Turkey Drumsticks Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Turkey legs aren’t just for Thanksgiving around here. Growing up in a Southern kitchen, they showed up at Sunday dinners and holidays, always seasoned with love and cooked until tender. Now, with over a decade of sharing my recipes online, I’ve put together a baked turkey leg recipe that works every time. You know my recipe is coming with crispy skin, juicy meat, and always well seasoned because we don't do bland!

baked turkey leg on a plate with rice, gravy, and broccoli

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.

Table of Contents

Baked Turkey Leg Ingredients

Turkey Legs: I am often asked where I buy my turkey drumsticks. Some standard grocers will keep brands like Butterball and Jenni-O on hand year-round. Many retailers only carry them seasonally around fall. A local butcher is usually really helpful.
Olive Oil
Onions
Green Bell Peppers
Creole Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, and Garlic Powder

chopped green peppers, sliced onions, and spices in separate bowls

More Ideas on How to Season Them

I like to season these with Creole Seasoning and smoked paprika. Feel free to use any of your favorite spices or blends.

How to Make Baked Turkey Legs

The key is to cook these low and slow.

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Pat Dry and Drizzle with Oil: Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels, this helps the oil and seasoning stick. Rub each leg all over with a drizzle of olive oil.
Season the Turkey: Season generously with Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Make sure you rub it in well so every bite has flavor.
Add the Turkey Legs to the Pan: Place the turkey legs in a baking dish or roasting pan. Scatter the sliced onions and bell peppers around the legs. The veggies will soften, caramelize, and flavor the pan drippings.
Bake with Foil: Cover the pan with foil and bake, until the meat is tender.
Baked Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another until the skin is golden brown and a little crispy.
Serve: Serve the turkey legs hot, spooning some of those baked onions and peppers over the top for extra flavor.

chopped green peppers and onions in the bottom of a baking dish

raw seasoned turkey legs in a baking dish

baked turkey legs in a baking dish covered with foil

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.

Juicy Baked Turkey Legs in Oven

Brandi Crawford

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Rate this recipeLeave !

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2 30

Total Time 2 45

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 451 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.

Equipment

Ingredients

½ cup sliced onions I used white onions.
1 cup sliced green and red bell peppers peppers
3-4 pounds turkey legs
1-2 tablespoons olive oil Use enough to coat each leg.
1 tablespoon Creole Seasoning
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup broth Any broth, turkey, chicken, vegetable, etc.
foil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place the sliced onions and bell peppers into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
Pat the legs dry. Place the legs in the dish and drizzle both sides of the legs olive oil and then sprinkle the spices onto both sides of the legs. Be sure to use enough spices to cover the skin of both sides of the legs. Add additional as necessary to prevent bland turkey.
Rub the spices into the legs. Drizzle the broth in the pan around the turkey legs. Don't drizzle it on top of the turkey because you don't want to lose the spices.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 2 hours.
Remove the foil and adjust the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Allow the legs to bake for an additional 20-40 minutes or until the skin is crisp and the turkey is tender and falls off the bone. You can test if the legs have finished cooking by using a meat thermometer. Test the thickest part of the leg and ensure the turkey has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Cool before serving.

Notes

You can substitute Creole seasoning for any of your favorite spices or chicken/turkey rubs.
You can also use chicken drumsticks. Be sure to test if the chicken is done by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest parts of one of the pieces of chicken. Chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
You will need to use a meat thermometer. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of one the turkey wings. According to the USDA, Poultry must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees.
The legs are baked and covered at a lower temperature initially, in order to cook the turkey throughout.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 56gFat: 20g

Tried this recipe?Mention @Stay_Snatched or tag #StaySnatched!

Subscribe to our Youtube ChannelCheck out our videos!

Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The Best Way to Cook Fall Off the Bone Turkey/ Cook Time and How Long to Cook

You have to cook turkey low and slow to get it tender and fall off the bone. I bake these for at least 2 hours at 300 degrees, covered in foil and then for another 30 minutes uncovered to get crispy skin. Cooking them for 2 hours will give you fall of the bone turkey.

Alternatively, you can reduce the cook time by around 30 minutes by baking them covered at 350 degrees. I find the turkey isn't as juicy using this temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions and Pro Tips

How to Add Gravy

Check out my Smothered Turkey Wings Recipe. Follow the instructions for how to make the gravy and add it to your turkey legs.

How to Tell When the Turkey is Done

You will need to use a meat thermometer. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of one the turkey legs. According to the USDA, Poultry must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees.

How do I keep turkey legs from drying out?

Cooking the drumsticks low and slow does the trick. The turkey will produce drippings while it cooks with the onions and green peppers which will help keep it moist.

How do I store them for later? Can I make them ahead?

Cooked turkey legs can be stored in the fridge tightly covered for 3-4 days.

How to reheat turkey legs.

My favorite ways are to use the air fryer (350 degrees until warm) or the oven (350 degrees until warm). You can microwave them if you wish.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftover drumsticks tightly covered and sealed. For best taste, they will last up to 3 months. Defrost the legs overnight in the fridge and reheat.