If you have never made Slow Cooker Turkey Legs, I hope this recipe convinces you to give them a shot. Most of us associate turkey with Thanksgiving but it’s a protein that can be enjoyed anytime. Turkey legs are a great cut that has a lot of flavor. The key is to know how to keep the meat from drying out.
The slow cooker is magical when it comes to turkey. As long as you add some moisture to the pot, the turkey legs remain succulent and juicy. The flavor reminds me of chicken thighs, another great poultry cut. My kids even like the turkey and that can feel like a miracle sometimes!
If you like slow cooker recipes, you will love Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Crock Pot Hot Wings.
Cooking turkey legs in a crockpot is a great way to make this flavorful cut of meat incredibly moist and tender. With the right technique, you can have fall-off-the-bone turkey legs ready with minimal hands-on time. But an important question is, how long should you cook turkey legs in a crockpot to get perfect results?
The cooking time can vary depending on a few factors, so it’s helpful to understand what impacts the timeframe. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about achieving tender crockpot turkey legs, from start to finish.
Factors That Affect Crockpot Turkey Legs Cooking Time
There are a few key elements that determine the cooking time needed for crockpot turkey legs
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Size of the legs – Larger meatier drumsticks take longer to cook than smaller ones. A general rule is to allow 30-45 minutes per pound.
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Bone-in or boneless – Boneless turkey leg meat cooks faster than legs with the bone still in. Bones conduct heat slower than meat.
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Temperature setting – Most slow cookers have a low and high setting. High heat reduces cooking time.
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Efficiency of the crockpot – Some newer models cook faster and more evenly than older ones. Know your appliance.
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Frozen or thawed – Frozen turkey legs require a longer cooking time than thawed.
Taking these factors into account will help you settle on the right timeframe for your turkey legs.
Recommended Crockpot Cooking Times for Turkey Legs
Here are some general guidelines for crockpot cooking times based on the temperature setting:
- High setting: 3-4 hours
- Low setting: 6-8 hours
On high heat, turkey legs should reach safe internal temperature in 3-4 hours. The quicker cooking helps deliver tenderness with juiciness locked in.
For more leeway, the low setting over 6-8 hours allows the meat to break down gradually into pull-apart, succulent perfection. This extended timeframe especially suits larger turkey legs or drums still on the bone.
If working with frozen turkey legs, add 1-2 hours to both high and low heat cooking times. Always thaw first for food safety.
Step-by-Step Guide for Cooking Turkey Legs in a Crockpot
Follow these simple steps for foolproof crockpot turkey legs every time:
1. Choose turkey legs – Select 4-6 drumsticks, ideally 1 1⁄2 – 2 lbs total weight. Opt for good quality, fresh turkey legs without any unpleasant odors. Rinse well.
2. Prep turkey legs – Pat the legs dry, and season all over with salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme and other desired herbs/spices. Rub with a little olive oil.
3. Add to crockpot – Place seasoned legs in crockpot. Add 1 cup broth, wine or water to help retain moisture.
4. Cook – Set crockpot to low or high and cook for recommended time based on turkey leg size.
5. Check temperature – Turkey legs are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F.
6. Rest and serve – Remove crockpot turkey legs, let rest 5 minutes before digging in. Enjoy!
The beauty of the crockpot is letting the appliance do the work for incredibly moist, flavorful turkey legs with minimal effort. Now that you know approximate cook times, you can relax while your drumsticks transform into tender, succulent perfection.
Tips for Maximizing Flavor and Tenderness
A few small tweaks can take your crockpot turkey legs from great to spectacular:
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Marinate: Let turkey legs soak 1-2 hours in a marinade before cooking. Try olive oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary, thyme.
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Sear first: Brown turkey legs in a skillet before crockpot for enhanced flavor.
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Use a rack: Elevate turkey legs off bottom of crockpot for more even cooking.
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Shred and serve: Once cooked, meat easily shreds for sandwiches, salads and more uses.
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Make gravy: Use delicious juices for an easy, tasty gravy.
With the right crockpot settings and cook time, you can look forward to phenomenally tender, juicy turkey legs any night of the week. Experiment with your favorite seasonings and dig into this classic dish.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Turkey Legs Recipe
- Budget-friendly: Turkey legs are very inexpensive making this a great meal idea on a tight budget.
- Versatile recipe: You can change the seasonings to whatever you like!
- Weeknight favorite: Set it and forget it so you can spend less time in the kitchen after a long day.
This turkey leg recipe calls for minimal ingredients. It’s easy to make them anytime you want!
- Turkey legs: This recipe calls for about 6 turkey drumsticks. You can adjust this according to the size of your slow cooker. There’s no need to trim any fat or skin because that’s going to add even more flavor to the turkey as it cooks.
