Skip to main content

Fried Turkey Wings With Cranberry Glaze

4.4

(7)

Fried Turkey Wings with Cranberry Glaze on a platter.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

Love turkey but don’t want to cook a whole bird this Thanksgiving? Have you always been curious about deep-fried turkey but intimidated by the equipment required? These crispy fried turkey wings don’t require a turkey fryer and are ideal for a smaller gathering. The buttermilk brine makes them extra juicy while the flour dredge creates the crunchiest possible exterior. The tangy and flavorful cranberry glaze adds tons of umami thanks to a secret ingredient: soy sauce.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    5 hours

  • Yield

    4 Servings

Ingredients

Wings

1 quart buttermilk
2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 turkey wings (about 3 lb.), flats and drumettes separated

Sauce and assembly

1 14-oz. can jellied cranberry sauce
⅔ cup fresh orange juice
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
Vegetable oil (for frying; about 12 cups)
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Coarsely chopped parsley (for serving)

Special equipment

A deep-fry thermometer

Preparation

  1. Wings

    Step 1

    Stir buttermilk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl to combine. Add turkey wings to buttermilk brine (make sure they are submerged). Cover and chill at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.

  2. Sauce and assembly

    Step 2

    Cook cranberry sauce, orange juice, and soy sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat, breaking up cranberry sauce with a whisk, until cranberry sauce is melted and mixture is reduced slightly, 8–10 minutes. Season cranberry glaze with salt and let cool.

    Step 3

    Fit a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot with thermometer. Pour in oil to come 3" up sides. Heat over medium-high until thermometer registers 325°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels; set a wire rack inside baking sheet.

    Step 4

    Whisk flour, pepper, and 2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large shallow bowl.

    Step 5

    Using tongs, remove wings from brine, letting excess drip back into bowl, and place on a large plate. Spoon 3 Tbsp. brine into flour mixture and rub in with your fingers until mixture is the texture of coarse meal with some larger pieces; discard remaining brine.

    Step 6

    Working one at a time, dredge wings in flour mixture, turning to coat completely and pressing to adhere. Shake off excess and transfer wings to another large plate or baking sheet.

    Step 7

    Carefully slide wings into pot and fry, undisturbed, adjusting heat as needed to maintain temperature, until deep golden brown and crisp underneath, 6–8 minutes. Turn over and fry until deep golden brown on the other side and cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into each piece should register 165°), about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to prepared rack and let cool slightly.

    Step 8

    Using tongs, dip wings in cranberry glaze, turning to coat, then arrange on a platter. Sprinkle parsley over.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Buffalo chicken dip, but make it dinner.
Yuzu juice is a heavy-hitting pantry ingredient, imbuing even the simplest chicken cutlet dishes with intense fragrant-sour citrus character.
Thanks to its high smoke point, ghee is an ideal fat for basting your holiday turkey; pair the perfectly burnished bird with a duo of sauces for maximum flavor.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken legs glossed in a sticky honey mustard glaze strike the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and delightfully savory.
Lacking an actual tandoor, the air fryer might be the best way to make chicken tikka. Juicy, charred, and well-spiced, it’s your new weeknight MVP.
A combination of creamy sauce and tender cider-braised chicken makes this a comforting dish equally ideal for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion meal.
Bouncy rice cakes turn this spicy Korean classic into a perfect weeknight dinner.
Pork rind-crusted chicken is outrageous—outrageously good. Popular with children and adults alike, it’s a protein-packed gift that’s good for any occasion.