Roasted in the air fryer, these turkey legs have a wonderfully juicy interior and a nice, crisp exterior. Take a trip to your favorite fair with this easy recipe.
After the helpful tips and tricks in the post, the full recipe and instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
I’ve been thinking a ton about the fair. Though it’s been a while, every time I visit, I make sure to head straight for the booth selling the enormous turkey legs. Holding a huge turkey leg in my hand while walking through the fair brings back great memories. Forget the rides, forget the prizes, it’s all about the food.
If you wanted to serve these Roasted Turkey Legs for Thanksgiving, they would also be ideal for a weeknight dinner. I cook them in the air fryer because it maintains the moisture and crispy exterior of the turkey leg.
Craving the crispy, juicy goodness of a turkey leg without the hassle of deep-frying or the wait of a full turkey roast? Look no further than your air fryer! This recipe delivers the perfect Thanksgiving-worthy treat in a fraction of the time, leaving you with a crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ pounds turkey legs
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, poultry seasoning, parsley, salt, paprika, and pepper until well combined.
- Brush half of the oil mixture onto all sides of the turkey legs. Place them in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 25 minutes. Brush the tops of the turkey legs with some of the remaining oil mixture. Flip the legs and brush with the rest of the oil mixture.
- Continue cooking for 10 more minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Tips:
- For extra crispy skin, pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels before seasoning them.
- If you don’t have poultry seasoning, you can make your own by combining equal parts salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Serve your turkey legs with your favorite dipping sauces, such as BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing.
- Leftover turkey legs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
FAQs:
- Can I use frozen turkey legs?
Yes, you can use frozen turkey legs. However you will need to increase the cooking time by 10-15 minutes.
- What if I don’t have an air fryer?
You can roast turkey legs in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 1 hour, or until cooked through.
- What are some other ways to cook turkey legs?
You can also grill, smoke, or braise turkey legs.
Additional Resources:
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe
- Roasted Turkey Legs Recipe
- Oven Roasted Turkey Legs Recipe
Enjoy your delicious air fryer turkey legs!
How to Air Fry Turkey Legs
First, combine your seasonings. I use salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and brown sugar.
Rinse and dry your turkey legs. Then rub your spice mixture all over your turkey legs. To ensure that the meat is flavored throughout, I make sure to rub the seasoning under the skin.
Then place the turkey legs in your Air Fryer basket. Lightly spray your turkey leg with a mist of cooking oil. I use my handy dandy oil spray bottle. I go into further detail in my 10 Air Fryer Tips and Tricks post about the benefits of purchasing a spray bottle.
Cook on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, flip your turkey leg and lightly spray again and cook for another 20 minutes.
Remove your turkey leg. Use a quick read thermometer to ensure that your turkey leg is done.
Serve and enjoy your delicious and juicy turkey leg
Notes on Air Fryer Roasted Turkey Legs
- Turkey legs should be available in the poultry section of your neighborhood supermarket. They usually sell them in packs of 2 or 3. Choose a leaner pack of turkey legs and modify the cooking time accordingly.
- Different air fryers will require different cook times. Adjust your cook times accordingly.
- When I make turkey legs in the air fryer, I don’t brine them. Since the Air Fryer keeps the meat moist, there was no need to.
- Lean turkey legs will cook in less time. Cut cooking times in half.
Looking for more Air Fryer Recipes? Try these out:
