How Long to Reheat a Turkey Leg in the Oven for Perfectly Juicy Leftovers

Leftover turkey legs from a holiday meal are a treat, but properly reheating them is key to maintaining moisture and flavor. Whether your turkey legs were roasted, smoked, or fried, the oven provides an easy hands-off way to reheat them. Follow these simple instructions to learn how long to reheat turkey legs in the oven for delicious results every time.

Why Reheating Turkey Legs in the Oven Works Best

The oven is the optimal choice for reheating turkey legs for several reasons:

• It surrounds the turkey legs in gentle, ambient heat to warm them through gradually without drying them out.

• The turkey legs can be loosely covered to create a steaming environment that helps retain moisture.

• Multiple turkey legs can be reheated together on a sheet pan, making the oven convenient for larger quantities.

• Hands-off reheating in the oven gives you time to prepare other dishes rather than attending to a stovetop

• Turkey legs reheated in the oven retain their flavor and have a tender, juicy texture close to freshly roasted.

Other appliances like the microwave or stovetop can be used in a pinch, but the oven gives superior reheating results.

How Long to Reheat Turkey Legs in the Oven

The time needed to reheat turkey legs in the oven depends on several factors

• Size and thickness – Larger, meatier drumsticks take longer than smaller legs.

• Bone-in or bone-out – Bone-in legs take longer than boneless turkey leg meat.

• Temperature – Higher oven temperatures shorten reheating time.

• Quantity – Reheating multiple legs adds reheating time.

• Frozen or thawed – Frozen legs require more time than thawed.

For reference, here are general oven reheating times for turkey legs:

• 2 to 3 small to medium bone-in turkey legs – 30 to 45 minutes at 300°F to 350°F

• 1 large turkey leg or boneless turkey leg meat – 20 to 30 minutes at 300°F to 350°F

• Frozen turkey legs, bone-in or boneless – 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350°F

The best way to test doneness is by using an instant-read thermometer. Turkey is safe to eat when reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into a thicker part of the meat to check for doneness.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for reheating juicy, flavorful turkey legs in the oven:

1. Prepare the Turkey Legs

Remove turkey legs from refrigeration and allow to come closer to room temperature, about 15 to 30 minutes. This helps them heat evenly.

Pat off any exterior moisture with paper towels. Moisture can make the exterior soggy.

2. Add Flavorful Liquid

Place legs in an oven-safe dish. Add a few tablespoons of broth, water, wine or gravy. The liquid provides moisture and enhances flavor as the turkey legs reheat.

For extra richness, add a pat of butter or drizzle of oil over the turkey legs before reheating.

3. Cover Loosely with Foil

Cover the baking dish loosely with foil to create steam and prevent drying. Allow some venting so moisture doesn’t accumulate and soak the turkey skin.

Alternatively, place legs directly onto a foil-lined sheet pan, loosely wrap in foil and crimp edges to seal.

4. Reheat at 300°F to 350°F

Preheat oven to 300°F to 350°F. This moderately low temperature prevents overcooking.

Place dish on middle oven rack and reheat for 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through.

5. Check Internal Temperature

Test temperature by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a leg without hitting the bone. Turkey should reach 165°F.

If reheating frozen turkey legs, verify they have fully thawed by checking temperature in multiple spots.

6. Let Turkey Legs Rest before Serving

Once the turkey legs have reached 165°F, remove dish from the oven. Tent foil directly on legs and let rest 5 minutes before uncovering and serving.

The temperature will rise a bit more as they rest, ensuring doneness. The short rest also allows juices to redistribute through the meat for added juiciness.

Tips for the Best Results

Follow these tips for superior oven-reheated turkey legs:

• Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness temperature is reached. Juices should run clear when pricked.

• Add giblet gravy, chicken or turkey stock for extra moisture and more pronounced turkey flavor.

• Brush legs with olive oil or melted butter before reheating for crisper skin.

• Elevate legs on a wire rack set inside the baking dish so hot air circulates completely around.

• Finish under the broiler 2 to 3 minutes for browned, crispy skin. Watch closely to avoid burning.

• Cut larger legs into two pieces so the meat heats through more quickly.

• Allow extra reheating time for legs straight from the refrigerator vs. at room temperature.

• Check for doneness early, and continue reheating in short increments to avoid overcooking.

Oven-Reheated Turkey Leg Recipes

These recipe ideas produce tender, juicy oven-reheated turkey legs full of flavor:

Simple Roasted Turkey Legs

• 2 to 3 turkey legs, bone-in
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1⁄4 tsp each salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Pat turkey legs dry. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings.
2. Place on a baking sheet. Reheat at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until 165°F.
3. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Crispy Baked Turkey Legs

• 2 to 3 turkey legs, bone-in
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1⁄4 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 1⁄4 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Brush turkey legs with melted butter. Coat with breadcrumb mixture.
2. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until reheated through and crispy.

BBQ Turkey Legs

• 2 to 3 turkey legs, bone-in
• 1⁄2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Combine barbecue sauce, broth, Worcestershire, and seasonings.
2. Pour over turkey legs to coat. Cover with foil.
3. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until sauce is sticky.

The oven allows you to conveniently reheat multiple turkey legs to tender, juicy perfection. Just be sure to use a thermometer to confirm safe 165°F internal temperature. Rest the reheated turkey 5 minutes before serving for optimal flavor and moisture. Enjoy your tasty oven-reheated turkey legs!

Links