Try these Slow Cooker Turkey Legs instead of the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. They are very simple to make and come with a homemade sauce that will make them taste even better.
The slow cooker keeps the turkey legs moist and tender, making a hearty meal that the whole family will love. Perfect for Sunday dinners or for a shortcut holiday feast!.
Cooking turkey legs in a crockpot is absolutely possible and results in incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone meat when done right As someone who loves cooking with my crockpot, I was curious if this versatile appliance could handle turkey legs After some experimentation, I can definitively say that the answer is yes – crockpots can produce amazing turkey legs with just a little prep and the right cooking technique.
In this article, I’ll share my tips and experiences for cooking turkey legs in a crockpot, including:
- Why crockpots are great for cooking turkey legs
- How to prep turkey legs for the crockpot
- What temperature and cook times to use
- Flavoring ideas to make delicious crockpot turkey legs
- Finishing touches to get crispy skin
- Serving suggestions for your cooked turkey legs
After reading, you’ll be able to make your own juicy, savory crockpot turkey legs at home Let’s get started!
Why Cook Turkey Legs in a Crockpot?
Crockpots are wonderful for cooking tougher, fattier cuts of meat that benefit from moist, gentle heat over many hours. This allows the collagen in the meat to break down into gelatin, making the meat incredibly tender.
Turkey legs contain a fair amount of collagen in the joints and dark meat. The low, slow cooking of the crockpot softens the collagen while keeping the meat moist and flavorful. No more dried out turkeys!
Cooking turkey legs in the crockpot also frees up your oven for sides and other dishes. With a crockpot, you can cook an entire Thanksgiving meal with oven space to spare.
Finally, crockpots provide convenience. Just a bit of prep in the morning gives you a main course ready to eat in the evening. Turkey legs are perfect for set-it-and-forget it crockpot cooking.
Preparing Turkey Legs for the Crockpot
To get the best results, start by choosing quality turkey legs. Look for legs that are heavy for their size with smooth, unblemished skin. Rinse the legs and pat them dry – wet turkey won’t brown as well.
For flavor, rub the legs all over with olive oil or melted butter. Next, coat them generously with your favorite seasoning blend. Some good options are:
- Poultry seasoning – sage, thyme, rosemary
- Herbs de Provence – thyme, rosemary, oregano
- Cajun or jerk seasoning – spices like cayenne, paprika, garlic
- Lemon pepper
Make sure to season under the skin too for the most flavor.
If you have time, browning the skin first in a skillet or under the broiler will add deeper flavor and color. Then place the seasoned legs in your crockpot – no extra liquid needed.
Crockpot Turkey Leg Cooking Times
The cooking time will vary based on the size of your turkey legs. Figure roughly 7-8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH for medium turkey legs.
Larger legs may need up to 10 hours on LOW. Test for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of a leg – the meat should reach 165°F and be fork tender.
If your crockpot runs hot, start checking the temperature about an hour before the recipe time. You can always cook longer if needed but you can’t reverse overcooking.
Infusing Turkey Legs with Flavor
Beyond just seasoning, there are easy ways to add even more flavor to your crockpot turkey legs:
- Use broth: Replace any water in the recipe with chicken or turkey broth.
- Add aromatics: Chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery amp up the flavor.
- Use wine or beer: Deglaze the browning pan with wine or beer and pour over legs.
- Layer on fresh herbs: Rosemary, thyme, sage complement turkey.
- Infuse with citrus: Orange, lemon, or lime juice and zest brighten the flavor.
- Swaddle in bacon: Wrap turkey legs in bacon strips for a smoky note.
- Go crazy with spices: Cajun seasoning, jerk rubs, curry blends all work well.
Get creative and come up with your own signature flavor combinations!
Getting Crispy Skin on Crockpot Turkey Legs
The moist environment of the crockpot will make the turkey skin soft, not crisp. But you can easily fix that by baking or broiling the legs once cooked.
Carefully remove the tender turkey legs from the crockpot. Place them on a baking sheet and broil 4-5 minutes until the skin browns and crisps up.
Watch closely to avoid burning. You can also brush on a bit of oil before broiling to encourage browning.
The high heat will give you that crispy skin you love without drying out the fully cooked meat.
