Turkey legs are a classic appetizer or main course that can be found at festivals, fairs, restaurants, and grocery stores across the country. Their roasted, savory flavor makes them a go-to snack or meal for many. If you’re looking to get your hands on some tasty cooked turkey legs close to home, this guide will help you track them down.
Getting Turkey Legs at Local Grocery Stores
One of the easiest places to find cooked turkey legs is your neighborhood supermarket. Many major grocery store chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix and Albertsons carry pre-cooked turkey legs in the deli or prepared foods section.
These roasted turkey legs are often enhanced with seasoning like garlic, herbs, or smoked flavors You can usually find them conveniently packaged in pairs or singles, ready to take home and eat With no prep work required, grocery store turkey legs make for effortless snacking and meals.
Be sure to call ahead or check with the deli counter at your local market to see if they have turkey legs in stock. Larger supermarkets will likely carry them, but availability can vary.
Pro Tip: Look for sales or holiday specials around Thanksgiving when stores promote cooked turkey legs even more.
Visiting Specialty Meat Shops and Butcher Counters
For premium quality cooked turkey legs sourced from carefully raised turkeys, head to a specialty butcher shop or the butcher counter at upscale grocers like Whole Foods. These turkey legs are often prepared in-house and seasoned by expert butchers.
Many butcher counters let you special order turkey legs cooked to your preferences. You may be able to request smoked turkey legs, turkey legs coated in your choice of rubs or marinades, and other custom options. Expect to pay more per pound than a standard grocery store turkey leg, but the upgrade in quality and flavor is noticeable.
Checking Deli Counters for Seasoned Varieties
Well-stocked supermarket delis and standalone delicatessens are great spots to find cooked turkey legs coated in mouthwatering seasoned rubs and glazes. Options like jerk turkey legs, teriyaki turkey legs, and honey mustard turkey legs take these hearty snacks to the next level.
Quality delis pride themselves on their house-made sauces, spices, and marinades. Trying different flavors is a fun way to mix up your turkey leg routine. And many delis sell them individually or in meals, giving you portion flexibility.
Buying Smoked Turkey Legs for Rich, Savory Flavor
For next-level depth and savoriness, look for smoked turkey legs sold at delis, butcher shops, and specialty food stores. Hickory, apple, mesquite, and other wood smoke infuses the meat with aromas and flavor that plain roasted legs can’t match.
Smoked turkey legs require more prep work, so expect to pay a little extra. But the intense, barbecue-like taste makes them worth it. They’re great for game day snacking, backyard cookouts, and any meal.
Ordering Online for Delivery or Curbside Pickup
To save time and effort, many specialty food shops and grocers now offer online ordering for quick delivery or contactless curbside pickup. So you can browse turkey leg options on your phone and have them arrive right at your door.
Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, and local butcher shops are among the many stores providing this service through Instacart,DoorDash, their own delivery, etc. Read customer reviews to help choose where to order from.
Visiting Local Meat Markets and Farmers Markets
Check out trusted local meat markets and farmers markets in your area for fresh, high quality turkey legs sourced from regional providers. These small businesses often have great relationships with nearby turkey farms.
Their turkey legs may cost a bit more than a typical grocery store, but they tend to be more flavorful and ethically raised. You’re also supporting local agriculture and food producers.
Many farmers markets have food vendors selling ready-to-eat turkey legs too. It’s a tasty way to try them right on the spot.
Looking for Turkey Legs at Carnivals, Fairs, and Festivals
A classic place to devour piping hot turkey legs is at a county fair, theme park, carnival, or local festival. These events often have turkey leg stands serving them up on the spot, sometimes with fun size-themed names like “dragon legs.”
While not the ideal place for takeout, grabbing a turkey leg while out at a fair or festival is a fun, nostalgic way to enjoy this hearty snack. Just be prepared for the crowds if you’re getting one from a popular event vendor.
Trying Turkey Legs at Renaissance Fairs and Medieval Times
Two popular themed dining experiences that serve indulgent turkey legs are Renaissance fairs and medieval-style dinner theaters like Medieval Times. With their focus on transporting guests back in time, turkey legs are a natural fit for the menus.
Renaissance fair turkey legs are often seasoned with classic herb rubs and served on wooden slabs or plates to add to the old world vibe. Medieval Times opts for simple salt and pepper to complement its medieval jousting and entertainment show.
Purchasing High-Quality Turkey Legs Online
Several online meat delivery services like Porter Roadand Crowd Cow offer premium quality pasture-raised turkey legs available for nationwide shipping. While pricey, these turkey legs are about as gourmet as you can get.
The turkeys come from small family farms committed to humane practices. Their legs are roasted to juicy perfection and seasoned elegantly. Online sales also make it easy to buy turkey legs in bulk quantities for large gatherings or meal prepping.
Finding Turkey Legs on Restaurant Menus
Some barbecue joints, pubs, taverns, and casual dining spots incorporate turkey legs into their menus. These dishes often involve smoking, grilling, braising, or glazing the turkey legs for added flavor. Think beer-braised turkey legs, char-grilled turkey legs, and more.
Checking out restaurants known for meaty fare and comfort food is a good way to sample turkey leg entrees or appetizers. They make for hearty, satisfying meals perfect to split with a dining companion.
