Sometimes an entire turkey is just too big for a small Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering. Enter this delicious and easy baked turkey legs recipe! Simply season turkey legs with turkey rub, then roast for approximately an hour in the oven, and dinner is served!
Dark meat lovers, rejoice! These baked turkey legs are easy enough for weeknight dinners yet tasty enough to serve for Thanksgiving!
Whether youre celebrating Thanksgiving alone, as a couple, or as a small family, baking an entire turkey might be a bit much. Especially if you dont want to eat leftover turkey sandwiches for weeks to come.
One whole turkey leg (thigh and drumstick) can easily serve two people, so this recipe can serve 4 comfortably. However, if you have a slightly larger group to feed, you may want to consider a Traeger smoked turkey breast, which feeds 6 to 8.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Turkey legs are a delicious part of the bird that often get overlooked. With their high fat content, turkey legs remain incredibly moist juicy and flavorful after cooking. If you find yourself with leftover turkey legs after a big holiday meal or get them on sale at the store don’t toss them out!
There are so many ways to transform turkey legs into mouthwatering dishes. In this article, I’ll share 14 creative recipes and ideas to help you use up those leftovers.
Make Nourishing Bone Broth
After removing all the meat, save the turkey bones to make bone broth. Simmer the bones for at least 12 hours to extract all the collagen, minerals and nutrients. Sip the broth on its own or use it to cook rice, quinoa or grains. Turkey bone broth makes a flavorful base for soups, stews and sauces.
Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup
Chop or shred turkey leg meat and add it to chicken noodle soup along with onions, carrots, celery and egg noodles. Let it all simmer until the flavors meld. The turkey brings extra protein and richness.
Smoky Turkey Posole
Posole is a hearty Mexican stew traditionally made with pork. For a lighter version use diced or shredded turkey leg meat along with hominy onions, garlic, spices and lime juice. Top with shredded cabbage, avocado and cilantro.
Turkey Chili
Ground turkey is typically used for chili, but diced dark meat from the legs works even better. Cook it with tomatoes, beans, onions, chili powder and cumin. Ladle the chili over rice or baked potatoes.
Potpies and Casseroles
Cover chopped turkey leg meat with gravy and bake in a pie crust for an easy shepherd’s pie. Or make it more of a pot pie by adding carrots, peas, celery and potatoes. You can also mix turkey with vegetables, rice or pasta and top with cheese sauce for a hearty casserole.
Turkey Fried Rice
Stir bite-sized turkey leg pieces into fried rice along with peas, carrots, bean sprouts, eggs and soy sauce. Quick and easy.
Turkey Salad Sandwiches
Chop or shred turkey leg meat and mix with mayo, mustard, celery, grapes and almonds for an easy chicken salad swap. Enjoy stuffed in rolls or lettuce wraps.
BBQ Turkey Sliders
Shred leftover turkey and mix with your favorite bbq sauce. Pile it onto slider buns and add pickles, onions and cheese for handheld bbq turkey sandwiches.
Turkey Tacos
Warm tortillas and fill them with shredded turkey leg meat, diced onions, salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese and cilantro. Your new favorite taco night!
Turkey Enchiladas
Stuff tortillas with shredded turkey, enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly for amazing enchiladas, minus the chicken.
Turkey Stir Fry
Slice turkey into strips and stir fry with broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, snap peas and carrots. Toss with teriyaki, soy sauce or oyster sauce. Serve over rice.
Cobb Salad
Chopped turkey leg meat makes the perfect protein topping for Cobb salads. Add it along with bacon, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, cheese and lettuce.
Turkey Quesadillas
Warm tortillas, sprinkle with shredded turkey, cheese, black beans, peppers and onions. Fold over and cook until the cheese melts for easy turkey quesadillas.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Combine turkey, mushrooms and spaghetti with a creamy parmesan sauce and bake until bubbly for a buffet-worthy casserole. Comfort food at its finest.
