Keep Turkey on the Menu With This Easy Turkey Wing Crock-Pot Recipe
Because it's a bird usually saved for holidays, you might not give turkey much thought as a dinner option after a long day at work – especially since it takes all day to cook and is way too big for your Crock-Pot. But turkey parts can certainly be slow-cooked, and turkey wings, especially, are perfect candidates for this approach. When prepared using other methods, they're sometimes cooked unevenly as a result of their large, uneven shape – one part too dry and the other too raw. But low and slow in the Crock-Pot? Perfection, almost every time.
This turkey wing Crock-Pot recipe uses simple flavors that are easily adaptable to suit your tastes.
Total Time: 6 hours | Prep time: 10 minutes | Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 turkey wings
- 1/2 cup chicken or turkey broth
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, sage and garlic powder.
- Rinse the turkey wings under cold running water and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Rub the wings with the seasoning.
- In a 6-quart Crock-Pot, place the seasoned turkey wings and add broth.
- Cover the Crock-Pot and cook on low heat for 5 hours.
Serve your wings with macaroni and cheese and spinach.
Tip
For faster cooking, turn your Crock-Pot to high. The wings will be ready in 2 to 3 hours.
Other seasoning options to try with turkey wings include oregano, rosemary, onion powder, basil, thyme and red pepper.
Whether cooking fast or slow, check your wings with a meat thermometer to make sure they cook all the way through. Turkey meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F. If your turkey isn't at the desired temperature, continue cooking in your Crock-Pot for another 30 minutes and recheck.
This recipe also works well with turkey thighs and drumsticks, although you might need to modify the cooking time, especially with the drumsticks. Use your meat thermometer to help you track when your turkey is ready to eat.
For Asian-inspired turkey wings, mix garlic powder, dried ginger, salt and pepper for the turkey wing rub. Replace the broth with 1/2 cup of low-sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 chopped scallion. Cook as directed and serve with rice.
References
Writer Bio
Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.