Description
A comforting and flavorful turkey leg recipe that roasts up juicy with crispy skin, perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on turkey legs (12 to 16 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1 teaspoon brown sugar, pinch of cayenne
- 1 lemon or lime (for squeezing after roasting)
Instructions
- Pat the turkey legs very dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
- Mix the rub: Combine oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Rub the seasoning over the turkey legs, getting underneath the skin if possible. Let sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400-425°F. For smaller legs, use 425°F; for larger ones, use 400°F.
- Place the legs on a wire rack over a sheet pan or directly on a lightly oiled pan, spaced out for air circulation.
- Roast for 45-70 minutes, spooning pan juices over the legs halfway through.
- Check internal temperature at 45 minutes; it should reach at least 165°F for safe eating, 175-185°F for extra tenderness.
- Rest the legs for 10 minutes before serving, then squeeze lemon or lime over before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, let the rub sit on the turkey legs for up to 12 hours in the fridge. You can use air fryer settings or alternate cooking methods if preferred.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 leg
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 150mg