Learn how to prepare perfectly roasted turkey legs the easy way – no flipping or covering with foil required. Simply season turkey legs with a blend of salt, homemade spice mix, and oil, then bake them at 400°F until the skin turns crispy, and the meat cooks to perfection.
Turkey legs, also known as drumsticks, are a delicious part of the turkey that can be enjoyed year-round. Many people wait until Thanksgiving to indulge in turkey legs, but they are easy to cook in the oven at home anytime you get a craving. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have juicy, flavorful baked turkey legs ready in less than 2 hours.
Things to Know Before Baking Turkey Legs
When buying turkey legs to cook at home, look for legs that are similar in size so they will cook evenly. Turkey legs are sold either bone-in or boneless, but bone-in legs will have the best flavor. Plan on about 1 pound of turkey legs per person.
Make sure your turkey legs are thoroughly patted dry before seasoning and baking Any excess moisture can cause the skin to be soggy rather than crisp Brushing the legs with oil or melted butter will help the seasonings adhere,
How to Prepare Turkey Legs for the Oven
Start with 4 bone-in, skin-on turkey legs, about 1-1 1/2 pounds each. Rinse the legs and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. Place the legs in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet lined with foil for easy cleanup.
Brush both sides of the turkey legs lightly with olive oil or melted butter This helps the seasoning stick to the skin
Season the legs generously with salt, pepper, and other spices of your choice. Good options are garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, sage, and rosemary. Rub the seasoning all over both sides to evenly coat.
What Temperature and How Long to Bake Turkey Legs
Preheat your oven to 350°F. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the size of the legs. Plan on baking bone-in skin-on turkey legs for 60-90 minutes.
Place the seasoned legs in the preheated 350° oven. Bake for 30 minutes initially, then flip the legs over.
Continue baking for another 30-60 minutes, flipping the legs halfway through, until the juices run clear when pierced with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If the skin starts to get too brown before the legs are cooked through, loosely tent foil over the baking pan.
The total baking time will likely be 60-75 minutes for smaller 1 pound legs and 75-90 minutes for larger legs. Always go by temperature rather than time.
Tips for the Best Oven Baked Turkey Legs
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Brining the legs in saltwater for 1-2 hours before baking helps keep them juicy.
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For crispier skin, bake at 400°F for the first 20 minutes, then lower to 325°F to finish cooking.
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Wrapping the ends of the drumsticks in foil prevents them from overcooking.
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Placing the legs over sliced onions helps add moisture and flavor.
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Basting the legs with turkey stock or melted butter several times while baking keeps the meat from drying out.
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Letting the cooked legs rest for 10 minutes before serving allows the juices to reabsorb.
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Cooking lower and slower results in more tender, fall-off-the-bone turkey legs.
How to Tell When Turkey Legs Are Done
The best way to test doneness is by using a meat thermometer. Turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the leg.
Signs turkey legs are fully cooked:
- The juices run clear when pricked with a fork
- The meat has pulled away from the bone
- The internal temperature reads 165°F
If undercooked, the turkey meat will look pink and the juices will be red rather than clear. Cook longer until the safe internal temperature is reached.
What to Serve with Baked Turkey Legs
Baked turkey legs pair well with many classic holiday side dishes like:
- Roasted vegetables – potatoes, carrots, parsnips
- Stuffing or dressing
- Cranberry sauce
- Gravy – turkey or chicken gravy works well
- Dinner rolls
They also go great with hearty sides like:
- Baked beans
- Coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Collard greens
- Cornbread
The possibilities are endless for amazing turkey leg meal combinations perfect for autumn and winter.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Turkey Legs
Cooked turkey legs will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. They can be stored covered in aluminum foil or in an airtight container. Reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven until heated through, about 20-30 minutes.
For longer freezer storage, wrap legs tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Baked turkey legs are easy to make any time of year when you get the craving for this delicious fall-off-the-bone treat. With proper seasoning and following cooking times and the temperature guidelines, you can enjoy perfect oven roasted turkey legs at home.
About roasting turkey legs
When an entire turkey is too much for your family, or you simply like dark turkey meat more, turkey legs are the perfect choice.
If you prefer white turkey meat, try our roasted split turkey breast.
