This article was updated on the 15th of August 2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your turkey wings, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 39 of the most popular side dishes for turkey wings.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes for turkey wings are garlic mashed potatoes, pureed roasted parsnips, and candied yams. You can also serve mac and cheese and sauteed asparagus with garlic. Some fun salad options include apple slaw, a creamy cauliflower salad with cucumber, or a roasted beet salad with peaches.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Read next: What To Serve With Turkey Breast
Thanksgiving sides
Turkey is the quintessential Thanksgiving centerpiece, so why not make any meal feel like the holidays by serving these classic side dishes with your turkey wings?
Garlic mashed potatoes with gravy
Garlic mashed potatoes with gravy are very simple to prepare and pair nicely with turkey wings.
Heather from Forks Over Knives’s recipe is mostly inspired by the classics version, except she adds two cloves of garlic with the spuds for a subtle twist. I also agree with her choice of using Yukon gold potatoes, especially if you want a luscious, buttery consistency for your mash.
Psst… the gravy can even be made a day earlier, refrigerated, and heated hours before your special dinner.
Featured recipe
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Preheat the oven
Potatoes au gratin
Make it simple
Garlic butter parsley potatoes
Honey-roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon
If you’re looking for a unique holiday side dish then you have to try honey-roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon.
The oven’s high heat helps draw out the Brussels sprouts’ natural sugars, which helps mellow out their bitterness. And if that’s not enough, the roasted sprouts are tossed with bacon and honey, adding a sweet-savory kick.
You’re guaranteed a filling, nourishing meal whether you serve these sprouts with your turkey wings on Thanksgiving or on a normal weeknight.
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Honey-roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon
Make it cheesy
Cheesy baked brussels sprouts
Fire up the stovetop
Crispy fried brussels sprouts
Candied yams
Candied yams are another Thanksgiving staple you can enjoy alongside your turkey wings.
Traditional recipes involve baking the yams in a sweet, buttery syrup. But this version from Healthier Steps uses an Instant Pot instead to speed things up. You’ll still get sweet, tender yams to contrast with your savory turkey wings, but in just 20 minutes.
This only means less time in the kitchen and more time for entertaining.
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Instant pot candied yams
Another festive favorite
Sweet potato casserole
Make it Southern-style
Southern candied yams
Four cheese mac and cheese
Do you know what’s better than regular mac and cheese? Four cheese mac and cheese!
Alida’s recipe uses a combination of cheddar, parmesan, mozzarella, and gruyere cheese to make the creamiest mac and cheese you’ll ever taste.
Want to get fancy? Use pecorino as a substitute for parmesan cheese, while havarti and raclette are other options if you don’t have gruyere on hand.
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Four cheese baked mac and cheese
Make it fancy
Truffle mac and cheese
Skip the oven
One-pot veggie mac and cheese
Vegetables and salads
Vegetables and salads offer a fresh balance to the rich and indulgent nature of turkey wings. You can go as simple as sauteed green beans or try roasting your favorite medley of vegetables for more flavor.
Creamy cauliflower salad with cucumber and corn
This side dish is refreshing and crunchy, making it perfect for hot summer days (psst.. here’s a great guide on what to pair with turkey in the summer).
The creaminess of this salad balances the savory flavors and spices that are typically used in turkey wings. Plus, it holds up well even after a few hours. You can make it in the morning and take it with you on a picnic later.
And my favorite part about this salad? It uses cashew yogurt in the recipe to make it low-fat but still tasty. But if you can’t find it, you can use whole-fat Greek or low-fat yogurt instead.
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Creamy cauliflower salad
Make it Indian-inspired
Curried roasted cauliflower salad
Keep it simple
Lemony cauliflower with garlic and herbs
Roasted beet salad with peaches
This side dish is a wonderful summer salad that’s usually served cold (but can also be enjoyed warm for the colder months).
The combination of roasted beets and peaches brings a sweet flavor that contrasts the savory notes of your turkey wings. While the pomegranate seeds tie all the flavors with a fruity tartness.
Cooking with Bliss skips the vinaigrette (that’s what the pomegranate seeds are for), but you can use your favorite if you still prefer it.
Psst… feel free to sprinkle blue cheese if you’re feeling extra fancy.
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Roasted beet salad with peaches
Add leafy greens
Peach arugula salad
Skip the peaches
Watermelon and cucumber salad
Italian green beans
With the right mix of Italian seasoning, garlic, and olive oil, these green beans are sure to pack a flavorful punch. And to really lean on the Italian theme, I like finishing them off with a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
40 Aprons uses fresh green beans in this recipe, although you can also use canned ones in a pinch. The catch is they’re more tender right out of the package, so they won’t have a satisfying crunch even if you cook them for only a few minutes. Try haricot verts, string beans, wax beans, or snap beans for this recipe.
