When you’re tired of your usual chicken recipes, why not try one of our turkey recipes instead? While it’s popular during the holidays, turkey is a delicious protein source that you can enjoy all year round. Grab your favorite cut of turkey from the store and try my Turkey Tenderloin recipe.
The magic of the air fryer is that it provides that crispy, mouthwatering outer layer- without having to use much oil. The rest of the simple ingredients in this delicious recipe parallel my Turkey Drumstick Recipe, but we’ve cut back on the oil. Here’s what you’ll need:
Smoked turkey legs are a classic barbecue favorite, with their irresistible blend of savory smoked flavor and tender, juicy meat. But traditional smoking can be time-consuming and require specialized equipment. Enter the air fryer – with just a few simple steps, you can now achieve perfect, smoky turkey legs in the convenience of your kitchen
In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through everything you need to know to make restaurant-quality smoked turkey legs in your air fryer. You’ll learn handy tips for choosing turkey legs ideal prep methods, how to add smoky flavor, recommended cook times and temperatures, and even recipe ideas to put your own spin on this smoked meat classic.
Step 1: Select Plump, Meaty Turkey Legs
For the best results, choose:
- Fresh, raw turkey legs, not frozen or pre-cooked
- Legs that are evenly sized for even cooking
- Legs that feel heavy and firm with no blemishes
- Legs between 1 – 1.5 pounds each
Individually packaged legs from a butcher can ensure freshness.
Step 2: Prep the Legs for the Air Fryer
Proper prep sets the stage for full smoke flavor:
- Rinse legs and pat dry with paper towels
- Trim off excess fat or skin
- Make shallow cuts through the skin to help smoke permeate
- Coat legs lightly with oil to facilitate browning
Step 3: Season and Add Smoky Flavor
2 ways to infuse irresistible smoky flavor:
-
Dry Rub Method: Coat legs with a spice rub that contains smoked paprika, cumin, garlic and onion powder, chili powder, and brown sugar. The paprika adds a subtle smokiness.
-
Liquid Smoke Method: Soak legs for 1-2 hours in a marinade of oil, liquid smoke, soy sauce, Worcestershire, and desired seasonings. Liquid smoke lends an intense, authentic smoky taste.
Step 4: Arrange Legs Properly in Air Fryer
To ensure proper smoking:
- Air fryer must be large enough to hold legs in a single layer
- Overcrowding prevents proper air circulation
- Legs should not overlap or touch
Use an air fryer with at least 5 quarts capacity for best results.
Step 5: Set Air Fryer to Ideal Temperature
The right temperature is key for smoked turkey perfection:
- 350°F is ideal, producing crispy skin and tender meat
- Temps over 375°F risk drying out the legs
- Cook times range from 15 minutes for 1 lb legs to up to 30 minutes for heavier legs
- Flip and rotate legs midway through cooking
Step 6: Test for Doneness
Be sure legs are fully cooked and safe to eat:
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temp
- Turkey legs are done when internal temp reaches 165°F
- Meat should be fork tender and slightly pulling away from the bone
Step 7: Let Legs Rest for Maximum Juiciness
Never skip this important finishing step:
- Rest smoked legs 5-10 minutes once removed from air fryer
- Resting allows juices to redistribute evenly
- Slice into legs after resting for best moisture content
Step 8: Recipe Ideas to Make It Your Own
Take your smoked turkey legs up a notch with these flavorful variations:
Sweet & Sticky BBQ Turkey Legs
Glazed with a homemade barbecue sauce, these are sure to be a hit.
Ingredients:
- 4 turkey legs
- 1⁄2 cup ketchup
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Combine sauce ingredients and mix well.
- Coat legs in sauce before and during cooking.
- Air fry at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until sauce is sticky.
Fig Jam & Rosemary Smoked Legs
Savory legs enhanced with sweet fig and aromatic rosemary.
Ingredients:
- 4 turkey legs
- 1⁄4 cup fig jam
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Mix together jam, oil, rosemary, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Brush mixture on legs before and during cooking.
- Fry at 350°F, brushing with glaze periodically.
Mix up your own signature flavors – the options are endless!
Enjoy Tender, Juicy Smoked Turkey Legs
What to Serve Them With?
This easy recipe is incredibly versatile, takes minimal effort, and is sure to be a crowd favorite for any occasion. Make them for a fun handheld treat for a Game Day party, a sophisticated recipe to serve as the main dish for a small Thanksgiving gathering, or a family-favorite weeknight dinner. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Whether you’re an air fryer newbie or a seasoned pro, these helpful tips and tricks will help you achieve that crispy skin and juicy meat you’re aiming to achieve. Here’s what you need to know:
- Remove from the fridge in advance: We tested this recipe both ways, but if you do have the time, take your turkey legs out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you plan to cook them. This will allow them to warm up a little, making your job easier when applying the butter rub. If you forgot to take them out of the fridge in advance, you can use olive oil instead of butter, which will be easier to spread. Either way works, but we found that it is easier to spread the seasoned butter on a not-so-cold turkey leg.
