Turkey legs are a delicious and fun meal to make any time of year Their large size and gnaw-worthy texture make them a fun, interactive dinner whether you’re feeding kids or adults. Roasting turkey legs in the oven results in crispy, golden skin enveloping tender, juicy meat infused with flavorful seasonings
I love finding easy weeknight meals, and oven-roasted turkey legs definitely fit the bill. They come together quickly with just a few ingredients and cook unattended in the oven. Making turkey legs in the oven is much simpler than roasting a whole turkey, but it still gives you that festive holiday flavor.
In this article, I’ll share my easy method for how to make turkey legs in the oven so you can enjoy this inexpensive yet impressive meal. We’ll cover:
- Choosing and preparing turkey legs
- Seasoning and seasoning ideas
- Step-by-step oven roasting method
- Serving suggestions and side dishes
Picking the Right Turkey Legs
Turkey legs are made up of the drumstick with a portion of the thigh attached You can usually find bags of turkey drumsticks in the poultry section of the grocery store Or visit a butcher to find whole turkey legs including more of the thigh.
For oven roasting, select medium-sized turkey legs that are about 1-2 pounds each. Legs that are too small may dry out while larger ones will take longer to cook. Skin-on, bone-in turkey legs work best to keep the meat juicy and flavorful.
Rinse the turkey legs under cold water and thoroughly pat them dry before seasoning. Removing any water on the surface helps the seasoning stick better.
Seasoning Your Turkey Legs
One of the best parts about oven-roasted turkey legs is that you can flavor them however you like! Start with just a simple coating of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Or use one of these tasty seasoning combinations:
- Lemon pepper, thyme, and garlic
- Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika
- Brown sugar and cayenne pepper
- Italian dressing or herbs like oregano and basil
Get creative and make your own signature flavor. The seasoning possibilities are endless.
Be sure to coat the legs all over, rubbing it into the skin and underside. Letting the legs sit for 10-15 minutes or even overnight in the fridge allows the seasoning to penetrate deeper into the meat.
How to Roast Turkey Legs Perfectly
Roasting turkey legs in the oven results in crispy browned skin covering tender, succulent meat. Follow these simple steps for perfect oven-roasted turkey legs every time:
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Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
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Arrange the turkey legs on the baking sheet and coat all over with olive or vegetable oil. Season generously with your choice of spices and rub into the skin.
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Roast the legs for 15 minutes to brown the skin. Flip and roast 15 minutes more to brown the other side.
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Reduce the heat to 350°F. Loosely cover the pan with foil to prevent overbrowning.
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Continue roasting 30-60 more minutes until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reaches 165°F.
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Allow the turkey legs to rest 5-10 minutes before serving. The temperature will rise a bit more as they rest.
The total roasting time depends on the size of your turkey legs, but plan on 60-90 minutes. Watch carefully near the end to prevent overcooking.
Serving Suggestions
Oven-roasted turkey legs make a fun, casual dinner or game-day meal. Serve them on a platter alongside classic Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Or keep it simple with a green salad and bread.
Leftover turkey legs store well in the fridge for several days. Enjoy cold slices in sandwiches and salads or reheat in the oven or microwave. You can also strip off the meat to use in soups, chili, enchiladas, and more.
Be sure to save those bones for making turkey broth! Simmer the bones with vegetable scraps, herbs, and peppercorns for a nourishing homemade stock.
Quick and Delicious Oven-Roasted Turkey Legs
Turkey legs are an inexpensive yet impressive meal that’s easy to make any night of the week. Season them to suit your taste, pop them in the oven, and let the flavor develop as they roast. In less than 2 hours, you’ll have a fun feast the whole family will love.
Use this simple method for how to make turkey legs in the oven and enjoy the fun of gnawing on these delicious legs and thighs. The crispy browned skin contrasts beautifully with the tender, succulent meat inside. Leftovers make great sandwiches or can be used in other recipes.
Now that you know how easy oven-roasted turkey legs are, you can enjoy them more often as a tasty treat!
