Make the best Oven Roasted Turkey Legs with a crisp, golden exterior and juicy flavorful center! With just a few simple steps, you’ll have delicious turkey perfect for small Thanksgiving gatherings and weeknight dinners alike.
My Holiday Go-To
When it comes to holiday gatherings, my go-to dish has become turkey legs. They’re not only easy to prepare, but I honestly don’t think I’ll ever make a whole turkey again! With just a handful of ingredients—herbs and butter—you can create a dish that’s packed with flavor.
It’s all about the technique, which is incredibly simple. Whether you’re hosting a small get-together or wanting to keep things cozy, these turkey legs are an effortless way to celebrate the season!!
Tips Before You Begin
These simple tips will take your turkey legs from good to crazy good!
- Dry the turkey well. This ensures the seasonings stick to the skin and helps create the crisp, golden exterior we want.
- Dry Brine. Sprinkle the turkey legs with salt and let them hang out in the fridge, uncovered, for a few hours (or overnight if you have time!). This simple step locks in moisture and brings out the delicious flavor of the turkey. Let the turkey legs sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. (This helps them cook more evenly without drying out.)
- Check for doneness. You’ll know your turkey legs are done roasting when they reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the leg away from the bone. Turkey legs are best cooked to an internal temperature of 180°F. While 165°F is safe for poultry, cooking dark meat, such as turkey legs, to 180°F breaks down connective tissue, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.
- Don’t skip the resting time. By giving the turkey legs 5-10 minutes to rest after they’re out of the oven you allow the juices to settle and redistribute. As a result, every bite is juicy and full of flavor!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make the best roasted turkey legs recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Whole Turkey Legs or Turkey Drumsticks – You’ll need around three legs, which can range from 2 to 3 lbs. For the best results, look for bone-in, skin-on legs that are roughly the same size and thickness.
Pro-Tip: If you’re not a dark meat lover, you can use this method with turkey breasts or whole chicken. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Butter – This adds rich flavor and helps keep the turkey moist. Feel free to use plant-based butter if you need to keep this recipe dairy-free.
- Seasoning Mix – Fresh or dried thyme, fresh or dried rosemary, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper add incredible savory, herbaceous flavor with just a hint of spice.
- Onion – These cook with the turkey, enhancing its flavor.
- Broth or Water – This creates a steaming effect, helping cook the turkey evenly. For even more flavor, use chicken or turkey broth instead.
- Lemon – We use both the lemon juice and zest to help tenderize the turkey and add a bright, refreshing taste. It’s optional but highly recommended!
Note: Turkey Legs Vs Turkey Drumsticks – Turkey legs are both the thigh and drumstick of the bird. Meanwhile, drumsticks are turkey thighs just the part below the knee. In some recipes, “turkey leg” might refer only to the drumstick, which can be confusing. For this recipe, we’ve used drumsticks, as shown in the photos. Drumsticks are typically available in most grocery meat sections, while whole legs may require sourcing from a butcher.
How to Roast Turkey Legs
Before you begin, set your oven to preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the seasoning rub. Mix the butter, thyme, rosemary, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Season the turkey. Use clean paper towels to pat the turkey legs dry. Then, season them generously with salt and pepper, and rub the butter mixture under the skin and over the meat. Add the lemon zest and juice on top.
- Transfer the turkey. Place the turkey legs in a large roasting pan or baking dish along with the onion slices. Then, pour the water or broth into the pan.
- Roast. Bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Then, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil, and continue to roast until the turkey is tender and cooks through. This prevents it from burning or drying out! Total roasting time varies based on the weight and size of the turkey legs or drumsticks.
Pro-Tip: For even cooking, rotate the turkey legs halfway through the roasting time. Add more water or broth if needed, and baste the turkey occasionally with the juices or melted butter.
- Broil. Remove the foil, and set your oven to broil at 500 degrees F. Broil just until the turkey legs are golden brown and crispy, being careful not to let them burn! Check the thickest part of the leg with a meat thermometer to ensure it’s fully cooked.
Note – Avoid broiling in glass or ceramic. If you don’t have a roasting pan, use a foil-lined baking sheet for the turkey legs.
- Rest. Remove the pan from the oven, and allow your turkey to rest and cool for at least five minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
There’s not much these oven roasted turkey legs don’t pair well with! They make a great addition to holiday meals alongside classic side dishes like vegan sweet potato casserole, vegan green bean casserole, dairy-free mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
Or, enjoy them as part of a weeknight meal with options such as easy air fryer green beans, Brussels sprouts salad, and gluten-free mac and cheese.
More of Our Favorite
Easy Main Dishes
Storage FAQ
Stored leftover oven-roasted turkey leg in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Yes! You can freeze roasted turkey legs for up to 3-4 months. We recommend removing the meat from the bones first. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to serve.
Reheat leftover meat in the microwave just until warmed through. Or, enjoy it cold in salads and sandwiches!
Oven Roasted Turkey Legs Recipe
- Total Time: 90 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The best easy oven roasted turkey legs with just a few simple steps for flavorful, juicy turkey with crisp, golden skin!
Ingredients
- 3 turkey legs (between 2–3 lbs)*
- 4–5 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic or 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste (divided)
- ½ cup thick onion slices
- ½ cup water or broth, or as needed
- 1 small lemon, zest and juice (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, thyme, rosemary, garlic, smoked paprika, pepper, salt, and black pepper to make the herb butter. Set aside.
- Pat the turkey legs dry with a paper towel, then season with salt and pepper. Rub the herb butter under the skin and over the meat. Add lemon zest and juice on top. Place the turkey legs in a roasting pan along with the onion slices, then pour the broth into the pan.
- Roast uncovered for 30-45 minutes. Then, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, and continue roasting the turkey legs for an additional 40-45 minutes*, or until the internal temperature reaches 180°F (74°C) as measured with a meat thermometer. For even cooking, rotate the turkey legs halfway through the roasting time. Baste occasionally with the juices or melted butter and add more water or broth if needed.
- Remove the foil and set the oven to broil at 500°F (see notes). Broil the turkey legs for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
Prep Tips – Let the turkey legs sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking (helps them cook more evenly and stay juicy).
Baking Tips – Broiling in a glass or ceramic baking dish is not recommended. If you don’t have a roasting pan, transfer the turkey legs to a foil-lined baking sheet before broiling. Use a meat thermometer and aim for the thickest part of the leg. Total roast time will vary depending on the weight of the turkey legs/drumsticks. Smaller drumsticks may be done in around 1.5 hours, while larger ones could take up to 2 hours. Turkey legs are best done at 180°F—while 165°F is safe, 180°F makes the dark meat more tender and flavorful.
Serving Tips – Allow rest time, by giving the turkey legs 5-10 minutes to rest after they’re out of the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 70-80 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10- 12 ounce drumstick with skin
- Calories: 507
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 452.6 mg
- Fat: 31.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 12.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.1 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 56.8 g
- Cholesterol: 262.9 mg
This is intriguing, as my family usually finds turkey disappointingly dry. How many people do the three drumsticks feed? I have three teen boys, so just want to be sure there is enough. 🙂
I agree! We usually make roast chicken or do these turkey legs. The number of turkey legs needed depends on the size of the turkey legs and amount of bones. I would aim for at least 1 lbs per leg . I’ve bought anywhere between 2-5 lbs but you definitely need at least one turkey leg each. The turkey leg photos in this post were around 3 lbs total and I had one. My husband could eat two. Hope that helps! Keep me posted Dylan!