Don’t know how to grill turkey legs? Well you’ve hit the jackpot, because we are here to show you how to grill turkey legs with moist, flavorful meat and crispy skin.
Barbecued turkey legs are a classic summertime cookout food. When cooked right, they have crispy skin, juicy meat, and finger-licking barbecue flavor. If you want to learn how to make moist, smoky turkey legs on the grill or smoker at home, you’ve come to the right place! This step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know to barbecue turkey legs like a pro.
Choosing the Right Turkey Legs
The first step is picking good turkey legs for barbecuing Look for plump, meaty drumsticks and thighs. Avoid any legs that seem dried out or slimy. Younger birds tend to have more tender legs compared to mature turkeys For the most succulent barbecued turkey, choose smaller legs around 1 1⁄2 to 2 pounds each. Make sure the turkey legs are completely thawed before grilling for food safety and even cooking. Keep them chilled in the fridge until you’re ready to barbecue.
Flavoring the Turkey Legs
There are two main ways to add flavor to your turkey legs before grilling – wet brining and dry rubbing.
Wet brining involves soaking the turkey legs in a saltwater solution to infuse flavor and moisture. Make a basic brine by mixing 1 cup kosher salt with 1 gallon of water. You can add spices herbs sugar, and citrus to the brine as well. Keep the legs fully submerged in the fridge for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
Dry rubbing is fast and easy. Simply coat the turkey legs all over with your favorite spice blend. Let the rubbed legs rest 30 minutes before grilling so the seasonings fully penetrate.
No matter if you brine or dry rub, always pat the legs completely dry before grilling for best results. Moisture on the skin will prevent crisping.
Setting Up Your Grill
Barbecuing turkey legs requires a charcoal or gas grill with zones for direct and indirect cooking. indirect heat allows the legs to cook slowly without burning.
If using charcoal, bank lit coals to one side of the grill and leave the other side empty. For a gas grill, turn one burner off to create an indirect cooking area.
Heat your grill to a moderate temperature between 325-350°F. Clean and lightly oil the grates too so the legs don’t stick.
Grilling Your Turkey Legs
With your grill preheated and set up for indirect cooking, follow these steps:
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Place legs skin-side down over direct heat and sear until browned, 2-3 minutes per side. This helps render fat and crisp the skin.
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Move the legs to indirect heat, close the grill lid, and cook for 40-60 minutes until fully cooked. Rotate and flip occasionally for even cooking.
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During the last 10-15 minutes of grilling time, baste the legs with your favorite barbecue sauce to coat. Apply sauce thickly so it caramelizes into the crispy skin.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check doneness. Turkey legs are safely cooked when the internal temperature in the thickest part of the meat reaches 165°F.
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Once done, let the turkey legs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. The resting period allows juices to reabsorb for moist, tender meat.
Achieving Crispy Turkey Skin
For ultra crispy barbecued turkey leg skin, follow these tips:
- Dry brine and coat with oil instead of wet brining or marinating
- Pat the legs very dry before seasoning
- Apply a dry rub, not sticky barbecue sauce, before grilling
- Sear the legs directly over the heat on both sides
- Use indirect heat on the grill to cook through without burning
- Avoid basting the legs too early with sauce
Following these simple crispy skin secrets will give you the perfect textural contrast between crunchy, crackly exterior and juicy interior when barbecuing turkey legs.
Delicious Barbecue Turkey Leg Recipes
Now that you know the basic grilling method, take your barbecued turkey legs to the next level with these flavorful recipes:
Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Turkey Legs
Coat legs with melted butter, brown sugar, sriracha, chili powder, and garlic powder. Grill, glazing during the last 15 minutes with a sauce of ketchup, more sriracha, Worcestershire, and maple syrup.
Bacon-Wrapped Maple Bourbon Turkey Legs
Wrap legs in bacon strips. Marinate 4 hours in a blend of maple syrup, bourbon, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and spices. Grill to perfection.
Jamaican Jerk Turkey Legs
Make a wet jerk paste using olive oil, Caribbean jerk seasoning, lime juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, allspice, and cloves. Rub it on the legs and let marinate 1 hour before grilling.
Serving Suggestions for Barbecued Turkey Legs
Barbecued turkey legs make a hearty entree or fun appetizer. Here are some tasty sides to serve them with:
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Baked beans, collard greens, or coleslaw
- Macaroni salad or potato salad
- Grilled pineapple slices
- Cornbread or biscuits
With this guide, you have all the turkey leg barbecuing info you need for finger-licking success. Just remember to start with quality legs, properly season and grill them using both direct and indirect heat, baste with sauce at the end, and let them rest before digging in. Your friends and family will be impressed with your expertly barbecued turkey legs this summer!
