When I reminisce of smothered turkey wings, 4 words come to mind… childhood, comfort food, family, and Sundays. Today, I found myself wandering down memory lane and felt compelled to share this classic recipe hoping it might find its way to your kitchen table.
If youre anything like me and prefer the simplicity of cooking turkey parts over the whole bird, this recipe is a game changer. It doesnt require a lot of ingredients, is simple, and the perfect comfort food for a Sunday dinner.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
The pantry staples were selected to bring out the most flavor in the turkey wings that were smothered in a rich savory gravy.
Opt for chicken broth or stock in place of water to infuse your smothered turkey wings with exceptional flavor.
When making gravy, start by sauteing onions and garlic in a mixture of butter and oil. Theres something about that hint of butter that turns your gravy from good to Wow. Do not rush this process.
Also, allow the rawness of the flour to cook out completely before adding your chicken broth.
Smothered turkey wings make for such a savory, delicious main dish. With their crispy skin, tender meat soaked in a rich, flavorful gravy, they are an absolute comfort food favorite. But what are the best side dishes to serve alongside these succulent wings to make a complete meal?
After testing out a variety of pairings, I’ve compiled a list of 16 of my favorite sides that complement smothered turkey wings wonderfully. These options range from classic Southern staples to fresh, vibrant veggie sides to balance the richness of the wings.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
You really can’t go wrong pairing smothered turkey wings with a classic like creamy mashed potatoes The smooth, rich potatoes are the ideal complement to the saucy wings Opt for Yukon Gold potatoes for an extra creamy consistency. Jazz them up with roasted garlic, chives, cheddar cheese, or your other favorite mix-ins. Drizzle the whole dish with some of that delicious turkey wing gravy for the ultimate comforting meal.
Mac and Cheese
Another classic pairing for smothered turkey wings is ooey-gooey mac and cheese. The cheesy velvety pasta combines so well with the savory wings. Make it extra decadent by using a mix of cheddar gruyere, and parmesan or spice it up with crispy bacon bits or sautéed mushrooms. The creaminess of the mac and cheese balances beautifully with the juicy turkey wings.
Cornbread
Warm, buttery cornbread is a standard accompaniment for smothered turkey wings. The slightly sweet cornbread soaks up all that delicious gravy and provides a textural contrast to the succulent wings Jazz it up by adding diced jalapeños, green onions, or sharp cheddar cheese to the batter Serve it warm right alongside the saucy wings for comfort food heaven.
Collard Greens
Earthy, vibrant collard greens make for a healthy, flavorful side with smothered turkey wings. Slow cook the greens with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and chicken broth for maximum depth of flavor. The greens will cut through the richness of the wings beautifully. For a lower fat option, swap the traditional ham hock for a smoked turkey leg when cooking.
Coleslaw
Cool, crisp coleslaw provides a refreshing contrast to hot, saucy smothered turkey wings. The tangy crunch of the cabbage pairs so nicely. Make a yummy coleslaw with a mayo-based dressing spiked with lemon juice, mustard, and a touch of sugar. Grated apple, shredded carrot, raisins, or dried cranberries add extra flavor, texture, and nutrition. Chill it for at least an hour before serving alongside the wings.
Green Beans
For a lighter, healthier accompaniment, go with fresh green beans. Sauté them with olive oil, garlic, onion, and a splash of chicken broth until crisp-tender. Toss in sliced almonds or crispy bacon bits for extra texture and flavor. For variation, use haricots verts or swap in asparagus or broccoli instead. The vibrant veggies balance the rich wings beautifully.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato wedges roasted to caramelized perfection make an indulgent pairing for smothered turkey wings. Coat the wedges in olive oil, sea salt, cumin, and chili powder before roasting at 400°F until crispy on the outside and soft inside. The natural sweetness plays off the savory wings spectacularly.
Glazed Carrots
For another sweet side, make deliciously glazed carrots. Simmer peeled baby carrots in butter, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and thyme until super tender. The sweet glaze complements the wings while the hint of garlic adds depth. Rough chop regular carrots for a chunkier texture. The burst of sweetness offsets the rich, savory gravy flawlessly.
Baked Beans
Old-fashioned baked beans doused in tangy barbecue sauce are a fun addition to a smothered turkey wing feast. Slow bake navy beans with onion, bacon, mustard, and brown sugar for those iconic flavors. Or speed things up by doctoring canned beans instead. The sweet, smoky beans pair perfectly with the succulent turkey wings.
Stuffing or Dressing
No turkey wing meal is complete without some sort of bread-based side dish, like stuffing or dressing. Make it with cubed bread, chicken stock, sautéed onions/celery, herbs, butter, and eggs. Add sausage, cranberries, pecans, or other mix-ins if desired. Bake as stuffing in the turkey itself or separately as dressing. Either way, it’s a warm, comforting accompaniment.
Creamed Spinach
Silky creamed spinach is an indulgent partner for smothered turkey wings. Make a rich sauce from butter, flour, garlic, cream, and spinach, finished with nutmeg and parmesan. The velvety greens balance the rich wings beautifully. The spinach offers a good nutritional boost as well.
Rice Pilaf
Simple rice pilaf provides a starchy base that soaks up all that delicious turkey wing gravy. Sauté rice with olive oil, garlic, and onion, then simmer in broth and seasonings until tender. Mix in peas, carrots, mushrooms or other vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition. The aromatic, buttery rice rounds out the saucy wings wonderfully.
