Tiffany Haney
Turkey wings and legs can be cooked in a crock pot to achieve tender, juicy, and flavourful meat. This method is easy and convenient, making it a popular choice for those seeking comfort food or a simple weeknight dinner. The crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, ensures that the turkey remains moist and cooks evenly. The use of spices and seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, further enhances the flavour of the dish. By following this cooking technique, individuals can enjoy delicious and juicy turkey wings and legs without the dryness sometimes associated with traditional roasting methods.
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What You'll Learn
Turkey wing and leg prep
Turkey wings and legs can be cooked in a crock pot for a simple, tasty meal. The slow cooker method is a great way to get juicy, tender meat that falls off the bone. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing and cooking turkey wings and legs in a crock pot.
First, gather your ingredients. You will need turkey wings and/or legs, olive oil, seasonings of your choice, and water or low-sodium chicken broth. You can also add in some vegetables like potatoes, green beans, or Brussels sprouts, and these can be prepared in the crock pot alongside the turkey.
Next, pat the turkey wings and legs dry with paper towels. This will ensure that the olive oil and seasonings stick to the meat. Then, brush the turkey pieces with a generous amount of olive oil. You can also add avocado oil to the olive oil for extra flavour.
After that, it's time to season the turkey. You can use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and dried herbs like thyme and rosemary. You can also add a bit of spice with chili pepper flakes or jalapeno powder. Mix the seasonings together in a small bowl, then rub the mixture all over the turkey wings and legs, ensuring they are well coated.
Now, prepare your crock pot by lightly coating it with cooking spray. Place the seasoned turkey pieces into the crock pot, being careful not to crowd them. Pour in about one cup of water or chicken broth, taking care not to saturate the wings and legs too much, as this could wash off the seasonings.
Cooking
Cover the crock pot with its lid and set the cooker to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The longer, slower cook will result in very tender meat that falls off the bone. If you want crispy skin on your turkey, after the slow cooking is complete, transfer the pieces to a baking sheet and place them under a broiler for a few minutes until golden brown.
And that's it! You now have delicious, juicy turkey wings and legs, ready to be served with your chosen sides. Enjoy!
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Crock pot setup
Slow cookers are one of the easiest ways to cook turkey wings and legs, keeping the meat tender and juicy. The Crock-Pot method is simple and hands-off, allowing you to add ingredients, set the timer, and come back to a delicious meal. Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up your Crock-Pot for cooking turkey wings and legs:
Crock-Pot Setup:
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Start by lightly coating the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray. This step ensures that your turkey doesn't stick to the surface and makes cleanup easier.
- Brush the Turkey: Remove the turkey wings and legs from their packaging and pat them dry with paper towels. This step helps remove excess moisture so that the oil and seasonings will adhere better to the meat.
- Oil the Turkey: Brush each piece of turkey generously with olive oil or avocado oil. The oil serves as a base for the seasonings and helps them stick to the meat.
- Season the Turkey: Create your seasoning mix. You can use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and other herbs like thyme, parsley, or cilantro. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the turkey and rub it in evenly, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
- Add Water or Broth: Pour about 1 cup of water into the bottom of the slow cooker, or enough to cover the bottom. Alternatively, you can use low-sodium chicken broth for added flavour. Avoid saturating the wings too much, as you don't want the spices to wash off.
- Transfer Turkey to the Slow Cooker: Place the seasoned turkey wings and legs into the prepared slow cooker. Arrange them in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
- Cover and Set the Timer: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Set the timer according to your desired doneness. For fall-off-the-bone tender meat, cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Adjust the timing based on your slow cooker's performance and your preferred level of doneness.
- Optional Broiling for Crispy Skin: If you prefer crispy skin on your turkey, after slow cooking, transfer the cooked turkey to a baking sheet. Place it under the broiler for a few minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Remember to resist the temptation to open the lid during the cooking process, as this can cause heat loss and increase cooking time. The Crock-Pot method is convenient and versatile, allowing you to customize flavours and create delicious, tender turkey wings and legs.
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Seasoning and spice rubs
Fresh Herbs and Lemon
Chop up some fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or cilantro, and add lemon juice and zest to the crock pot. You can also add lemon slices for extra flavour.
Spicy
Add a bit of heat with chilli pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder. These spices can be added to your wing seasoning or dry rub.
Savoury
For a savoury flavour profile, coat the turkey wings in ranch seasoning and drizzle with vegan buffalo sauce.
Classic
A combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper is a classic seasoning mix for turkey. You can also add dried thyme, dried rosemary, and ground sage for extra flavour.
Olive Oil
While not a spice, olive oil is important to mention as it helps the seasonings stick to the turkey. Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil for the best flavour.
Water or Broth
When adding liquid to the crock pot, it's important to avoid saturating the wings so that the spices don't wash off. Use water or low-sodium chicken broth to keep the turkey moist and tender during cooking.
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Cooking times and temperatures
The cooking time for turkey wings and legs in a crock pot can vary depending on the desired level of doneness and the specific crock pot being used. However, there are some general guidelines that can help ensure your turkey is cooked properly and safely.
Firstly, it is important to ensure that the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature at which harmful bacteria are killed, so it is important for food safety. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your turkey.
When cooking turkey wings in a crock pot, the cooking time can range from 3 to 8 hours, depending on the heat setting. For example, one source recommends cooking the wings on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. This longer cooking time at a lower temperature helps to ensure that the meat is tender and juicy.
Similarly, another source recommends cooking turkey legs in the crock pot on high for 6 hours to achieve fall-off-the-bone tenderness. This longer cooking time at a higher temperature helps to break down the connective tissues in the meat, making it more tender.
It is important to note that opening the lid of the crock pot during cooking can cause heat to escape, leading to longer cooking times. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the lid closed as much as possible during the cooking process.
Additionally, if you choose to broil the turkey after slow cooking to achieve a crispy skin, it is important to keep a close eye on it to prevent burning. Broiling can quickly turn the turkey from golden brown to burnt, so careful monitoring is necessary.
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Serving suggestions
Turkey wings and legs cooked in a crock pot can be served with a variety of side dishes and accompaniments. Here are some suggestions:
Rice
Rice is a perfect pairing with turkey wings and legs. You can serve the wings with steamed white or brown rice, or try something more flavourful like a tomato rice or cauliflower rice pilaf.
Potatoes
Turkey wings and legs go well with potatoes, especially creamy purple mashed potatoes, roasted rosemary potatoes, or hasselback potatoes.
Vegetables
Don't forget to include some vegetables on the side! Oven-roasted green beans or honey sriracha Brussels sprouts are great choices to accompany the turkey.
Gravy
The crock pot cooking method produces delicious, seasoned gravy. Make sure to serve this with your turkey wings and legs. You can also add some xanthan gum to the gravy to thicken it.
Salads and Dressings
Some fresh, crisp salad or dressing can be a great side dish to the crock pot turkey wings and legs. Try a squash dressing or a simple green salad.
Bread
Some crusty bread or rolls can be a great way to mop up the gravy and accompany the turkey.
These are just a few suggestions, but feel free to get creative and serve the crock pot turkey wings and legs with your favourite sides and accompaniments!
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