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Find Your Ideal Seasoning
After drying your wet brined turkey legs, you need to season them. A dry rub is your best choice if you want turkey legs with crispy skin. You can make a dry rub by mixing salt, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and other spices of your choice. Alternatively, you can buy a pre-made dry rub. Before applying your dry rub, coat the legs with oil or butter. The oil or butter coating will help the dry rub adhere to the skin.
A wet rub will contain many of the same seasonings as a dry rub but includes oil, vinegar or another liquid base. After applying your wet or dry rub, put the turkey legs in the fridge for at least an hour so they can absorb the seasonings.
Instructions for Perfectly-Grilled Turkey Drumsticks
After brining and seasoning your turkey drumsticks, it’s time to grill. You can use an electric, gas or charcoal grill. Many people prefer charcoal grills because the wood smoke adds more flavor, but gas grills are more user-friendly.
Regardless of the type of grill you have, follow these steps to grill your turkey legs to perfection:
- Prepare the Grill: Clean the grill grates with a moist cloth. After cleaning, apply canola, peanut or another cooking oil with a high smoking point to the grates. Cleaning and oiling the grates will help prevent the legs from sticking to the grill.
- Light the Grill: Wipe off excess oil from the grates and light the grill. If you have a charcoal grill, after lighting it, let it burn for about 30 minutes before pushing the hot coals to one side. Place a drip pan beneath the grates where there are no coals. If you have a gas grill, preheat half your grill to 350°F.
- Sear the Drumsticks: Put the turkey legs over the hot coals or lit part of your gas grill to sear each side of the drumsticks for three minutes.
- Start Grilling: After searing your turkey legs, move them to the unlit part of your gas grill or the part without coals in your charcoal grill. Doing this will allow you to grill your drumsticks with indirect heat and prevent turkey legs that are burned on the outside but raw on the inside.
- Cover the Grill: Close the grill lid and baste the turkey drumsticks with your wet rub or olive oil mixed with your dry rub every 30 minutes. Keep basting and flipping every 30 minutes until the drumsticks reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part. You can verify the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
- Leave to Rest: Once the drumsticks reach 165°F on the inside, take them off the grill and let them rest covered for five to ten minutes before eating them.
Smoked Turkey Legs Recipe
FAQ
What is the best way to grill turkey legs?
- Heat your grill to medium heat, about 350-375 degrees F.
- Season your turkey legs with salt and pepper and add to the grill.
- Cook for 30 minutes, rotating the turkey leg every 10 minutes.
Should I wrap my turkey legs in foil?
I recommend wrapping them in foil for about half the cooking time to keep the skin from burning. How long do you cook turkey legs in the oven at 350°F (176°C?May 2, 2024
How to keep turkey legs from drying out?
Wet brining delivers the moistest turkey legs while dry brining guarantees the most flavorful meat and crispy skin.
How long should you cook a turkey leg for?
… turkey is extremely tender and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers at least 165ºF, 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hoursNov 17, 2024
How to cook BBQ turkey legs?
Here’s the thing: You can go one of two routes. You can cook your bbq turkey legs just until they’re done, with an internal temperature of about 160F, or you can fully barbecue them like a pork shoulder, which will take the meat close to 200F. I choose the first route with jakes and farmed birds, the second with old toms.
How do you Grill turkey legs on a grill?
Regardless of the type of grill you have, follow these steps to grill your turkey legs to perfection: Prepare the Grill: Clean the grill grates with a moist cloth. After cleaning, apply canola, peanut or another cooking oil with a high smoking point to the grates. Cleaning and oiling the grates will help prevent the legs from sticking to the grill.
How long do you cook smoked turkey legs?
Whatever he’s cooking up, it’s guaranteed to be so freakin’ delicious! Place turkey legs on the grill and cook it on medium heat. Grill it for 30 minutes and your smoked turkey legs are ready. Now, enjoy yourself with your family.
Do you need to prep turkey legs before grilling?
Before putting your turkey legs on the grill, you need to prep them. Properly prepping your turkey legs will help reduce the risk of the meat drying out on the grill. It will also flavor the legs and ensure that every bite is savory and moist. Below are the steps needed to prep your turkey legs before grilling.
How do I choose the best turkey legs for grilling?
When it comes to grilling turkey legs, selecting the right ones is crucial. Look for turkey legs that are fresh, plump, and have a nice pink color. Make sure they are properly thawed before grilling to ensure even cooking throughout. If you want to add an extra layer of flavor, you can marinate the turkey legs overnight in your favorite marinade.
How long does it take to cook a turkey leg?
While the BBQ Turkey Legs take only 2.5-3 hours to cook, the biggest part of the process is the brining. I recommend at least 4 hours of brining the meat, but if you can do 12 hours or more then that is best. Overall, brining will flavor the meat throughout while helping it cook evenly. Don’t miss this step or you will be missing out on flavor!