How Long to Deep Fry a Turkey Leg for Crispy, Juicy Perfection

Deep fried turkey legs are a delicious, fun treat that can take your next picnic, party, or football watching session to the next level. When properly cooked, the skin becomes ultra crispy and flavorful, while the meat stays nice and moist. But getting the cook time just right can seem tricky. Undercook your turkey legs and they’ll be dry and flavorless. Overcook them and you’ll end up with meat that’s tough and hard to chew.

So how long should you deep fry turkey legs to achieve that perfect balance of crispy outside and tender, juicy meat? Read on for a full guide to deep frying times, recipes, tips, and tricks.

The Basics: Deep Frying Turkey Legs

Deep frying uses hot oil to surround food with heat, cooking it very quickly and evenly. It’s a popular technique for foods like fried chicken and french fries. Turkey legs do wonderfully when deep fried since the hot oil helps render and crisp up the fatty skin while sealing in the natural juices.

You’ll need a stock pot or deep fryer large enough to fully submerge the turkey legs in oil. Fill with around 4-6 inches of high smoke point oil like peanut or canola. Heat to 350-375°F degrees. Use a thermometer to monitor oil temp, adjusting heat to maintain it. Then fry turkey legs in batches without overcrowding.

Once they’re golden brown, remove turkey legs from oil and let excess drain off. Season while hot then serve and enjoy!

How Long to Fry Turkey Legs

Frying time can vary based on size of legs and desired level of doneness. Here are general guidelines:

• Small turkey legs (1-2 lbs): Fry for 9-12 minutes
• Medium turkey legs (2-3 lbs): Fry for 12-15 minutes
• Large turkey legs (3-4 lbs): Fry for 15-18 minutes
• Extra large turkey legs (4+ lbs): Fry for 18-22 minutes

To test for doneness, insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat without touching bone Turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165°F If undercooked, return to oil for 2-3 minutes more.

For best results, don’t overcrowd the fryer. Fry legs in batches with at least 1 inch space around each. Overcrowding lowers oil temp, resulting in greasy food.

Tips for Maximizing Crispy Skin

Achieving truly crispy, crunchy skin on deep fried turkey legs requires a few special tricks:

• Pat legs very dry before frying. Blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture from skin.

• Don’t move legs once in hot oil. Constant motion prevents bubbling and crisping.

• Fry at higher heat, between 375-400°F. Just watch closely to avoid burning.

• Fry legs for a minute or two longer than the minimum time This extra time crisps skin fully,

• Let cooked legs drain on a rack before serving. Draining excess oil preserves crispy texture.

Deep Fried Turkey Leg Recipes

Basic deep fried turkey legs are delicious on their own, but you can also coat them in flavorful spiced breading for extra crunch and taste. Try these yummy recipes:

Cajun Deep Fried Turkey Legs

• Ingredients:

  • 3 turkey legs, patted dry
  • 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • Peanut oil for frying

• Instructions:

  1. Mix Cajun seasoning into flour. Dip legs in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs to coat all over.
  2. Fry legs at 375°F for 13-18 minutes depending on size.
  3. Drain on a paper towel lined rack. Season with more Cajun spice if desired.

Crispy Fried Turkey Legs

• Ingredients:

  • 4 turkey legs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1⁄2 tsp paprika
  • 1⁄4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Peanut oil for frying

• Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, mix buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, and garlic powder. Add turkey legs and marinate 30 minutes.
  2. In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
  3. Remove legs from buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Dredge in flour mixture, pressing to adhere.
  4. Fry legs at 350°F for 15-20 minutes based on size.
  5. Drain on paper towels and serve.

Bacon Wrapped Turkey Legs

• Ingredients:

  • 4 turkey legs
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1⁄2 tsp salt
  • Barbecue sauce, for serving

• Instructions

  1. Wrap each turkey leg with 2 slices of bacon, securing with toothpicks if needed.
  2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, chili powder, cayenne and salt. Rub spice mix all over bacon.
  3. Fry legs at 375°F for 18-22 minutes until bacon is crisp.
  4. Remove from oil, drain, and brush with barbecue sauce before serving.

Cooking Turkey Legs in the Oven

Don’t have a deep fryer? You can still make juicy, crispy turkey legs in the oven:

• Pat legs dry and coat with oil. Season well with salt, pepper, and other spices.

• Place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. This allows air flow for crisping.

• Roast at 400°F for about 1 hour 20 minutes, until meat registers 165°F.

• For extra crisp skin, broil for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking.

Game Day Turkey Leg Tips

Turkey legs aren’t just for Renaissance faires and Medieval Times. They make awesome game day treats too.

• Make ahead and reheat briefly in a 400 degree F oven right before guests arrive.

• Offer fun dipping sauces like barbecue, honey mustard, and ranch.

• Skip the bone. Slice cooked meat off and serve on rolls for easy turkey leg sandwiches.

• Make a turkey leg platter with all the fixings like slaw, beans, and cornbread.

No matter how you serve them up, deep fried turkey legs are sure to be a hit. Now that you know exactly how long to fry them and the best recipes and techniques, you can look forward to finger-lickin’ good results!