With our tried-and-true method, you can easily enjoy a taste of turkey without cooking an entire bird! Enjoy these drumsticks with crispy skin on the outside and juicy, tender dark meat inside!
When I think of baked turkey legs, Thanksgiving and Disney come to mind. How was I surprised to find them at the park on our last Disneyland trip. So, it’s a year round indulgence that is so delicious!.
When cooking turkey legs, not only are we pleasing those family members who are dark meat lovers. Because let’s be honest, we all have mostly those. Not to mention that we are serving easy weeknight meals any time of year! And don’t forget about Game Day!
And you probably don’t need to roast a whole turkey if, like me, you typically host small Thanksgiving gatherings.
The advantages are a quicker roasting time and a better-tasting bird, regardless of whether you decide to roast a turkey breast or prepare these turkey drumsticks.
To be honest, while waiting for the dark meat to finish cooking when cooking an entire bird, the white meat of the bird quickly dries out. There’s always a turkey breast left over, which I shred and use to make turkey noodle soup or turkey quesadillas.
Thus, as we have previously discussed, the dark meat and crispy skin of these turkey legs solve a lot of first-world issues. Bam!.
A Comprehensive Guide to Perfectly Roasted Turkey Legs
Turkey legs are a delicious and festive dish, perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion. But cooking them can be tricky, especially if you’re using a convection oven This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about cooking turkey legs in a convection oven, from choosing the right temperature to achieving crispy skin and juicy meat
Choosing the Right Temperature:
The ideal temperature for cooking turkey legs in a convection oven is 325°F (163°C) This temperature ensures that the legs cook evenly and thoroughly without drying out. However, if you prefer crispier skin, you can increase the temperature to 350°F (177°C) for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking
Cooking Time:
The cooking time for turkey legs in a convection oven will vary depending on the size of the legs. As a general rule of thumb, allow 10-12 minutes per pound of turkey leg. For example, a 2-pound turkey leg will take approximately 20-24 minutes to cook.
Achieving Crispy Skin:
To achieve crispy skin on your turkey legs, it’s important to pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning. You can also brush them with melted butter or olive oil before roasting. Additionally, increasing the temperature to 350°F (177°C) for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking will help to crisp up the skin.
Ensuring Juicy Meat:
To ensure that your turkey legs are juicy, it’s important to brine them before cooking. Brining is a process of soaking the turkey in a salt-water solution, which helps to retain moisture and flavor. You can find many different brining recipes online, or you can simply use a mixture of water, salt, and sugar.
Checking for Doneness:
The best way to check if your turkey legs are done is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the leg, and make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Resting the Turkey Legs:
Once the turkey legs are cooked, it’s important to let them rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Tips for Cooking Turkey Legs in a Convection Oven:
- Use a wire rack to elevate the turkey legs above the baking sheet. This will allow the hot air to circulate around the legs, promoting even cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. If you’re cooking multiple turkey legs, make sure there is at least 1 inch of space between each leg.
- Baste the turkey legs with pan juices every 20-30 minutes to keep them moist.
- If the skin starts to brown too quickly, cover the legs loosely with aluminum foil.
Additional Resources:
- Foolproof Living – Roasted Turkey Drumstick Recipe: https://foolproofliving.com/turkey-drumstick-recipe/
- Precious Core – Baked Turkey Drumsticks: https://www.preciouscore.com/baked-turkey-drumsticks/
Cooking turkey legs in a convection oven is a great way to achieve crispy skin and juicy meat. By following the tips and guidelines in this guide, you can be sure to serve up a delicious and impressive dish that your family and friends will love.
How to Cook Turkey Legs in the Oven
This baked turkey leg recipe is one of my favorites because it doesn’t require any brining or basting! Here’s the best way to cook turkey legs: follow these instructions, then let me know how they turned out!
Set the cooling rack (wire rack) on a rimmed baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray after preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turkey legs can be prepared in less than an hour by roasting them at a high temperature, which also guarantees crispy skin!
- Combine: In a small bowl, whisk together the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. If you’re in a lazy mood, you can also just evenly sprinkle different spices over raw meat.
- Put the turkey legs on a big platter, season, and then pat dry with paper towels and coat with oil. It is crucial to begin with dry legs so that the oil will adhere, and then use our homemade rub for turkey spice. Evenly distribute a spice mixture throughout, being careful not to rub or touch afterward.
- Bake: Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, and roast the turkey legs for 30 minutes without a cover. After that, bake for a further 30 to 40 minutes with a loosely covered aluminum foil. They are ready if you pierce them with a knife and the juices come out clear. In order to avoid hitting the drumstick’s bone, you can also place an instant read thermometer in the thickest area of the leg. You can proceed if it reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rest: Take the turkey legs out of the oven and give them ten minutes to rest. I wouldn’t cover them just yet because I would be devastated if they lost their crispy skin. That’s when they get even more juicy!
How Long to Bake Turkey Legs in the Oven?
This recipe for oven baked turkey legs takes 1 hour. But as always, cook time will vary based on the size of your turkey legs and your oven.
Larger or smaller drumsticks will require an increase or decrease in cooking time. The efficiency of your oven could also change the time required.
If you have a convection oven, it may result even in more crispy skin. Here is a great guide how to convert recipe for convection oven.
Turkey legs of average size, weighing 10 to 12 ounces, will require 60 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. I do not advise lowering the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit because the turkey legs will take a very long time to cook and the skin will not crisp up.
Cook smaller 8 oz legs at 425 F for 40-45 minutes. And for larger 1 lb legs, I recommend slow roasting method at 350 degrees F for 1. 5-2 hours.
How To Bake Turkey Legs
FAQ
Should turkey be 325 or 350 in convection oven?
What temp should turkey legs be cooked to?
How long does it take to cook turkey in convection oven?
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Type of Turkey
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Weight
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Cook Time at 325°-350° F
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Stuffed Whole
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10 -18 lbs
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2½ – 3¼ hours
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Stuffed Whole
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18- 22 lbs
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3¼ – 3¾ hours
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Stuffed Whole
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22 – 24 lbs
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3¾ – 4¼ hours
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Unstuffed Whole
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6 – 10 lbs
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1½ – 2 hours
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Can you overcook a turkey leg?
How long to cook a Turkey in a convection oven?
The cooking time for a turkey in a convection oven will vary depending on the size of the turkey, but a general rule of thumb is to cook a turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is a table of cooking times for a turkey in a convection oven: Note: These cooking times are for a fully thawed turkey.
How long to cook turkey legs?
The cooking time for turkey legs will vary depending on the size of the legs and the oven temperature. A general rule of thumb is to cook turkey legs for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the following factors: * The size of the turkey legs.
How long do you cook a Turkey in the oven?
Roast the turkey for 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) at the thickest part of the breast. 7. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before carving. 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). 2. Rinse the turkey legs inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. 3.
What temperature should turkey legs be cooked at?
However, it is important to not cook turkey legs at too high of a temperature, as this can dry them out. A good rule of thumb is to cook turkey legs at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. * Whether the turkey legs are bone-in or boneless: Bone-in turkey legs will take longer to cook than boneless turkey legs.