In my world, turkey isn’t just for holiday dinners. It’s one of my favorite proteins to enjoy for regular weeknight dinners with a vibrant salad and roasted vegetables on the side.
For an even more hands-off meal, I turn to my roast turkey legs recipe. It’s a flavor-packed meal that’s much easier than cooking a whole bird. It’s perfect for dark meat lovers and needs very little prep. Table of Contents
Turkey drumsticks are a delicious and satisfying meal, but cooking them just right can be tricky. With the right techniques and seasonings, you can make tender, flavorful turkey drumsticks every time.
I’m going to walk you through the best methods for roasting, grilling, baking, and braising turkey drumsticks so you can enjoy this hearty meal on a regular basis. With a few simple steps, you’ll have juicy, tasty turkey drumsticks coming out perfect whether you want to fire up the oven or barbecue.
Choosing and Preparing Your Turkey Drumsticks
When shopping for turkey drumsticks, look for ones that are large and meaty. Avoid any with bones protruding or a thin appearance. The best drumsticks will be around 1 pound each.
Make sure to pull the drumsticks out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking, Letting them come closer to room temperature will help them cook more evenly, Pat the skin dry with paper towels right before cooking
To prep, peel the skin back from the meat and slide your fingers underneath to loosen it up. Then rub butter or olive oil all over the meat before repositioning the skin on top. Try adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage under the skin for extra flavor.
Oven Roasting for Maximum Juiciness
Roasting is my favorite way to cook turkey drumsticks when I want moist, fall-off-the-bone meat. Here’s how to roast them to perfection:
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Preheat your oven to 350°F.
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Spread 1-2 tablespoons of butter underneath and on top of the skin of each drumstick. Season generously with salt, pepper, and any other spices you desire.
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Place the drumsticks in a roasting pan or on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
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Roast for 60-90 minutes, turning them halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Let them rest for 10-15 minutes before serving for juicy meat.
The key is to not overcook them. Pull them out once the thermometer hits 165° so they stay nice and moist.
Grilled Drumsticks Infused with Smoky Flavor
There’s nothing better than the char and sweet smokiness turkey drumsticks get on the grill. Follow these steps for finger-licking good grilled drumsticks:
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Heat your gas or charcoal grill to medium heat, around 300°F.
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Coat the drumsticks in your favorite spice rub or use salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, etc.
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Grill over indirect heat for 45-60 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.
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Check the internal temperature, removing them at 175°F for ideal doneness.
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Let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Take them off the grill before they toughen up to keep them nice and tender. The carryover cooking from the residual heat will finish them perfectly.
Baked Drumsticks for Hassle-Free Weeknight Meals
When you’re short on time, baked drumsticks make for a quick and easy dinner. Simply:
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Heat your oven to 375°F.
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Rub the drumsticks with olive oil or butter and generously season.
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Place them in a baking dish or pan and bake for 60-75 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
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Check the temperature, removing from the oven at 165°F.
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Let rest before serving for moist meat.
The hot dry air of the oven will give you crispy skin and browned exterior with very little effort.
Slow Cooker Drumsticks – Low Effort and Foolproof
My slow cooker turkey drumstick recipe ensures tender meat with hardly any work required:
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Add 2-4 drumsticks to your slow cooker (remove skin if desired).
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Pour in chicken broth or stock until the drumsticks are submerged.
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Add seasonings like garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
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Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours.
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Remove drumsticks and shred or slice the fall-apart meat.
The slow, moist heat breaks down the tissue for succulent meat that’s so tender, it just slides right off the bone.
Braised Drumsticks for Super Tender Meat
Braising is hands-down the best way to cook turkey drumsticks if you love ultra-tender meat. Just:
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Season the drumsticks with salt, pepper, herbs and sprinkle with flour.
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Brown them on all sides in a skillet with oil.
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Place them in a baking dish and add chicken broth until halfway submerged.
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Cover tightly with foil and bake at 325°F for 2-3 hours until fall-apart tender.
The braising liquid keeps the meat incredibly moist while the long cooking time makes it melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Helpful Tips for Perfect Results Every Time
Follow these tips whenever you cook turkey drumsticks for the best flavor and texture:
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Truss legs with kitchen string to keep shape if desired.
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Brine for added moisture and flavor.
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Flip and rotate during cooking for even browning.
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Baste with pan drippings or broth while cooking.
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Allow to rest before carving for juicier meat.
