Here is how to make insanely tasty and juicy Baked Turkey Drumsticks. It is super flavorful with the variety of herbs and spices used. The perfect tasty dinner to go with a variety of side dishes!
This Baked Turkey Drumsticks recipe is perfect for those of you who don’t want to make a full turkey for Thanksgiving this year!
You know it doesn’t always have to be a full turkey. You could make turkey legs, turkey breasts, turkey drumsticks or turkey wings.
Serve these turkey drumsticks with your favorite side dishes for dinner, entertaining, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter!
Cooking turkey legs in the oven is a great way to enjoy delicious, juicy meat without the hassle of roasting a whole turkey. When cooking turkey legs in the oven, the most important factor is the temperature. Cooking at around 400°F ensures a good balance between thorough cooking and retaining moisture. But exactly how long should you cook turkey legs in the oven at 400°F?
Factors That Affect Turkey Leg Cooking Time
There are a few key factors that impact the cooking time for turkey legs in the oven
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Size of the legs – Larger legs take longer to cook through to the center. Small legs can cook in 1 – 1.5 hours while big legs need 2.5 – 3 hours.
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Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in legs take longer since the bone partially insulates the meat, Boneless cooks faster
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Temperature of oven – The hotter the oven, the less time needed. 400°F is ideal for turkey legs.
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Convection setting – A convection oven circulates hot air for faster, even cooking so reduce time by about 25% if you use convection.
How Long to Cook Turkey Legs Based on Weight
For best results, calculate the cooking time based on the weight of the turkey legs:
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Small legs (1 to 2 lbs): Cook for 15 minutes per pound at 400°F. Total time is 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
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Medium legs (2 to 3 lbs): Cook for 15 to 17 minutes per pound at 400°F. Total time is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
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Large legs (3 to 4 lbs): Cook for 17 to 20 minutes per pound at 400°F. Total time is 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
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Extra large legs (over 4 lbs): Cook for 20 to 25 minutes per pound at 400°F. Total time is over 3 hours.
Adjust cooking time down by 25% if using the convection setting on your oven.
Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches 165°F at the thickest part. If undercooked, return to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until fully cooked through.
Tips for Cooking Juicy, Flavorful Turkey Legs
Follow these tips for the best oven-cooked turkey legs:
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Let legs sit at room temperature while oven preheats – For even cooking, let legs sit at room temp for 30 minutes before cooking.
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Pat dry and coat with oil – Rub legs with a light coating of olive oil, butter, or bacon grease for crispy skin.
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Season well – For flavorful turkey, coat with spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme.
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Use a rack – Elevate legs on a rack over a sheet pan for air circulation and even cooking.
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Tent foil midway – Tent foil over legs halfway through cooking to retain moisture.
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Rest before serving – Let legs rest 10 minutes before slicing for juicy meat.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow this simple step-by-step guide for foolproof oven turkey legs:
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Prep – Pat 1 to 4 lb turkey legs dry. Coat with oil and season all over. Let sit at room temp 30 minutes.
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Preheat – Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with foil and place a rack inside.
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Roast – Place legs on the rack. Roast 30 minutes, flip, then continue roasting based on size and weight.
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Tent – Tent foil loosely over legs halfway through roasting to retain moisture.
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Check temp – Check temperature in thickest part with a meat thermometer, return to oven if under 165°F.
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Rest – Remove legs from oven and tent foil over them. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
And that’s it! Follow this guide for deliciously roasted turkey legs with crispy skin and flavorful, juicy meat every time. Cooking turkey legs in a 400°F oven is ideal for getting them cooked through without drying them out.
Common Questions about Cooking Turkey Legs
How long should I cook a 6 lb turkey leg?
For a 6 lb turkey leg, cook at 400°F for about 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, based on 20 minutes per pound. Check internal temp to confirm doneness.
Can I cook frozen turkey legs in the oven?
Yes, cooking from frozen works well. Add about 50% more cooking time. Thaw in the fridge 1-2 days instead for a quicker roast.
Should I baste the turkey legs while cooking?
Basting helps keep turkey legs moist. Brush with melted butter, olive oil or poultry drippings every 30 minutes during roasting.
What temperature are turkey legs done?
Turkey legs are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest part.
Can I grill turkey legs instead of oven roasting?
Yes, grilled turkey legs are delicious! Grill over indirect medium heat for about the same time as oven roasting until 165°F.
Cooking up oven-roasted turkey legs is an easy and flavorful meal. By following these tips for time and temperature, you’ll get tender, juicy meat encased in crispy, golden skin every time. Enjoy your perfect turkey legs!
Ingredients For Super Tasty Turkey
You only need a few simple ingredients for this Baked Turkey Drumsticks recipe. The combination of herbs and spices here yields great flavor! Here are the ingredients you need:
- Turkey Drumsticks. I got these from my local grocery store. If you can’t find turkey drumsticks you could use other parts of turkey like turkey thighs, or turkey legs.
- Melted Butter. For flavor. Coating the turkey in butter before adding the other ingredients makes the turkey super tasty. The butter gets toasty as the drumsticks bake. Definitely more flavorful than using oil. But you could use oil as well.
- Salt and Pepper. For flavor.
- Garlic Powder. For flavor.
- Onion Powder. For flavor.
- Dried Thyme. For flavor.
- Dried Parsley. For flavor.
- Paprika. For a vibrant color.
See the recipe card for the quantity of each ingredient.
How To Bake Turkey Drumsticks
Here is how to make Baked Turkey Drumsticks in 2 easy steps!
- Place the turkey drumsticks in a baking dish together with all other ingredients. Rub the butter, spices and herbs thoroughly all over the turkey.
2. Place into the oven and bake until completely cooked through.
Hint: when the turkey drumsticks have been in the oven for 30 minutes, remove them and flip to the other side then baste them with the sauce at the bottom of the pan.