- Olive oil: I like to use olive oil to brush the turkey legs before they cook. It helps them get a little color. Use any kind of cooking oil that you like or have on hand.
- Seasonings: I chose, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. You can use chili powder, cayenne pepper, or whatever you prefer.
- Water: The water is important because it helps the turkey cook and adds moisture.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
- BBQ turkey legs: Smother the turkey legs in your favorite BBQ sauce for a rich and flavorful twist.
- Lemon and herb turkey legs: Add lemon juice and zest along with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and basil for a refreshing spin.
- Cajun turkey legs: Rub the turkey legs with your favorite cajun seasoning blend for a spicy kick.
- Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the seasoning mixture for a bit of heat.
How to Make Turkey Legs in the Slow Cooker
Here are the instructions on how to cook turkey legs in the slow cooker.
Step 1: Grease the slow cooker. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Brush the turkey with oil. Brush each of the turkey legs generously with olive oil and then set them aside.
Step 3: Combine the spices. Add all of the spices to a small mixing bowl. Stir them until they are well mixed.
Step 4: Season the turkey legs. Rub the spice mixture all over each of the turkey legs. Make sure to cover both sides.
Step 5: Add turkey and water. Place the seasoned turkey legs into the bottom of the slow cooker. Then, pour in the water.
Step 6: Cook. Cover the pot and cook the drumsticks for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Step 7: Transfer and garnish. Move the cooked turkey legs to a serving platter and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top if you wish. Enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: If you want extra brown and crispy skin, place the turkey legs on a sheet pan and put them under the broiler for a few minutes. This step is optional!
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Air Fryer Turkey Legs or our delicious The Best Oven Roasted Turkey recipes for another great way to make a great dinner!
- Refrigeration: Store leftover turkey legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Store the turkey legs in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Place them altogether or freeze them in individual portions. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating them.
- Reheating: I like to reheat them in a 350-degree F oven for 8-10 minutes or warmed through. The turkey can become a little dry if reheated in the microwave.
- Temp the thickest part: When checking the doneness of the turkey legs with a thermometer, insert it into the thickest part and try to avoid touching the bone for accuracy.
- Let them rest: Allow the cooked turkey legs to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This lets the juices redistribute preventing the meat from becoming dry.
- Use them for meal prep: Try this turkey drumstick recipe by cooking a batch ahead of time and enjoying them throughout the week!
When cooking turkey legs, you must treat them the same as chicken. I like to use a thermometer for this when Im not sure. The turkey must be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Yes. Bake them at 375 degrees F for 1-2 hours depending on the size of the turkey legs. A thermometer is a huge help here!
I don’t recommend it as this can lead to them cooking unevenly. It is best to thaw the frozen turkey legs in the refrigerator overnight before cooking them.
Crock Pot Turkey Legs-How to!
FAQ
How long to cook turkey legs in a slow cooker?
Cover and cook on Low until meat is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 7 to 8 hours.Nov 21, 2024
How long should you cook a turkey leg for?
… turkey is extremely tender and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers at least 165ºF, 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hoursNov 17, 2024
How long to cook a turkey in a slow cooker?
Cook for 6 hours on low without opening the lid. After 6 hours, remove the turkey from the slow cooker and place on a large, warmed plate.
Is 3 hours enough to slow cook?
How long should I cook a slow cooker recipe? If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low.
How long do you cook turkey legs in a slow cooker?
Cook the turkey legs on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the legs, which should reach 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption. Once the turkey legs are cooked, remove them from the slow cooker and let them rest for 10-15 minutes.
Can you cook turkey legs in a crockpot?
Slow cooker turkey legs is a simple recipe that produces seasoned, tender turkey leg meat. Slow cooking turkey legs in a crockpot allows them to cook low & slow, which can help break down tough connective tissues and result in super juicy meat. Instructions to make these turkey legs in the Instant Pot are also included.
Can you cook frozen turkey legs in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can cook frozen turkey legs in a slow cooker, but it’s best to thaw them first. If you don’t have time to thaw the turkey legs, you can cook them from frozen, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
How long do you cook chicken legs in a slow cooker?
Wrap each leg tightly in aluminum foil. Place wrapped legs into a slow cooker with no liquid or other ingredients. Cover and cook on Low until meat is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 7 to 8 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
How long should turkey legs be cooked?
Generally, turkey legs should be cooked on a high setting for 3-4 hours or on a low setting for 6-8 hours. However, it’s crucial to ensure that the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure safe consumption.
How do you cook turkey legs in a pressure cooker?
Mix seasonings together in a small bowl. Rub oil evenly over each turkey legs and rub mixture generously on each turkey leg. Add the prepared turkey legs to the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8. Pour water into the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add the prepared turkey legs on top. Close lid and seal valve.