How to Cook Juicy, Flavorful Turkey Legs on the Grill

Grilling turkey legs is a fantastic way to add delicious, savory flavor to your cookouts. When cooked properly, turkey legs come off the grill moist, tender and full of smokey, barbecue flavor. Follow these tips and techniques for grilling up the perfect turkey legs every time.

Getting Started

The first step to grilling great turkey legs is choosing high-quality drumsticks. Look for plump legs with smooth supple skin. Avoid any with tears or blemishes. Thaw frozen legs completely before grilling. For ideal flavor and moisture brine the legs before cooking.

Soak the drumsticks in a saltwater brine for 12-24 hours. This infuses flavor and helps the meat retain moisture during grilling. After brining, rinse and pat the legs completely dry. Then coat with olive oil and your favorite seasonings. Consider a dry rub with garlic powder, paprika, brown sugar and pepper. Let the legs sit for 30 minutes post-seasoning so the flavors are fully absorbed.

Prepping the Grill

The next important step is properly preparing your grill. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high, around 400°F. Clean the grates thoroughly and coat with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking. You’ll also want to set up both direct and indirect heat zones.

Sear the legs over direct heat first, then move to indirect heat to finish cooking. This prevents burning while thoroughly cooking the interior For charcoal grills, bank all coals to one side For gas, turn off one set of burners.

Grilling Time

Once your grill is hot and oiled, place the legs directly over the flames skin-side down. Sear for 2-3 minutes until nicely browned. Flip and repeat on the other side. Then, move the legs to indirect heat, flipping occasionally as they cook.

How long should you grill turkey legs? Cook times range from 40 minutes to over an hour depending on thickness. Use an instant-read thermometer to test doneness. Turkey legs are fully cooked at 165°F. If browning too quickly, tent with foil.

Finishing Touches

When the legs reach 165°F, transfer them to a plate and let rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows juices to redistribute so meat stays moist. Lightly tent with foil while resting. Serve piping hot with your favorite barbecue sides.

With these tips for prepping and grilling, you can achieve tender, juicy turkey legs with crispy skin and wonderful smoky flavor. Let’s look at some other common questions about cooking turkey legs on the grill:

Should You Brine Turkey Legs Before Grilling?

Brining is highly recommended. Soaking turkey legs in a saltwater solution before grilling boosts moisture, flavor and tenderness. Both wet brining and dry brining work well. Wet brining requires submerging the meat in a brine for up to 24 hours. Dry brining coats the legs in salt and lets sit for 12-24 hours.

How Long Does it Take to Grill Turkey Legs?

Cook times vary from 40 minutes to over an hour depending on a few factors. Thicker legs take longer than thinner pieces. Bone-in legs require more time than boneless. And brined legs tend to grill faster than unbrined. Use an instant-read thermometer to test doneness instead of relying solely on time.

What Temperature Should You Grill Turkey Legs?

For tender, juicy results, grill turkey legs over medium-high heat between 375-400°F. This allows the exterior to get nicely browned and crispy before the interior overcooks. If your grill runs hot, stay closer to 375°F. For lower temp grills, creep closer to 400°F.

Should You Wrap Turkey Legs in Foil on the Grill?

Wrapping legs in foil while grilling isn’t strictly necessary. But lightly tenting with foil can help prevent over-browning and drying out. If you do wrap, leave the foil slightly loose so steam can escape. Remove it during the last 10-15 minutes for crisper skin.

How Do You Get Crispy Turkey Legs When Grilling?

Achieving crispy skin on grilled turkey legs requires a few key strategies. First, thoroughly dry legs after brining. Next, coat with oil before applying a dry rub. Grill over direct heat first to render fat and crisp the skin. Finally, don’t wrap the legs completely in foil or tent too early.

Can You Grill Frozen Turkey Legs?

Always thaw turkey legs fully before grilling. Attempting to cook frozen legs results in uneven cooking, potentially unsafe meat and poor texture. Thaw in the fridge for 24-48 hours depending on size. Cook immediately after thawing. Don’t refreeze thawed turkey.

So for your next cookout, backyard barbecue or summer dinner, give grilled turkey legs a try! Follow these grilling times, temperatures and techniques for the juiciest, most flavorful results.