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grilled turkey legs on a plate with baked beans, coleslaw, and fried corn
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Grilled Turkey Legs

This Grilled Turkey Legs recipe is bursting with smoky goodness and seasoned to perfection using a homemade blend of spices. Whether you're gathering with loved ones for a backyard barbecue or simply craving juicy drumsticks, these are the perfect choice for any occasion.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword BBQ turkey legs, grilled turkey legs, how to grill turkey legs, turkey legs on the grill
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 3 servings
Calories 687kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to 275-300 degrees.
  • See the notes below if you plan to inject the turkey legs or brine the turkey in advance.
  • Sprinkle the spices onto both sides of each turkey leg. Rub the spices in to penetrate the meat. Ensure the turkey is fully coated and add additional spices if necessary.
  • Place the turkey on the grill and grill for 90 minutes or however long it takes to reach an internal temperature of 175 degrees, use a meat thermometer. Be sure to place the turkey on the side of the grill with indirect heat to ensure slow cooking.
    Flip the turkey legs every 30 minutes.
    Cook time will vary based on the size of your turkey legs so be sure to watch them.
  • Remove the turkey legs from heat and allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

I like to inject mine using a seasoned butter marinade. This saves time because I don’t have to let them sit overnight in the fridge. Injecting adds moisture directly into the meat, which can help prevent it from drying out. I use this injection marinade. I use 1 ounce per pound. Weigh each leg and measure accordingly. 
A common method is to brine the drumsticks in advance. You can prepare a brine solution with water (4 cups), salt (1 tablespoon), sugar (1/4 cup), and spices (noted in the recipe card below). Submerge the turkey legs in the brine and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. This also helps them stay moist and flavorful.
Total cook time will vary based on the size of your drumsticks. Larger, meatier legs will require a longer cook time. Keep this in mind if you have an unevenly sized bunch. You may need to pull the smaller ones off first.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1pound | Calories: 687kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 88g | Fat: 32g