Find out how to easily roast turkey legs so they are perfectly cooked without having to flip them or cover them with foil. To prepare the turkey legs, mix salt, homemade spice mix, and oil together. Then, bake them at 400°F until the skin gets crispy and the meat is done.
Turkey legs, also known as drumsticks, are a delicious part of the turkey that can be enjoyed year-round Many of us only indulge in these tasty treats during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, but baking turkey legs in the oven at home is easy any time you get a craving With just a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you can have moist, flavorful oven-baked turkey legs ready in under 2 hours.
In this article, I’ll share tips on how long to bake turkey legs for perfect doneness, how to prepare and season drumsticks before cooking, what oven temperature to use, and exactly when turkey legs are finished baking You’ll also find serving ideas and storage instructions to make the most of leftovers Follow these oven baking times and temperature guidelines, and you’ll be able to enjoy juicy, crispy turkey legs for dinner any night of the year.
Choosing and Preparing Turkey Legs for Baking
When buying turkey legs to cook at home, look for drumsticks that are similar in size so they’ll bake evenly. Turkey legs are sold bone-in or boneless, but bone-in legs deliver the best flavor. Plan on about 1 pound of turkey legs per person.
Be sure to pat the turkey legs very dry before seasoning and baking. Any excess moisture can make the skin soggy instead of crispy. Brushing the legs with oil or melted butter will help the seasonings stick.
How to Get Turkey Legs Ready for the Oven
- Start with 4 bone-in, skin-on turkey legs, about 1-1 1/2 pounds each.
- Rinse the legs and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
- Place the legs in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet lined with foil for easy cleanup.
- Brush both sides of the turkey legs lightly with olive oil or melted butter to help the seasoning adhere.
- Generously season both sides with salt, pepper, and spices like garlic powder, paprika, sage, and rosemary.
- Rub the spices evenly into the skin and meat.
Baking Time and Temperature for Turkey Legs
Now that your drumsticks are prepped, it’s time to bake them. The oven temperature and cook times will vary a bit based on the size of your turkey legs.
How Long to Bake Turkey Legs
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Initial baking: Place seasoned legs in the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Flip legs: Flip legs over and bake for another 30 minutes.
- Finish baking: Bake for 30-60 minutes more, flipping halfway through, until juices run clear when pierced with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Total time: Allow 60-90 minutes of baking time depending on the weight of your drumsticks.
Oven Temperature for Turkey Legs
The oven temperature you select also impacts total baking time. While 350°F is ideal, you can use these adjustments
- For crispier skin, bake at 400°F for the first 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F.
- To prevent overcooking, tent foil loosely over the pan if the skin browns too fast.
- For fall-off-the-bone tender legs, bake at a lower 300°F the entire time.
Always bake until the minimum safe internal temperature of 165°F is reached in the thickest part of the leg. Checking temperature rather than time prevents undercooked turkey.
Tips for Moist, Flavorful Drumsticks
Follow these suggestions for the most delicious baked turkey legs every time:
- Brining legs in saltwater for 1-2 hours before baking helps keep meat juicy.
- Wrap ends of drumsticks in foil to prevent overcooking.
- Place legs over sliced onions for added moisture and flavor.
- Baste legs with turkey stock or melted butter while baking to prevent drying out.
- Let cooked legs rest 10 minutes before serving so juices reabsorb.
How to Tell When Turkey Legs Are Fully Baked
It’s important not to undercook turkey legs from a food safety standpoint. Check for these signs of doneness:
- Meat thermometer inserted in thickest part reads 165°F
- Juices run clear when meat is pierced with a fork
- Meat has visibly pulled away from the bone
- Skin is deeply golden brown and crispy
If juices are still pink or red, meat looks underdone, or temperature is under 165°F, return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until completely cooked through.
Serving and Storing Leftover Baked Turkey Legs
Cooked turkey legs will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. Store them wrapped in foil or in an airtight container. Reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven until hot, 20-30 minutes.
For longer freezer storage, wrap legs tightly in plastic and foil and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating to serve again.
Some delicious ways to enjoy leftover baked turkey legs:
- Dice and add to soups, salads, wraps, tacos
- Make turkey pot pie or casseroles
- Slice for sandwiches and paninis
- Shred for BBQ pulled turkey sandwiches
Satisfy Your Turkey Drumstick Craving Anytime
Baked turkey legs are easy to whip up any night of the week when a craving hits. With the right prep, seasonings, and following these oven baking instructions, you’ll get perfectly cooked juicy turkey drumsticks with crispy skin in under 2 hours. Vary the flavor with different spice rubs or glazes and enjoy this tasty treat well beyond the holidays.
About roasting turkey legs
Turkey legs are great when you don’t need a whole turkey for your family or just like dark turkey meat better.
If you prefer white turkey meat, try our roasted split turkey breast.
When it comes to chicken, wing, leg, and of course turkey legs, I love them all with the bones still in them. I often enjoy experimenting with various methods for preparing these delicious and juicy cuts.
I shared this recipe for air-fried turkey thighs last year. It’s also a family favorite.
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 like a simpler method where I don’t have to flip, cover, and uncover them with aluminum foil, which means I don’t have to touch the hot pan more than once.
For less mess, I just use a high-sided glass dish or a roasting pan lined with parchment paper to roast turkey legs. It gives the legs a deep, shallow space to bake evenly while leaving the skin out for the perfect crispiness.
Of course, the length of time they need to roast will depend on how big their legs are; some can be very big. But I also saw that the cooking time changes depending on the type of pan you use (deep or regular) and whether you cover the meat.
From my experience, a regular baking sheet pan takes the least time. But the meat might turn out dry. That’s why I like to use a deep dish and roast them without covering them. It’s easy, they stay juicy, and the skin gets deliciously crispy.
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.
Spices and salt: I used my favorite homemade spice mix, which is made of black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and a little cayenne pepper if you want it.
If you want, you can add fresh rosemary. It gives the meat an extra pine-like, woodsy smell that makes the whole house smell great 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 an hour, carefully remove the pan from the heat and insert the instant meat thermometer into the thickest part to see if they are fully cooked. 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.
- If you want to use my homemade spice mix (see recipe card), you can. But you can also use any of your favorite spices or poultry dry rub from the store.
- Use an instant-read thermometer instead of cutting a cooked leg just to make sure it’s done.
- You can keep turkey meat that you don’t need right away in the fridge for up to three to four days or freeze it for up to three months.
- How long the turkey legs take to cook will depend on their size, the type of baking pan you use, and the type of oven you have.
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:
- As part of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, serve them with things like stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted green beans or sweet potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
- Turkey meat is a simple and tasty dinner idea that I like to serve with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables as a main dish.
- If you have turkey leg meat left over, you can make soup, add it to salads and sandwiches, or make tacos and quesadillas with it.
- Bone broth: Save the bones and make some turkey bone broth. Just put in some water, whole vegetables, and herbs, and cook on low for a few hours.
Marinating is optional, but it can enhance the flavor of the meat. After putting the turkey legs in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, you can season them with the spice mix and then roast them.
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.
A mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and sage is my favorite simple seasoning.
Oven Baked Turkey Legs | Easy Baked Turkey Legs | Ray Mack’s Kitchen & Grill
FAQ
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