Roasted Root Vegetables
An array of roasted root veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, and carrots makes a hearty, colorful side dish for smothered turkey wings. Toss the veggies in olive oil, rosemary, and other seasonings before roasting until caramelized. The natural sweetness complements the savory wings and gravy splendidly.
Corn Pudding
For a retro Southern side, whip up some creamy corn pudding. The sweet corn combined with eggs, cream, cheddar, and butter bakes up rich, moist, and delicious. Add some diced red bell peppers for extra flavor and color. It’s the ideal pairing for those saucy, juicy turkey wings, with contrasting sweet corn flavor.
Potato Salad
Creamy potato salad is a classic accompaniment for smothered turkey wings. Make it tangy and flavorful with a mayo and mustard dressing spiked with pickle juice, fresh herbs, garlic, and hot sauce. Let the flavors meld for at least an hour before serving alongside the juicy wings for a perfect match of flavors and textures.
Savory Bread Pudding
As an alternative to plain stuffing or dressing, make an impressive savory bread pudding with spinach, bacon, and cheddar. Cubed bread gets baked in a rich custard of eggs, cream, and cheese for an ultra creamy dish that pairs brilliantly with smothered turkey wings.
Glazed Pearl Onions
For a unique vintage twist, serve up glazed pearl onions with smothered turkey wings. Simmer the peeled onions in butter, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar until glossy and tender. The sweet-tangy onions complement the turkey wings beautifully.
How to Make Smothered Turkey Wings
I hope you stick around while I share the how-tos and insider tips for making mouth watering turkey wings in gravy. So, here we go:
- Prepare a baking sheet by misting it with avocado oil cooking spray to avoid wings from sticking.
- Wash and pat dry your turkey wings with paper towels before seasoning.
- Arrange wings on the prepared baking sheet and season generously.
- Bake them in a 375 degree preheated oven until they are beautifully brown and tender.
- When the turkey wings are just about done. Start on the homemade gravy.
- To a hot skillet, add butter and avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
- Add onions and saute until translucent. Then, add minced garlic and saute until fragrant.
- Add the flour to the same skillet and saute until the rawness is cooked out.
- Then, slowly add the white wine and chicken broth while whisking to avoid any lumps. Allow this to simmer until it thickens and flavor is reached. Season with a little more kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder if needed.
- Pour the gravy over the top of each turkey wings.
Store in any leftover in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. Then, place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place your smothered turkey wings on a baking dish or line a baking dish with foil and then into the oven until they are warm throughout.
- Sometime, I like having the butcher cut the turkey wings in half (this is totally optional), and I have them cut the tips off which I use for other things like adding flavor to beans or soups.
- When smothering your wings in gravy, use a perfectly sized baking dish, so your gravy doesnt spread out too much. You will want to be able to spoon the gravy over the top if you want.
- If you like a lot of gravy, I suggest doubling the ingredients for making the gravy.
- If your gravy looks lumpy, pour gravy through a sieve to catch the lumps then youre left with a smooth gravy.
- If your gravy is too thick add more liquid, if too then add more flour making sure to whisk continuously.
When baking, turkey wings should be cooked uncovered especially if youre going for a beautiful crispy golden brown skin. Theres nothing like a perfectly seasoned golden brown turkey wing. However, if youre looking to smother your baked turkey wings in a delicious gravy as in this recipe, the crispiness of the skin will be loss due to the nature of the gravy.
Sure can. Cooking times will differ though. In fact, chicken wings cook much faster than turkey wings which means that dinner will be served a lot faster.
Absolutely, prepare according to the directions. Then, when your smothered turkey wings have cooled off, place them in an air-tight container with a tight-fitting lid and warm gently the following day.
Without a doubt, rice is the ultimate companion when it comes to smothered turkey wings. Whats the point of velvety gravy without the warm embrace of rice.
Given the richness of this recipe, I recommend pairing it with a side that brings a touch of lightness and freshness. Here are a few of my favorites:
Smothered Turkey Wings #SoulFoodSunday
FAQ
What is a good side dish for smothered turkey wings?
Dinner Menu: Smothered Turkey Wings with Gravy on a bed of Yellow Rice, 5 Cheese Baked Mac, Cajun Potatoes with Bell Peppers/Onions, Collard Greens (Turkey), Candied Yams and a Honey/Butter Cornbread Muffin!!
What does turkey pair well with?
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Cranberry sauceThe tartness of cranberries complements the blander taste of turkey. -
Mashed potatoesA classic side dish that pairs well with turkey.
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Green beansYou can try green beans with bacon and brown sugar for a flavorful side.
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Sweet potato casseroleA crowd-pleaser that contrasts well with crispy turkey skin.
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Cornbread stuffingA Thanksgiving staple that can be made with sausage.
Why do you soak turkey wings in vinegar?
Soaking the wings in water, an acid (vinegar, lemon juice, etc.), and a little salt will clean off the wings in a flash. Make sure to dry your wings off.Nov 22, 2024
What are turkey wings good for?
Turkey wings are a great source of protein and nutrients like calcium, selenium, and iron. They have more flavor than turkey beasts, making them more pleasant to eat. You can cook them for comfort food or for a healthy protein option.