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.
Cooking turkey drumsticks can seem intimidating. How long should you cook them for? At what temperature? Will they come out dry or undercooked? Have no fear – this guide will walk you through exactly how long to cook turkey drumsticks at 350°F for juicy delicious results every time.
Why Choose Turkey Drumsticks?
Turkey drumsticks offer a few advantages over cooking a whole turkey Firstly, they cook more quickly and evenly than a whole bird Drumsticks are also very inexpensive, kid-friendly, and contain a good ratio of dark to white meat. The leg and thigh meat is often more moist and flavorful than the breast. Finally, drumsticks are the perfect single-serving option for a casual family dinner or game day spread.
Picking the Right Drumsticks
When selecting turkey drumsticks, choose ones that are similar in size to ensure even cooking. Ideally, each drumstick should weight around 1 pound or 450g. Avoid any with tears in the skin or an off-putting odor. Also, note that fresh drumsticks will cook more quickly than frozen ones.
Seasoning is Key
Proper seasoning is crucial for flavorful, juicy drumsticks straight from the oven. A simple blend of olive oil, spices, herbs, and citrus does the trick beautifully. Try a mix of salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard, and orange zest and juice. Gently loosen the skin and rub the seasoning directly onto the meat before roasting. The spices will permeate the meat as it cooks.
Roast Uncovered at 350°F
Preheating your oven to 350°F and roasting the drumsticks uncovered is ideal. This moderate temperature cooks the meat through gently without drying it out. Place the drumsticks in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet or casserole dish to promote even cooking. Resist the urge to crowd them together.
Cook Time Depends on Size
So how long should you bake turkey drumsticks at 350°F? The cooking time depends on the size of the drumsticks. Generally, they will need 20-25 minutes per pound for fresh drumsticks and 25-30 minutes per pound for frozen. To be exact, for 1 pound fresh drumsticks, roast at 350°F for 50-60 minutes total. Frozen drumsticks of the same size will need 70-75 minutes.
Use a Meat Thermometer
While the times above provide a good estimate, using an instant-read meat thermometer is the best way to determine doneness. Turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the drumstick, taking care not to touch any bones. When it registers 165°F, the drumsticks are ready.
Let Them Rest
Once the drumsticks are finished cooking, resist digging in immediately. Let them rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat for a juicy bite. Tenting them with foil while resting keeps them piping hot.
Add Smoky, Savory Flavor
If you want an extra flavor boost, try smoking the drumsticks first on a grill or in a smoker before finishing in the oven. 2 hours of smoking infuses the meat with sweet, smoky flavor. Rubbing the skin with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup beforehand also promotes caramelization and crispy skin.
Fall-Off-The-Bone Meat
For ultra-tender drumsticks that fall right off the bone, employ a lower and slower roasting method. Season as desired. Roast uncovered at 275°F for approximately 4 hours, until the meat is pulling away from the bone and reaches 205°F internal temperature. The prolonged cooking time breaks down collagen for meat that literally falls off the bone.
Bake to Perfection Every Time
Follow this simple roasting method for turkey drumsticks cooked to juicy, flavorful perfection. By seasoning generously, roasting at 350°F, and using a meat thermometer, you can avoid undercooked or dried-out drumsticks. For even more flavor and tenderness, try smoking or lower-temperature roasting. Your family will devour these succulent baked turkey drumsticks anytime.
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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