As a big fan of bone-in poultry parts like chicken quarters, chicken wings, chicken legs, and of course, turkey legs. I often enjoy experimenting with various methods for preparing these delicious and juicy cuts.
Last year, I shared this air fryer turkey thighs recipe, which is also a popular one at our home.
I usually make 2 turkey legs for three of us (including one kid). But if you plan on serving them to your guests, prepare at least 1 whole drumstick per person.
I prefer a simpler approach without flipping, covering and uncovering them with aluminum foil that requires handling the hot pan multiple times.
I simply roast turkey legs using a high-sided glass dish (or a roasting pan) lined with parchment paper for less clean up. It creates a deep shallow space for the legs to bake evenly while leaving the skin exposed for that perfect crispiness.
Obviously, the roasting time will depend on the size of the legs, as some of them can be huge. But I also noticed, that the cooking time will also depend on the type of a pan (deep or regular baking pan) and whether you cover the meat or not.
From my experience, a regular baking sheet pan takes the least time. But the meat might turn out dry. Thats why I like using a deep dish and roast them uncovered – easy, juicy, and with delicious crispy skin.
You can find the quantities for each ingredient in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Turkey legs: fresh turkey drumsticks with the skin on. If you have frozen ones, let them defrost in the fridge overnight. You can also use this recipe to make turkey wings or thighs.
Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil. You can also use melted butter or a combination of both.
Salt and spices: I used my favorite home-made spice mix, made with salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried sage, dried oregano, black pepper, and a little bit of cayenne (optional).
Fresh rosemary(optional): it adds that extra pine-like woody scent, making even your house smell amazing while you roast the meat. You can also use other fresh herbs, such as sage, thyme, and Italian parsley.
1). Remove the legs from the fridge at least 15 minutes before baking them. Very cold meat will coon unevenly. Carefully, pat dry the legs on both sides with paper towels to get rid of access moisture. Especially, if they were thawed.
2). In a small bowl mix, salt, and the dried herbs. Brush each leg with some olive oil on both sides. You can also use melted butter. Rub the meat generously with the spice mix on all the sides.
3). Line a deep glass baking dish (or a roasting pan) with a large sheet of parchment paper. Place the legs in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped rosemary on top. I usually break it into smaller pieces with my hands.
4). Roast turkey legs in a preheated oven (400°F) for about 60-70 minutes. After 60 minutes, carefully take out the pan and start checking if they are fully cooked by inserting the instant meat thermometer in the thickest part. If the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F, the meat is cooked.
Otherwise, place it back in the oven and check again in about 10 minutes. Let the meat rest before serving for about 10 minutes.
- My homemade spice mix (see the recipe card) never fails, but you can also use any of your favorite spices or store-bought poultry dry rub instead.
- To avoid cutting cooked leg just to check if the meat is cooked, use an instant-read thermometer.
- Store leftover turkey meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Cooking time will depend on the size of the turkey legs, the type of baking pan, and the type your oven.
Like any other poultry meat, there are so many ways you can serve this oven-roasted turkey leg. Below, I share a few of my and my familys favorite ways:
- Classic Thanksgiving dinner: serve them alongside traditional Thanksgiving dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted green beans or roasted sweet potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
- Main dish: To change things up, I like to serve turkey meat as a simple dinner idea with side dishes like rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
- Ideas for leftovers: you can use any turkey leg meat leftovers to make soup, add to salads, and sandwiches, or turn them into tacos and quesadillas.
- Bone broth: keep the bones and make a small batch of turkey bone broth. Simply add water, some whole vegetables, herbs and simmer everything on low for a few hours.
Marinating is optional, but it can enhance the flavor of the meat. You can season the turkey legs with the spice mix and let them marinate for a few hours or overnight in the fridge before roasting.
Depending on the size of each leg, it takes between 1 to 1.5 hours to roast the turkey legs at 400°F.
Yes, you can roast them at 350°F but be prepared for a cooking time approximately 30 minutes longer.
If you have frozen turkey legs, it is recommended to thaw them overnight in the fridge before cooking. Cooking the meat from frozen will take much longer time and may result in uneven cooking.
My favorite simple seasoning is a mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried sage, dried oregano, and black pepper.
Oven Baked Turkey Legs | Easy Baked Turkey Legs | Ray Mack’s Kitchen & Grill
FAQ
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