Juicy Roasted Turkey Legs

Turkey legs are served on a white plate with a garnish of parsley.

This roasted turkey legs recipe uses high heat to deliver golden skin and succulent meat. Perfect when you don’t want to roast a whole bird!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Resting time 10

Total Time 1 10

Servings servings

Calories 432kcal

Author Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

Avocado oil spray
4 turkey legs 10 ounces each; see notes below
¼ cup butter melted

Seasoning mix:

1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup, fit it with a rack, and grease the rack.
Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Brush them all over with melted butter and rub them with the seasoning mix. Place them on the roasting rack and lightly spray them with avocado oil to protect the spices and keep them moist.
Place the turkey in the oven. Roast it, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or until the skin is browned.
Loosely cover the turkey with foil to avoid scorching the top, and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part and not touching the bone registers a minimum temperature of 165°F. This should take about 30-50 more minutes, depending on your oven and the size of the turkey legs. See the notes section below for tips.
Remove the turkey drumsticks from the oven and allow them to rest, still covered in foil, for 10 minutes before serving. Do not skip this step - it will enable the juices to redistribute and settle, keeping the meat juicy.

Video

Notes

Roasting time

Adjust the recipe as needed to match the size of your turkey legs. Over the years, I tested this recipe with legs ranging in size from 10 to 16 ounces. This method works well for all of them - you'll just need to roast the larger ones for longer.

10-ounce pieces will usually need about 30 minutes of roasting (covered) after the initial 15 minutes. 12-14 ounce ones will need about 40 minutes, and 16-ounce ones will need 45-50 minutes. Always test with a thermometer inserted into the thickest part and not touching the bone to ensure they are done.

For the largest turkey legs, weighing 1 pound, an alternative method I tested in 2023 is to bake them in a 350°F oven for at least 90 minutes and up to two hours. Cover them loosely with foil once the tops are deeply browned, which should happen after 60-75 minutes, depending on your oven.

Internal Temperature

165°F is the minimum you should aim for. However, turkey drumsticks have more connective tissue and fat than white meat, so cooking them to a slightly higher temperature of 175-180°F can make them even more tender and flavorful.

Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze the cooled leftovers in freezer bags for up to three months (thaw them overnight in the fridge). I don't like to reheat leftover poultry, so I remove the skin, pull the meat away from the bones, shred it, and serve it cold in a salad.

Nutrition