of the bird thats tough, which means theyre not ideally suited to quick meal preparation. However, you can enjoy a tasty meal by making Crock-Pot turkey wings.
This is good news for frugal cooks who appreciate the wings economical pricing and the Crock-Pots convenience. Simmering the wings simply in broth for several hours leaves them tender and flavorful, and produces potent soup stock as a side benefit.
Cooking turkey wings in a crock pot is one of the easiest and most flavorful ways to prepare this tasty dish With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can achieve deliciously tender wings that fall right off the bone.
Benefits of Using a Crock Pot
There are several advantages to using a slow cooker rather than oven roasting or pan frying turkey wings
- Requires minimal prep and cleanup – simply throw the wings in with seasoning.
- Yields incredibly moist, fall-off-the-bone meat as it braises for hours.
- Infuses the wings with lots of flavor as they cook in their juices and spices.
- Allows you to avoid monitoring and flipping the wings frequently.
- Keeps your kitchen cooler than firing up the oven.
- Frees up oven space for side dishes.
Purchasing and Prepping the Wings
When buying wings for the crock pot, look for:
- Whole wings still attached at the drumette, wingette, and tip for more meat.
- Around 2-3 pounds of wings to serve 3-4 people.
- Fresh, raw wings rather than pre-cooked for best texture.
Rinsing the wings and patting them dry is all the prep needed. You can separate the drumette from wingette if desired.
Seasoning Your Wings
One benefit of crock pot wings is how the slow cooking infuses them with flavors. Try these easy seasoning ideas:
- Barbecue chicken seasoning – A blend of paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Cajun seasoning – A spicy blend with cayenne, black pepper, onion, and garlic.
- Ranch seasoning – Garlic, dill, onion powder, parsley, and pepper.
- Lemon pepper – Brightens wings with citrus and cracked black pepper.
- Brown sugar and chili powder – For a sweet heat flavor.
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika – A simple but tasty combo.
Resist over-seasoning as the wings will get saltier as they cook. Start with 1-2 teaspoons of seasoning per pound of wings.
Choosing Your Cooking Liquid
The liquid provides moisture and imparts extra flavor. Use around 1 cup of liquid for 2-3 pounds of wings. Options include:
- Chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth – Use low sodium varieties.
- Apple cider – Provides a hint of sweetness.
- Wine or beer – White wines or amber beers work well.
- Water – Add extra seasoning to infuse the water with flavor.
Too much liquid will make the wings soggy rather than nicely glazed and tender.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps:
- Pat 2-3 pounds of whole wings dry and place in the crock pot.
- Season all over with spices and herbs (about 1-2 tsp per pound).
- Pour 1 cup cooking liquid like broth, cider, or wine over
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Step 2: Place Veggies in Cooker
Include vegetables in you turkey wings in a Crock-Pot recipe. Place veggies on the bottom of your slow cooker. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, veggies take longer to cook than the meat.
Cover the bottom of your slow cooker with coarsely chopped onion, celery and carrot — a mixture known to professional chefs as mirepoix — and stack the slow cooker turkey wings on top of the aromatic vegetables.
Mirepoix should be half onion, with the other half divided evenly between carrots and celery. Too much mirepoix gives broth a vegetable rather than a meat flavor, but In this case you can use up to a cup of mirepoix with 2 to 4 cups of broth. The turkey wings have a strong enough flavor to dominate the vegetables.
Step 3: Add Some Liquid
Pour in 2 to 3 cups of turkey, chicken or vegetable broth, enough to make a pool 2 inches deep in the bottom of the slow cooker. Season the broth with black pepper, but no salt unless its a low-sodium broth. Cover the pot and plug it in, then turn the cooker on.
Its best to use turkey broth, but either vegetable or chicken broth will absorb turkey flavor from the Crock-Pot turkey wings.
Crock-Pot Turkey WIngs!
FAQ
How to keep turkey moist in a slow cooker?
Use several paper towels to thoroughly dry the skin to keep the butter from slipping. Use your fingers to separate the skin from the breast meat. Spread the herb butter all over, making sure to reach to the back of the breast. Add the broth and aromatics, then slow cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Do you have to put water in a crock pot when cooking meat?
Yes, for most crock pot recipes you must have a liquid included whether it be a beef, vegetable, chicken broth or water. Otherwise the food the you are cooking in your crock pot will dry out and as a result will be overcooked.
How do I cook turkey wings?
Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place turkey wings on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until cooked through, deeply golden brown, and very, very crisp, 35–40 minutes.
Can you cook a turkey in a slow cooker?
Season the turkey all over and put in the slow cooker with all the remaining ingredients, along with 1 litre of water. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 3-4 hrs until no pink meat remains, or a meat thermometer reads 75C at the thickest part of the breast.
How long do you cook Turkey wings in a crock pot?
Set the crock pot to low heat and let the turkey wings cook for 6-8 hours. Cooking at a low and slow temperature ensures that the meat becomes tender and succulent. 7. After the cooking time has elapsed, check the turkey wings for doneness. They should be fully cooked and the meat should easily come off the bone.
What is the recipe for crockpot chicken?
Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipe might just be the main dish you’ve been looking for. One serving contains 210 calories, 28g of protein, and 6g of fat. Get chicken thighs, garlic powder, chili flakes and some natural seasoning.
How do you make crock pot Turkey wings soggy?
Wine or beer – White wines or amber beers work well. Water – Add extra seasoning to infuse the water with flavor. Use around 1 cup of liquid for 2-3 pounds of wings. Too much will make them soggy rather than nicely glazed and tender. Follow these simple steps for foolproof crock pot turkey wings:
How do you thicken Turkey wings in a crockpot?
So combine cornstarch with enough water to thin it out. Then add it to the crockpot during the last hour of cooking. Cream of chicken – The cream of chicken, by Campbell’s soup, adds an amazing flavor to the turkey wings, and it adds thickness and richness to the gravy as well.
How do you make turkey wing gravy in a crockpot?
Slurry for gravy: In a big bowl, combine the turkey broth, cream of chicken, and flour, then stir well. Add the slurry to the crockpot then sprinkle in the Rosemary and Thyme leaves. Preparing the Turkey wings: Place the turkey wings in a big bowl or dish and season both sides. Place a skillet over high heat and add in the oil.
How do you marinate Turkey wings in a crock pot?
Sticky Asian Turkey Wings: In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and a splash of rice vinegar. Marinate the turkey wings in this mixture overnight. Place the wings in the crock pot with the marinade and cook for 8-10 hours on low.