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Italian green beans
Fire up the oven
Green bean casserole
Make it Southern-style
Southern green beans and potatoes
Pureed roasted parsnips
When you’re tired of the same old mashed potatoes for side dishes, try pairing your turkey wings with pureed roasted parsnips.
They have an earthy, mildly sweet flavor that gets enhanced once you roast them. Plus, they have fewer calories than potatoes, making them a solid alternative if you’re watching your carb intake. Despite this, you’ll still have a luscious mash that pairs perfectly with your turkey wings.
Psst… don’t forget the gravy.
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Pureed roasted parsnips
Another low-carb option
Mashed rutabaga
Ditch the food processor
Maple roasted parsnips
Sauteed asparagus with garlic
Need a quick side dish for your turkey wings? Sauteed asparagus spears have your back.
They’re simple, but they come together in 10 minutes, making them an excellent last-minute addition if you want to bring something nourishing to the table.
The beauty of sauteing veggies is you can season them with whatever you like. You can follow Where is My Spoon’s lead and go with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for a tasty Asian flair. Or you can add try a blend of butter and red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
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Sauteed asparagus with garlic
Fire up the grill
Grilled asparagus
Make it Italian-style
Caprese roasted asparagus
Easy apple coleslaw
Apple coleslaw is a tasty spin on the classic slaw. The addition of apples brings a lightly tart twist that helps cut through the deep, savory flavor of your turkey wings.
And it’s just as easy to make as regular coleslaw too. Simply toss all the ingredients together in your creamy dressing and you’re done.
You can serve this slaw immediately, but I prefer letting it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours, especially if serving at a cookout or potluck. It’s more refreshing, plus it tastes better because the flavors are more developed.
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Apple slaw
Skip the mayo
Greek yogurt coleslaw
Ditch the cabbage
Cucumber and jicama slaw
Game-day snacks
While chicken wings are a staple in game-day feasts, turkey wings are a fun alternative that won’t stray too far from tradition. Complete the spread with other tasty snacks like stuffed mushrooms and pretzel bites.
Spinach and bacon stuffed mushrooms
Spinach and bacon stuffed mushrooms are a lighter alternative to traditional stuffed mushrooms. But don’t worry, they’re still loaded with cheesy garlicky goodness. And they work as both an appetizer and a side dish with your turkey wings.
Skinny Taste uses center-cut bacon for this recipe, but I like using turkey bacon. Not only does it match the turkey wings, but it’s also a tad healthier. Or you can also swap the bacon for feta to make these mushrooms extra cheesy.
Pro-tip: you can make the stuffing in advance to save time.
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Spinach and bacon stuffed mushrooms
Make it Italian-style
Pesto and roasted tomato-stuffed mushrooms
Make it simple
Garlic herb-marinated mushrooms
Jalapeno poppers
Jalapeno poppers are another classic game-day snack you can serve with your turkey wings.
Each pepper is filled with an extra cheesy filling seasoned with ranch dressing, giving each bite a salty, lightly tangy kick. I highly recommend getting large jalapeno peppers so you can enjoy more of this cheesy filling.
But be careful when handling the peppers, especially the seeds — the capsaicin sticks to your hands and will cause a burning sensation when it comes in contact with your skin or eyes.
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Baked jalapeno poppers
Set up the grill
Grilled bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers
Make a dip
Jalapeno popper dip
Pretzel bites
These pretzel bites are a must-have addition to your game-day spread.
They’re perfectly soft and chewy on the inside, with lightly crisp, salty exteriors that make them so addictive. And they’re easier to make than regular pretzels because you don’t need to twist and shape them. Simply form the dough into a long rope and cut it into 1-inch pieces.
Pro-tip: make a beer cheese dip to accompany these pretzel bites. It’s a tasty sauce for your turkey wings too.
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Soft pretzel bites
Jazz them up
Parmesan garlic pretzel bites
Add a fun twist
Pretzels pig in a blanket
What To Serve With Turkey Wings [39 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion candied yams
- 1 portion four-cheese mac and cheese
- 1 portion Italian green beans
- 1 portion apple coleslaw
- 1 portion garlic mashed potatoes
- 1 portion stuffed peppers … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your turkey wings according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, creamy cauliflower salad with cucumber and corn, candied yams, honey roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon, four-cheese mac and cheese, spinach and bacon stuffed mushrooms, roasted beet salad with peaches, simple Italian green beans, pureed roasted parsnips, sauteed asparagus with garlic, and easy apple coleslaw.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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