Cooking Your Own Turkey Legs at Home
With a simple brine and roast, you can easily prepare juicy, flavorful turkey legs in your own kitchen. While it requires more active cook time, the benefit is controlling the ingredients and seasonings yourself.
There are also countless marinade, spice rub, and glaze combinations you can experiment with to put your own unique spin on home-cooked turkey legs. It’s a fun weekend project for turkey leg fans.
Key Tips for Enjoying Turkey Legs
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Opt for thicker, meatier drumstick portions for the best texture and flavor. The thigh can dry out.
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Take precautions not to burn your fingers on hot turkey legs straight off the grill or oven.
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Use a fork and knife to carve meat off thicker parts of the leg vs. eating it like a chicken wing.
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Keep a stash of moist towelettes on hand for cleaning up sauce and seasoning residue from hands.
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Accompany turkey legs with sides like cornbread, mashed potatoes, rice, and coleslaw to round out the meal.
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Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat gently in the oven or microwave before serving again.
The Bottom Line
With so many excellent options across grocery stores, specialty shops, markets, and restaurants, enjoying some finger-licking turkey legs in your neighborhood is easy. A little research into local availability will set you up for turkey leg snacking success. Just decide whether you want plain roasted, smoked, or specialty seasoned, then get ready to sink your teeth into tender, meaty perfection in every bite.
SALADS, POTATOES & SOUPS
Dressings Ranch • Bar-B-Q Ranch • Vinaigrette • Honey Mustard • Blue Cheese
Bacon, cheddar cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, almonds and homemade croutons, topped with smoked pulled pork or chicken Option: Substitute beef brisket
Smoked chicken, smoked onions and sweet corn, cheddar cheese, bacon, cucumber, tomatoes, almonds and homemade croutons, tossed in house-made vinaigrette
A large baked potato topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, butter, sour cream and scallions
Loaded Bar-B-Q Baker (GF)
A huge baked potato topped with your choice of smoked meat, bacon, cheddar cheese, scallions, butter, sour cream and barbecue sauce
How to Prepare Store Bought Smoked Turkey Legs. Quick and Easy Short Cut Jerk BBQ or Any BBQ Sauce
FAQ
Can you get just turkey legs?
Yes, you can. Depends on the store though – not all of them carry pre-carved portions of turkey like that. I Was at Market 32 (Price Chopper) this weekend though and they had a bundle that was a drumstick and breast meat or something similar.
Do supermarkets sell turkey legs?
Sainsbury’s Fresh British Turkey Drumstick 800g-1.2kg | Sainsbury’s.
Can you buy ready cooked turkeys?
Pre Cooked Turkey Roast Dinner. A delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings without the hassle! Lovingly prepared by our expert chefs just for you. Ideal for people who struggle to cook or elderly people.
Are turkey drumsticks the same as turkey legs?
- Turkey leg: The entire leg of a turkey, including the thigh and drumstick
- Turkey drumstick: The lower part of the turkey leg, from the knee joint to the foot
Where can I buy turkey legs & Chicken online?
Get Wholesale Turkey Legs and Chicken Online at Farmer’s Fresh Meat! Watch family and friends flock to the table as you serve our delicious Jumbo Fresh Turkey Drumsticks Case (30lb). Sometimes referred to as “turkey legs,” each case contains 13-15 hearty drumsticks and weighs about 1.8-2lbs each.
Where can I find turkey legs near me?
Here are some places where you can find turkey legs near you: 1. **Grocery stores:** Most grocery stores carry a selection of fresh or frozen turkey legs. Check your local grocery store, such as Walmart, Safeway, or Kroger, and head to the meat or poultry section to find a packet of turkey legs. 2.
Where can I buy roasted turkey legs?
Wegmans –Smoked turkey drumsticks and fresh legs. Food Lion – Fried and raw legs sold in bags. Harris Teeter – Roasted turkey legs by the pound. ShopRite – Ready-to-eat and raw legs in the poultry department. Stop & Shop – Oven-roasted drumsticks and raw legs. Check your local branch to see if they carry the turkey legs you’re after.
Where can I buy smoked turkey legs?
Well-known chains to check include: Porter Road Butcher – Ships fresh raw turkey legs nationwide. The Chop Shop – Smoked turkey legs at shops across the Southeast US. Eastern Market – Fresh and smoked legs at their Detroit location. Honey’s Pork & Beef – Brined and smoked turkey legs in LA.
How much do turkey legs cost?
Pricing is reasonable too, usually between $2 to $8 per leg depending on weight. Some grocery store chains to check for turkey legs include: Kroger –Roasted, fried, and raw turkey legs. Safeway –Smoked turkey drumsticks and raw legs. Albertsons –Fully cooked legs in the deli. Publix –Ready-to-eat and raw turkey legs.
Where can I buy smoked turkey legs in Detroit?
Search for “butcher near me” or visit farmers markets to find local butchers selling turkey legs. Well-known chains to check include: Porter Road Butcher – Ships fresh raw turkey legs nationwide. The Chop Shop – Smoked turkey legs at shops across the Southeast US. Eastern Market – Fresh and smoked legs at their Detroit location.