As you can see, with a little creativity, you can transform turkey legs into so many easy, healthy and delicious meals. They make budget-friendly leftovers for several days. Next time you roast a turkey or find turkey legs on sale, pick up a few extra. You won’t regret having tasty leftovers ready-to-go!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Turkey_Legs_010-aaa366fc5b724dd0a0d7bc74a681341c.jpg)
What You Need For This Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Turkey: I used 2 turkey hindquarters (unseparated leg and thighs) totaling 5 lbs. You may substitute with legs or thighs. Cooking times may need to be adjusted if you use smaller or larger turkey legs.
- Herbs: Rubbed sage, herbs de Provence (or a combination of thyme and rosemary), and marjoram (similar to oregano but sweeter).
- Spices (rub): Salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and Tajin seasoning (optional). If you prefer, you can use your favorite turkey rub or seasoning.
- Ghee or Oil: To get that desired crispy turkey skin, youll need to slather the turkey with either ghee or oil. I prefer using ghee over melted butter. Since its clarified, it does not have any water content, which helps to crisp up the skin. However, you can still use softened unsalted butter if thats what you have on hand.
*A full list of ingredients can be located in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Turkey Legs Recipe – Fall off the bone!
FAQ
What are turkey legs used for?
Turkey legs consist of the leg of the turkey from the thigh to the meat just below the knee. Aside from Thanksgiving, this dark, flavorful meat is typically served at fairs and amusement parks on-the-bone to be eaten as a handheld meal. But turkey legs can also be a budget-friendly option for everyday meals.
What can I do with a turkey leg?
The best way to cook your turkey leg is to slow roast it – this will give you a much better flavour and texture than a ‘fast roast’. And it’s so easy to do! All you need to do is place your turkey leg on top of a ‘trivet’ of vegetables, cover with foil and roast at 160C for 2 hours.
How to cook ready to eat turkey legs?
Oven baked.
Place the turkey leg on a wire cooking rack on top of a baking sheet and cook at 350°F until an internal temp of 165°F. This took me about 35 minutes. The turkey legs are already safe to eat as they are pre cooked but taking them to 165°F ensures they are cooked through and hot.
What goes well with turkey legs?
- 1) Bay roasted smashed potatoes. …
- 2) Green bean and goats cheese salad. …
- 3) Brussels sprouts and speck gratin. …
- 4) Couscous salad. …
- 5) Rocket coleslaw. …
- 6) Sweet potato and chive damper. …
- 7) Honey macadamia stuffing. …
- 8) Pork stuffing.
What can I do with a turkey leg for making gravy?
Turkey legs or thighs can be used to make delicious turkey stock for gravy. If you don’t have turkey broth, chicken broth can be used instead. If you are spatchcocking the turkey, you can use the turkey back to make the broth.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
What can I make with leftover turkey legs?
Turkey leg recipes are fun to make at home and budget-friendly, too. You can make a down-home soup with leftover turkey. Create a broth by roasting the turkey, garlic and vegetables.
What do you put on your turkey legs for dinner?
Marinated and smoked, tender and juicy turkey legs. Crispy bacon, tasty ham, pineapple, onion and stretchy mozzarella, finished with a BBQ swirl. Extra-virgin olive oil, mozzarella cheese, thinly-sliced steak meat, garlic, green peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes.
How do you eat turkey leg meat?
For an easy dinner, cover chopped turkey leg meat with gravy and bake in a pie crust. Or make it more of a pot pie by adding veggies like peas, carrots and celery. Grind or mince turkey leg meat and shape into patties. Cook the patties in a skillet until browned and top with cheese, lettuce, and condiments to make turkey sliders.
What goes well with smoked turkey legs?
Sesame Seeds – These tiny flavor bombs add the perfect finishing touch to the glazed turkey legs, and they are easy to source at your local grocery store or online. Chives – These slender green onion-like herbs add flavor and the perfect splash of green to contrast with the red smoked turkey legs. Add flavor to everything you’re cooking