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 drumsticks are a delicious and fun alternative to roasting a whole turkey. With their large size and gnaw-worthy bones, drumsticks are great for special occasions like Thanksgiving or easy family meals. But to get the best results when baking drumsticks, you need to know how long to cook them. Overcooked turkey can dry out quickly, while undercooked meat poses safety risks. So what’s the ideal bake time for juicy, flavorful turkey drumsticks?
The Basics: Turkey Drumstick Anatomy
First, let’s look at what makes up a turkey drumstick. The drumstick is the lower part of a turkey’s leg. It contains a single bone surrounded by tender dark meat. A whole turkey leg includes both the drumstick and the thigh above it. Drumsticks are easier to find than whole legs at many grocery stores.
Drumsticks range in size from around 1/2 pound to over 1 pound each. Larger drumsticks will need a longer bake time. For even cooking, choose drumsticks that are similar in size.
How to Prepare Turkey Drumsticks for Baking
Proper prep is key for baked turkey drumsticks with crispy skin and moist meat. Start by patting the drumsticks dry with paper towels. Then loosen the skin from the meat, being careful not to detach it fully.
Next, rub the seasoning of your choice under and over the skin. Get as much seasoning as possible onto the meat below the surface. Try herbs like thyme or rosemary, garlic, citrus zest, mustard, or spice blends.
Arrange drumsticks in a baking dish and they’re ready for the oven, A rimmed sheet pan works well, You can also place them directly on the oven rack set over a baking sheet to maximize crispiness,
What Temperature to Bake Turkey Drumsticks
The right oven temperature helps turkey drumsticks cook through without drying out. Most recipes recommend baking at:
- 350°F – 375°F for even cooking without over-browning
A few key tips:
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Preheat the oven fully before baking.
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Use an oven thermometer to check the accuracy of your oven’s temperature.
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Avoid opening the oven door frequently, which can cause temperature fluctuations.
How Long to Bake Turkey Drumsticks
When it comes to bake times, there are a few factors to consider:
Drumstick Size
- Small drumsticks (under 1 lb): Bake for 1 – 1 1/2 hours
- Large drumsticks (over 1 lb): Bake for 1 1/2 – 2 hours
Bone-In vs Boneless
- Bone-in: 1 – 2 hours
- Boneless: 45 – 60 minutes
Crispy Skin
For extra crispy skin, bake for 15 minutes at 400°F then lower heat to 350°F.
Fall-Off-The-Bone Meat
Bake for 2 – 2 1/2 hours until very tender.
Oven Temperature
Higher heat = faster cooking. Lower temp = slower cooking.
How to Tell When Turkey Drumsticks Are Done
Using a meat thermometer is the most reliable way to test doneness. Turkey is safe to eat at 165°F. For very tender meat, cook to 175° – 180°F.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the drumstick, avoiding bone. Let the temperature stabilize before reading.
If you don’t have a thermometer, pierce the meat with a fork. If the juices run clear, the turkey is done.
Drumsticks should be golden brown with crispy skin when fully cooked. The meat will also start to pull away from the bone.
Letting Turkey Drumsticks Rest
An important final step is letting the baked drumsticks rest before eating! Resting allows juices to reabsorb into the meat.
Transfer drumsticks to a cutting board and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. The internal temperature will rise about 5°F-10°F during this time.
After resting, turkey drumsticks are ready to enjoy! Serve them with favorite Thanksgiving side dishes or on their own for easy family meals.
With the right prep, temperature, and bake time, you’ll get perfectly cooked turkey drumsticks every time. Aim for 1 – 2 hours based on size and your preferred doneness. Check often and use a meat thermometer for best results. In no time, you’ll be a pro at baking succulent turkey drumsticks.
Frequency of Entities:
turkey drumsticks: 22
bake/baking: 16
oven: 7
meat: 6
temperature: 6
drumstick: 5
skin: 5
hour: 5
bone: 4
crispy: 3
tender: 3
juicy: 3
rest: 3
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
What temp should turkey drumsticks be cooked to?
Are turkey drumsticks the same as turkey legs?
Why are my baked turkey legs tough?
Do turkey legs cook faster?
How do you cook a turkey drumstick in the oven?
Pat turkey drumsticks dry with paper towels. Place them on an oven-safe rack fitted over a baking sheet. Brush the turkey with oil on all sides. Season. Sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper onto the turkey legs. Roast. Cook turkey legs in the oven, until crispy and juicy.
How long do you cook leftover turkey drumsticks?
Wrap your leftover turkey drumsticks in foil and place them on a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Reheat the foil wrapped turkey legs in a 275-degree F oven for around 35-45 minutes (of course, the timing will vary based on the amount of leftover turkey).
How do you cook drumsticks in the oven?
Pat dry: This helps your oil and seasoning stick onto the drumsticks as well as helps the skin crisp up in the oven. No rack: If you don’t have a rack, you can just line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. An ovenproof baking dish or a roasting pan may also work. Let meat rest: Don’t skip this!
How long do you cook a turkey drumstick in a broiler?
Rub the herb butter under the skin and all over the drumsticks, then arrange in a single layer on the rack. Roast, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the turkey legs are golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the meat registers 165°F, about 40 minutes. Turn the broiler on high.