- Size matters: There is a direct correlation between the size of the turkey legs and cooking time. Smaller drumsticks, also called lean turkey legs, will have a shorter cook time than large turkey legs. Avoid purchasing really large drumsticks, as they may not fit in your air fryer basket. When we first tried air frying turkey legs, we ended up burning them because they were so large that they were touching the top of the air fryer. So, check to make sure that your turkey legs fit inside the basket properly before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: As with all air fryer recipes, it’s important never to overcrowd your basket, as this prolongs the cooking time and results in unevenly cooked food. For best results, depending on the size of your turkey legs, you may need to air fry them in batches.
- Pat dry: Make sure to pat dry each drumstick thoroughly before applying the rub. This will ensure you’ll get that sought-after, crispy, golden brown skin.
- Check internal temperature: Take the guesswork out of cooking these air fryer turkey drumsticks by using an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature after cooking. I use and love this one (affiliate link.) After cooking, check that the thickest part of the turkey leg registers 165 degrees F.
- Let them rest: Don’t skip this step! Once the turkey legs are cooked, cover them loosely with foil and let them rest for 10-15 minutes. This will give them time to reabsorb any lost liquid, resulting in a juicy turkey leg instead of dry turkey legs.
Yes, you can cook frozen turkey legs in air fryer. Simply follow this recipe but add 5-6 additional minutes of cook time, checking to make sure the internal temperature of each air fry turkey leg registers 165 degrees F.
It doesn’t take long to air fry turkey legs. To air fry turkey legs at 400 degrees F, it can take anywhere from 20-40 minutes. Larger drumsticks need more time, while smaller ones need less time.
To reheat a turkey leg in air fryer, set your air fryer to 350 degrees F and lightly spray or coat the basket with oil. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
Substitutions and Seasoning Ideas
The seasonings in this recipe are a classic, foolproof combination of spices, but feel free to get creative or swap ingredients to create your variations if needed. For instance, if you’re a fan of fair food, you can make your own spice combination to recreate a turkey leg you had at your local fair or amusement park. To get you started, here are a few substitutions and seasoning combos to try:
- Oil: We used a little bit of butter in this recipe to achieve extra crispy skin, but you can also substitute olive oil if desired. If you’d like to skip the oil/butter altogether, feel free to do so. Just keep in mind that the best way to get that super crispy skin is with the help of some fat.
- Roasted garlic butter: If you’re a fan of garlic, you’ll absolutely love my Roasted Garlic Butter recipe for a great alternative to the butter in this recipe. Substitute roasted garlic butter for extra caramelized, roasted garlic flavor. You’ll need about a tablespoon of garlic butter for two turkey legs. You can still combine it with other spices, but you’ll probably need to omit the garlic and salt since those are already included in the garlic butter recipe.
- Turkey seasoning mix: For an alternative seasoning, try my delicious Turkey Rub Recipe. This dry rub combines a number of yummy seasonings that perfectly complement the flavors of turkey.
- Paprika: You can change up the flavor profile of this easy air fryer turkey legs recipe by using smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika. Use whichever you prefer or have on hand, as it’s bound to be delicious either way! You can also add in some chili powder for an extra kick of spice.
- Poultry Seasoning: If you are short on time and just want to get to air frying, you can also use your favorite poultry seasoning as a substitute for the spices that I used in this recipe.
AIR FRYER SMOKED TURKEY LEGS|How to cook air fryer smoked turkey legs|Cosori Air Fryer. Link below
FAQ
How to reheat smoked turkey legs in an air fryer?
How do you heat ready to eat smoked turkey legs?
How long does it take for a smoked turkey leg to get tender?
Can You air Fry turkey legs?
platesthatbloom Thanks! Air Fryer Turkey Legs Mouth watering good, these turkey legs are accompanied with a delicious rosemary, oregano, and thyme, butter rub, and are cooked to perfection in the air fryer, making this air fryer turkey leg recipe far superior to your basic smoked turkey legs.
How to cook turkey drumsticks in air fryer?
For marinating or mixing, take the salt, Oregon, pepper, and butter, to mix them on the turkey drumsticks. However, you can add lemon squeezing before or after the cooking process. Preheat your air fryer at 250-300 degrees F only. In the meantime, you can keep the mixing to rest for a while.
Can you eat a Turkey in an air fryer?
Plus, you’ll be surprised by the results of the air fryer turkey—it’s moist on the inside and has the crispiest skin. Serve it up with a few healthy air fryer sides, like green beans, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and more. There’s nothing fussy about this Thanksgiving menu. You can even keep on your favorite sweatpants while you eat.