How to Cook Turkey Wings in Broth Using a Crock Pot

Turkey wings are just about the only part of the bird that's tough, which means they're not ideally suited to quick meal preparation.
Image Credit: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/GettyImages

Turkey wings are just about the only part of the bird that's tough, which means they're not ideally suited to quick meal preparation. However, you can enjoy a tasty meal by making Crock-Pot turkey wings.

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This is good news for frugal cooks who appreciate the wings' economical pricing and the Crock-Pot's convenience. Simmering the wings simply in broth for several hours leaves them tender and flavorful, and produces potent soup stock as a side benefit.

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Read more: How to Cook Turkey in a Nu-Wave Oven

Step 1: Cut Up the Turkey Wings

Place the turkey wings on a cutting board, and cut through the joints with a sharp knife. Reserve the pointed wing tips for making broth on another occasion.

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.

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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 it's a low-sodium broth. Cover the pot and plug it in, then turn the cooker on.

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It's best to use turkey broth, but either vegetable or chicken broth will absorb turkey flavor from the Crock-Pot turkey wings.

Step 4: Simmer Your Wings

Simmer the wings on high for two to three hours, or on low for five to six hours, whichever suits your schedule best. The wings should be very tender, with the flesh almost falling from the bones. Remove the wings from your Crock-Pot carefully with tongs or a slotted spoon.

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Check the internal temperature of your meat prior to serving. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the minimum safe temperature for consumption of turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5: Serve With Sauce

Serve the slow-cooker turkey wings as they are, or try smothered turkey wings with gravy. Alternatively, let the wings cool and become firm. Brush them with barbecue sauce or other glazes, and grill or broil them quickly for a bolder-tasting entree.

Read more: How to Cook a 25-Pound Turkey

Things You'll Need

  • Cutting board

  • Sharp knife

  • Chopped onion, celery and carrot

  • Turkey, chicken or vegetable broth

  • Black pepper

  • Tongs or slotted spoon

Tip

For a more savory flavor, brown the turkey wings first in a heavy skillet.

Warning

For food safety, it's best to start the turkey wings on high for one hour and then turn the cooker down to low for longer cooking, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

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