Cooking Turkey Drumsticks In Oven – Cooking them at a high temperature ensures a crispy skin and juicy meat. And with this method, this recipe only takes a little over an hour to prepare.
Not everyone wants or needs to roast a whole turkey for Thanksgiving. Maybe you’re planning a small Thanksgiving gathering. Or maybe your family members have a strong preference for white or dark meat.
Cooking Turkey Drumsticks In Oven
Either way, there are clear advantages to roasting just a few turkey breasts or turkey legs, such as a shorter roasting time and a better tasting bird. Roasting only parts of the bird means avoiding the white meat, which becomes too dry when the dark meat is fully cooked.
Turkey Drumsticks Perfecto Recipe
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. Exact measurements are included on the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
Avocado Oil Spray – I use this to brush the rack and also to brush the turkey pieces after seasoning. This oil has a high smoke point, making it ideal for high heat roasting.
This recipe is written for medium turkey legs that weigh about 10 ounces. If yours are much larger (some are as large as a pound), you’ll need to cook them longer at a lower temperature.
Image of drumsticks above under “ingredients?” look at. They come from a large bird and weigh about 1 pound each. I baked them in a 350F oven for about two hours, covering them with foil after frying, which was after about 75 minutes.
Perfect And Easy Oven Roasted Turkey Legs
Therefore, you should adjust the oven temperature and the time the bird spends in the oven according to the size of the turkey pieces.
I know many recipes tell you to cook the turkey drumsticks at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour and a half.
But as always when roasting chicken, I find that as long as they’re not too big, cooking them for a relatively short time at a high temperature gives the best results: crispy, nicely browned skin and juicy, juicy meat.
As mentioned above, if the drumsticks are very large (about a pound each), you will need to bake them in a 350°F oven for at least an hour and a half.
Roasted Turkey Legs (whole30
This will help keep the spices and herbs moist and prevent them from burning in the hot oven.
The secret is to take relatively small pieces and fry them for a relatively short time at a high temperature. Then, before digging in, let them sit for a few minutes to let the juices settle.
The best way to change up the basic recipe is to experiment with different spices and herbs. Good candidates include smoked paprika, cumin, and onion powder.
For Thanksgiving, you’ll probably serve turkey drumsticks with your favorite side dishes like cranberry sauce, sausage, and green bean casserole.
Slow Roasted Turkey Leg (with Gravy)
At other times, they are very versatile and can withstand many side effects. I often serve them with roasted butternut squash, jicama fries, or roasted peppers.
This recipe is so good that I often double it and make eight batches to make sure I have delicious leftovers. Leftovers are fine as is, or you can use them in one of these leftover turkey recipes.
You can store leftovers for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Heat them gently in the microwave at 50% power. Like leftover cold chicken, they are very cold!
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Smoked Turkey Legs
Image of drumsticks above under “ingredients?” look at. They come from a large bird and weigh about 1 pound each. I baked them in a 350F oven for about two hours, covering them with foil after frying, which was after about 75 minutes. They came out of the oven perfect, with crispy skin and juicy meat.
Therefore, you need to adjust this recipe to the size of the turkey pieces, both in terms of oven temperature and how long the turkey should be in the oven.
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Roasted Turkey Drumstick Recipe
Serving size: 1 turkey leg Calories: 432 kcal Protein: 56 grams Fat: 21 grams Saturated fat: 10 grams Sodium: 555 mg
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following and blogging about the Real Low Carb Diet since 2011. and received a certificate in nutrition and healthy living from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women’s Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more at Vered.Easy Boasted Turkey Legs – Tender and Juicy Turkey for Dark Meat Lovers! These perfectly seasoned oven roasted turkey legs are a great alternative to roasting a whole turkey.
I’m a firm believer that roast turkey isn’t just for Christmas and Thanksgiving! I was very excited to recently discover giant turkey legs for sale at my local supermarket.
Roasted Turkey Drumsticks
A whole leg of turkey easily feeds four to six and is very affordable. even better? You’ll be surprised how easy it is to do!
Forget brining, braising, and heating, and worry about roasting the perfect turkey! If you’re serving a smaller group of dark meat lovers, grilled turkey legs are a great option.
PS: If you prefer white meat, check out my easy Roasted Turkey Crown recipe! For a quick alternative to a whole roast turkey, check out my turkey roll recipe.
Complete measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please watch the steps and video before trying this recipe!
How To Cook Smoked Turkey Legs In The Oven
Rub the turkey with olive oil. Combine all rub ingredients, then sprinkle generously over both sides of turkey.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a roasting pan with baking paper or aluminum foil and spread the onion, rosemary and lemon wedges over it.
Place the turkey leg on top, skin side down, and roast for 30 minutes. Turn the legs over, skin side up, and continue cooking for another 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 167°F (75°C).
The best and the safest! – The way to tell when a turkey leg is fully cooked is to check the temperature with a digital thermometer.
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs + Video
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the leg, avoiding the bone, and check that it has reached at least 167°F (75°C). The juices should run clear, another sign that the turkey is cooked.
Roasting times will vary depending on the size of the turkey legs and the efficiency of your oven, so check if you’re cooking smaller turkey legs.
Before serving, rest the turkey legs to allow the meat fibers to relax and the juices to redistribute. If you cut the turkey right away, the meat will be tough!
Serve your grilled turkey legs with your favorite sides or a simple green salad! Here are some suggestions
Turkey Legs Recipe
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. Leftover dark turkey meat is great in soups, curries, pies and pastas!
Have you made the turkey pie recipe? Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram or tag it on Pinterest and make my day!
How do I know when turkey legs are done? The best and the safest! – The way to tell when a turkey leg is fully cooked is to check the temperature with a digital thermometer.
Calories: 397 kcal Carbohydrates: 7 grams Protein: 44 grams Fat: 21 grams Saturated fat: 5 grams Polyunsaturated fat: 5 grams Monounsaturated fat: 9 grams Cholesterol: 157 mg Sodium: 559 mg Potassium: 706 mg Fiber: 2 grams Sugar : 1 gram Vitamin A: 463 IU Vitamin C: 20 mg Calcium: 68 mg Iron: 5 mg Roasted turkey legs are a great alternative to roasting a whole turkey. After roasting in vegetable butter, the meat is incredibly moist and rich in flavor, while the skin is crispy and crunchy. This is a great option for anyone planning to have a smaller Thanksgiving this year with just a few people.
Simple Delicous Turkey Legs
It’s Thanksgiving and Christmas