Masterfully Cooking Juicy, Flavorful Turkey Legs in Your Ninja Foodi

For many people, turkey legs are one of the most crave-worthy parts of the Thanksgiving meal. With the right techniques, you can achieve tender, fall-off-the-bone turkey legs in your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker. This versatile appliance allows you to infuse robust flavor into the meat while unlocking its succulent potential.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover tips and tricks for cooking foolproof turkey legs in your Foodi, from start to finish

Benefits of the Ninja Foodi for Turkey Legs

The Ninja Foodi provides key advantages when cooking turkey legs:

• Pressure cooking – High pressure quickly tenderizes the meat while sealing in moisture.

• Air crisping – Gives the legs a crispy skin without deep-frying.

• Convenience – Makes cooking hands-off and fuss-free in one vessel.

• Flavor infusion – Pressure and steam infuse spices, herbs and marinades into the meat.

• Speed – Turkey legs cook much faster than roasting.

With the Foodi’s pressure, air crisp, and tender crisp functions, you can get restaurant-quality results right at home.

Choosing Turkey Legs for the Ninja Foodi

Look for the following when selecting turkey legs:

• Size – Legs around 1-1.5 lbs work well. Larger legs may not fit.

• Shape – Curvier legs rather than straight legs will have more room for air flow.

• Skin – Legs with skin intact adds delicious crispiness, Opt for skin-on

• Quality – Choose fresh, antibiotic-free legs when possible for best flavor.

Prioritize curvy, skin-on turkey legs around 1 lb for the Foodi to allow even cooking.

Prepping Turkey Legs for the Ninja Foodi

Proper prep ensures tender, juicy results:

• Pat dry – Gently pat the turkey legs with paper towels. Excess moisture can hinder browning.

• Trim excess fat – Use a knife to trim off any excess fatty areas.

• Make slashes – Use a knife to cut slits into the flesh side of the legs. This allows marinades and heat to penetrate better.

• Season generously – Rub the legs all over with your choice of spices and aromatics. Popular options include salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, paprika, and garlic.

With the legs fully prepped, it’s time to start cooking.

Pressure Cooking Turkey Legs

Pressure cooking is key for infusing flavors and achieving fall-off-the-bone meat:

• Add 1 cup liquid – The Foodi requires liquid to build pressure. Chicken broth works well but water can also be used.

• Place legs bone-side down – Positioning the legs this way allows moisture to cook into the meat.

• High pressure 20-25 minutes – Cook time depends on size. Check for doneness after 20 minutes.

• Quick release pressure – After cooking, manually release the pressure quickly.

The combination of pressure, steam and aromatics will make the meat super moist and flavorful.

Air Crisping the Skin to Perfection

Next, we’ll add the finishing touch – an ultra crispy skin:

• Pat legs dry – Gently pat off excess moisture before air crisping.

• Coat with oil – Brush or rub a bit of olive oil over the skin to help it get crispy.

• Air crisp 400°F for 5-8 minutes – Keep checking often until the skin reaches your desired crispiness.

Air crisping uses super hot circulating air to transform the skin into a perfectly crisped, crunchy exterior.

Serving Up Delicious Turkey Legs

Your succulent, crispy turkey legs are ready to enjoy. Here are some tasty serving suggestions:

• Pair with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce for a mini Thanksgiving-style meal.

• Serve atop a fresh salad for a satisfying main course meal.

• Make slider sandwiches with mini buns, BBQ sauce, and coleslaw.

• Chop the meat and add it to soups, tacos, pasta dishes, and more.

Your Ninja Foodi makes whipping up incredible turkey legs simple and easy. Experiment with different rubs and sauces to put your own unique spin on this classic dish.