The Complete Guide to Cooking Juicy Turkey Legs in an Oven Bag

Turkey legs cooked to tender juicy perfection in an oven bag? Yes please! This simple technique delivers incredibly moist and flavorful drumsticks every time.

Cooking turkey legs in an oven bag locks in moisture and allows you to infuse tons of flavor right into the meat. No more wrestling with cumbersome roasting pans. Just toss the seasoned legs in a bag, pop it in the oven, and let the oven bag work its magic.

Read on to get the full scoop on oven bag cooking times tips for the juiciest results and recipes for showstopping turkey legs. Before you know it, you’ll be biting into succulent, fall-off-the-bone turkey drumsticks that your family and friends will rave about.

Why Cook Turkey Legs in an Oven Bag?

Oven bags create the ideal sealed environment for cooking moist, delicious turkey legs. Here are some of the benefits of using this handy kitchen tool:

• Locks in moisture: The juices from the turkey legs have nowhere to evaporate to, ensuring incredibly tender and juicy meat from the first bite to the last.

• Infuses flavor: Herbs, spices, broth, citrus, and other seasonings can be added right to the oven bag to really pump up the flavor.

• Self basting: No need to repeatedly baste the legs. The trapped moisture in the bag bastes the meat automatically.

• Easy cleanup: When done cooking, simply toss the oven bag. No messy roasting pan to scrub!

• Convenient: Oven bags provide even heat distribution for consistent cooking and easy handling.

• Foolproof: Takes the guesswork out of achieving juicy results. Oven bags are very forgiving!

With all those benefits, it’s easy to see why cooking your turkey legs in an oven bag is a great choice. Now let’s look at how long they need to cook.

Oven Bag Cooking Times for Turkey Legs

The cooking time can vary considerably based on the size of your turkey legs. Here are some general oven bag cooking guidelines:

• Small turkey legs (1-2 lbs): 45 mins to 1 hour
• Medium turkey legs (2-3 lbs): 1 to 1 1/2 hours
• Large turkey legs (3-4 lbs): 1 1/2 to 2 hours
• Extra large turkey legs (4 lbs+): 2 to 2 1/2 hours

A good rule of thumb is to calculate 15-20 minutes per pound at 350°F. For example, for a 3 lb drumstick, cook for 45-60 minutes.

The shape and thickness of the legs will impact cook times too. Leaner legs may cook faster than fattier ones. Go by texture rather than time.

Always use a meat thermometer for the most accurate doneness. Turkey legs are perfectly cooked when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165°F.

If roasting a whole turkey, base timing on the total bird weight, not just the legs. The breasts require a lower temp than the legs.

Step-by-Step Method for Perfect Oven Bag Turkey Legs

Follow these simple steps for foolproof juicy turkey legs using the oven bag technique:

1. Pat turkey legs dry – Remove from packaging and pat dry with paper towels. Drying the skin helps ensure crispy results.

2. Apply a flavorful spice rub – For maximum flavor, coat the legs all over with a spice blend. Try paprika, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.

3. Place legs in an oven bag – Put the rubbed turkey legs in a large oven bag. Don’t overcrowd them.

4. Add aromatics to bag – Throw in lemons, onions, garlic, fresh herbs, broth, or other seasonings.

5. Seal bag & poke holes – Seal the oven bag tightly while leaving room for heat circulation. Poke 4-5 small slits near the top.

6. Roast turkey legs – Put bag on a baking sheet and roast at 350°F. Time depends on size.

7. Allow turkey legs to rest – Let sit for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows juices to reabsorb.

8. Make gravy – Make a flavorful gravy from the tasty juices left behind in the oven bag.

Cooking Tips for the Best Juicy Turkey Legs

Here are some extra pointers for ensuring your oven bag turkey legs turn out perfectly cooked with gorgeous bronzed skin:

• Open bag and broil legs for 2-3 minutes at the end to crisp skin. Watch closely to avoid burning.

• Flip legs halfway during roasting if they aren’t browning evenly.

• Add broth or water to the oven bag to keep legs extra moist.

• Marinating legs in buttermilk or brining helps them stay juicy.

• Let legs sit at room temperature for 30 mins before roasting to prevent overcooking.

• Always rest cooked legs for at least 10 mins before carving to let juices redistribute.

• Carryover cooking will raise the internal temp 5-10°F after removed from oven. Factor this in.

• Test temperature in the thickest part of the leg, avoiding the bone.

• If using a whole turkey, calculate time based on overall weight, not just the legs.

Delicious Oven Bag Turkey Leg Recipes

Ready to put your newfound oven bag skills to work? Try these tasty turkey leg recipes:

Simple Brown Sugar & Herb Turkey Legs

Coat legs with brown sugar, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add onion, carrot, and sage to oven bag. Roast at 350°F for 2 hours until 165°F.

BBQ Turkey Legs

Marinate legs in tangy barbecue sauce. Add more sauce and apple juice to oven bag. Roast at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours until 165°F.

Maple Glazed Turkey Legs

Brush legs with a maple syrup, brown sugar, and mustard glaze. Roast at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours until 165°F, glazing again halfway through.

Cajun Turkey Legs

Rub legs with Cajun seasoning. Add bell peppers, onion, celery, and chicken broth to oven bag. Roast at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours until 165°F.

Lemon-Garlic Turkey Legs

Coat legs with lemon juice, garlic, and thyme. Top with lemon slices. Roast at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours until 165°F.

Serving Up Your Oven Bag Turkey Legs

Once your turkey legs are cooked to juicy perfection, it’s time to serve them up in style. Here are some mouthwatering presentation ideas:

• Pair with classic Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

• Serve atop a pool of rich turkey gravy made from the flavorful oven bag drippings.

• Offer an array of fun dipping sauces like honey mustard, barbecue, ranch, or buffalo.

• Pile on sweet cornbread dressing, roasted veggies, or roasted new potatoes.

• Shred the turkey meat and use it to top nachos, tacos, flatbreads, salads, or casseroles.

• Slice the legs and use the meat in hearty soups, stews, pot pies, sandwiches, and more.

• Serve as an appetizer with creamy blue cheese dip and crisp celery sticks.

With this complete guide to oven bag cooking times and techniques, you can look forward to incredibly moist and delicious turkey legs anytime. Just pop them in a bag, let the oven work its magic, and get ready to impress!