How to Braise Turkey Legs
Start by searing the legs over high heat in a neutral oil (I use canola). The key here is to get them nice and brown so that we can build up a decent fond in the pan (the browned proteins that build up on the pan as you sear), and begin the process of flavoring the turkey. Dont worry about overcooking at this stage—even with searing high heat, the thick turkey skin will insulate the meat below it.
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After the first side is seared (about eight minutes), flip the legs over and sear the second side. Its not as important to get this second skin-free side seared, so it will take a shorter amount of time.
Why You Should Braise Turkey Legs
There are a number of advantages you get from braising turkey legs over roasting them.
- Turkey legs are abundant in connective tissue. Turkeys are heavy birds, so their legs build up quite a bit of muscle mass and connective tissue—far more than a petite chicken. Braising will convert this connective tissue to tender gelatin, which helps lubricate meat, making it ultra-moist and tender.
- Braising is idiot-proof. A roasted turkey leg can overcook. And, fair enough, so can a braised turkey leg. But its much much harder to overcook a braise.
- Braises come with gravy. No need to make a separate sauce for your braised turkey legs, or for the rest of your meal, for that matter. Braised dishes come with the sauce built right in. (And you can always enhance that sauce further by throwing your chopped turkey carcass into the liquid as it cooks).
- Braising makes your house smell awesome. And by awesome, I mean lick-your-lips, make-the-dogs-swoon, siblings-will-momentarily-stop-fighting awesome.
Convinced? Good. Heres how we do it, step-by-step.
Oven Baked Turkey Legs | Easy Baked Turkey Legs | Ray Mack’s Kitchen & Grill
FAQ
How long do you keep turkey legs in the oven?
… 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 do you cook a turkey leg for?
Before cooking: Preheat oven 190°C/ Fan 170°C/ Gas Mark 5. Remove all packaging and place the turkey leg in an oven proof dish. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper (optional). Loosely cover the turkey leg with foil and cook in the centre of the preheated oven for 20 minutes per kg + 70 minutes.
Should I wrap my turkey legs in foil?
I recommend wrapping them in foil for about half the cooking time to keep the skin from burning. How long do you cook turkey legs in the oven at 350°F (176°C?May 2, 2024
How do you cook turkey legs in the oven?
Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pat dry the turkey legs with paper towels. Prep Turkey: Whisk the melted butter with the salt, garlic powder and pepper. Generously brush the butter mixture all around the turkey legs. Transfer To Oven: Transfer the turkey legs to a greased baking pan, skin side down and transfer to the preheated oven.
How do you cook a fried turkey leg?
Make the compound butter. Stir together softened butter, fresh rosemary and thyme, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Prep the turkey legs. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey legs and under the skin. Wrap each drumstick in aluminum foil and set on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the turkey legs.
How do you cook a turkey leg in a tin?
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Line a roasting tin with baking paper or foil and spread the onion, rosemary and lemon slices over it. Place the turkey leg on top, skin side down and roast for 30 minutes. Turn the legs over, skin side up, and continue to cook for a further 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 75°C (167°F).
How long does it take to cook a turkey leg?
Rub butter and sprinkle salt under and over the skin. Roast the turkey legs: Place the legs in a roasting pan and roast in a preheated oven, basting occasionally with the juices, until the skin is golden brown. The turkey legs should be perfectly golden brown and juicy in about 90 minutes to two hours.
What are roasted turkey legs?
These simple roasted turkey legs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, perfect for a small-scale holiday dinner idea or an impressive entrée to serve any time of year. Whole turkey legs are made up of the thigh and drumstick, but many people use “turkey leg” to refer to just the drumstick.
How do you cook a turkey leg in a crock pot?
Use a sharp knife to create two or three pockets deep into the tissue, then press a piece of celery into each pocket. Rub butter and sprinkle salt under and over the skin. Roast the turkey legs: Place the legs in a roasting pan and roast in a preheated oven, basting occasionally with the juices, until the skin is golden brown.