Serving Your Turkey Legs
Now that your turkey legs are tender, juicy, and full of flavor, it’s time to serve them up. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy crockpot turkey legs:
- On the bone as a main course with sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted veggies
- Sliced off the bone and added to soups, salads, pasta, rice bowls
- Shredded and used for sandwiches, wraps, tacos, pizza topping
- Paired with creamy dips and sauces like ranch, barbecue sauce, honey mustard
- As an appetizer or snack option for game day or parties
Leftovers will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days – enjoy turkey legs all week long. They also freeze well too.
Moist and Tender Crockpot Turkey Legs
As you can see, cooking turkey legs in the crockpot results in delicious, fall-apart meat when you follow a few simple guidelines. With the right prep, cook times, and flavor additions, you can enjoy amazing turkey legs easily made at home.
About This Recipe
Guys youre going to love this recipe! It is from my Gammy – not Grammy. I am not sure why, but we called my grandmother Gammy. It may have been a carryover from my older cousins, I suppose!.
Gammy wrote down some of her recipes by hand, which I still have with me. It’s cool to see them when I go back to my parents’ house to visit.
There is something so personal about those handwritten recipes. Now that we live in the digital age, I guess we lose some of that. But on the other hand, technology makes it so much easier to share recipes and ideas!
These juicy turkey legs are fall-off-the-bone tender. After you learn how to cook turkey legs in the crock pot, it will be easy to make this dish for dinner during the week. It’s like having a mini Thanksgiving dinner whenever you want, lol. Especially if you are like me and really appreciate dark meat.
My mom makes turkey legs in the crock pot, but I’ve been cooking whole chicken in the slow cooker for years. I just recently learned that the sauce was a recipe from my grandmother!
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Feel free to make any changes you want to this crock pot turkey recipe. The slow cooker and barbecue sauce will keep your turkey legs from drying out too quickly.
- If a meat thermometer stuck into the thickest part of the drumstick reads 165 degrees F, the turkey legs are done.
- If you want the skin to be golden brown and crispy, put the turkey legs on a baking sheet and broil them for three to five minutes before the meal.
- In the fridge, leftovers can be kept for two to three days in an airtight container. Don’t forget to add some of the juices for when you reheat!
- Place the leftovers in a casserole dish with a lid and heat them in an oven set to 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are very warm. You can also put them in the microwave for one to two minutes at a time and turn the legs every so often, but the oven is the best way to do it.
A meat thermometer stuck into the thickest part of the slow-cooked turkey leg will read 165 degrees when the turkey is done. Put a knife into the thickest part of the cooked meat if you don’t have a meat thermometer. The juices should run clear.
Definitely not! Invest in a good quality instant read meat thermometer. They arent that expensive and youll know your meal is ready to serve to your family.
The USDA does not recommend rinsing poultry before cooking. It can easily spread bacteria. Just pat it dry with paper towels prior to cooking.
Crock Pot Turkey Legs-How to!
FAQ
Is cooking a turkey in a slow cooker safe?
Do turkey legs cook faster?
How long does it take to cook in a crock pot on high?
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Oven or stovetop
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Slow cooker (high)
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Slow cooker (low)
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15 – 30 minutes
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1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours
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4 – 6 hours
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30 – 45 minutes
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2 – 3 hours
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6 – 8 hours
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45 minutes to 3 hours
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4 – 6 hours
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8 – 12 hours
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Why are my baked turkey legs tough?
Can you cook turkey legs in a crockpot?
You can cook everything—including the diced turkey, mushrooms, onion, and pimiento —entirely in the crockpot or transfer to a buttered dish before serving, adding more cheese and baking briefly for a bubbly golden-brown topping. These slow cooker turkey legs are tasty and budget-friendly.
How do you cook turkey legs in a pressure cooker?
Add the turkey legs to the pot. Add the broth, the veggies and sprinkle with poultry seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Set your pressure cooker to pressure on high for 22 minutes. When the cooking time is done, release the pressure manually. Turn off/press cancel on the pressure cooker. Set your oven to broil.
How do you cook a Turkey in a slow cooker?
To do it, season your bird with salt, stuff it with a lemon half and a handful of fresh herbs (if you like), put it in your slow cooker with one cup water or stock, cover (if there are gaps, seal them with aluminum foil) and cook on low for six to eight hours. How do I butterfly a turkey?