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Check temperature early and often to prevent overcooking.
With the right prep and techniques, you’ll be able to enjoy incredibly delicious, succulent turkey drumsticks anytime the craving strikes. Whether roasting, grilling, baking or braising, these methods will help you nail perfectly cooked drumsticks every time. Give them a try soon and enjoy!
Why I love this recipe
- Minimal ingredients. Olive oil and a few savory poultry seasonings are rubbed all over the drumsticks before baking, yielding restaurant-worthy results.
- Juicy and crispy. Forget all about dry and bland turkey! In my recipe, the drumsticks are cooked at a high temperature in their own juices, giving you succulent meat on the inside and crispy skin on the outside (similar to smoked turkey legs!).
- This is an easy family meal. It works well for a weeknight dinner or for more special occasions (including my nephew’s Disney World-themed party, seriously).
- Easier than a whole turkey roast. As expected, turkey legs have a shorter roasting time than the whole bird. You can whip these up for a small holiday dinner.
- Turkey drumsticks/Turkey legs. Use bone-in and skin-on whole turkey legs. I buy turkey legs at my local butcher because the size of the turkey legs are mostly even, but more and more grocery stores have them in stock.
- Oil. Olive oil or any neutral-tasting oil should work well (like avocado oil). Softened melted butter is a nice choice, too.
- Dry herbs and spices. Kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried thyme, and chili flakes are stirred with the oil to create my homemade turkey rub.
How to make baked turkey drumsticks
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Season. Stir the oil and spices together, then brush over the turkey drumsticks.
Step 2- Roast. Transfer the turkey legs to a roasting rack or baking dish. Roast in the oven, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Then cover the pan with a layer of foil and roast for another 20-25 minutes.
- Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels to help the oil-spice rub stick to the skin.
- For extra crispy turkey legs, heat them under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes at the end.
- You’ll know the turkey is ready to eat when the meat is no longer pink, the juices run clear, and the skin is brown and crisp. You can also use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the meat by inserting it in the thickest part of the leg. Turkey is safe to eat when it reaches 165ºF.
- Use the drippings. As they bake, the drumsticks will release deliciously savory drippings you can use to make gravy!
- Change up the flavor. Turkey legs are super versatile and work well with many seasonings. Try some Rosemary, cayenne pepper, chicken seasoning mix, ground cumin,
What to serve with this dish
Because roasted turkey drumsticks are easier to cook than a whole turkey, you can serve them for low-maintenance holiday side dishes with roasted potatoes and carrots, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage steaks, and sauteed carrots on the side. Don’t forget the gravy!
To store: Store the leftover roast turkey legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days.
To freeze: The baked and cooled turkey legs can be frozen in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat: Warm the leftover turkey in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or in a 350ºF oven until heated through.
The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your turkey legs. For this recipe, 1 kilogram of turkey drumsticks (2 pounds) took about 50 minutes to cook in a 450ºF oven. Smaller turkey legs will need less time.
Coating the turkey in oil and roasting it in a covered dish should help the meat stay succulent and juicy, despite the higher cooking temperature.
Yes! Frozen turkey drumsticks will work just as well as fresh here. Just remember to thaw them in the fridge before cooking.
Technically yes. However, I suggest decreasing the cooking time by around 10 minutes because size-wise, chicken legs are smaller and thinner.
A Delicious and WOW ‼️Baked Turkey drumsticks recipe by Terri-Ann’s Kitchen
FAQ
What temp should turkey drumsticks be cooked to?
Are turkey drumsticks the same as turkey legs?
Are turkey drumsticks good for you?
Why do turkey legs take longer to cook?
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 should turmeric be ingested?
Turmeric is a widely used spice that has been consumed throughout history to treat inflammation. Its active component is Curcumin, which when combined with black pepper and a fat such as coconut oil, olive or milk, will make the compound more bioavailable, and may increase the efficacy in the body.
How do you season turkey drumsticks?
Season your turkey drumsticks. Sprinkle the meat all over with salt and pepper. If you want to add spices and other seasonings, spread mixed spices all over each drumstick to coat the skin. Try these delicious combinations: Cook the drumsticks in indirect heat for 1 hour.
How do you know if a turkey drumstick is cooked?
Below are some tips that will boost your confidence when baking turkey drumsticks and help you determine doneness: Cook time: Cook time is directly related to the size of the turkey drumstick. Larger legs take longer to cook, while smaller ones cook in a shorter amount of time.