These Roast Turkey Legs are great for any time you want them, and they’re really good for small Thanksgiving dinners. When you bake them at a high heat, they get crunchy skin and stay juicy inside. This way of making them only takes a bit more than an hour.Turkey legs, like chicken wings or drumsticks, are usually part of a big roasted turkey for Thanksgiving. But people don’t often see them as a meal on their own.
What is roasted turkey legs
Roasted turkey legs are turkey drumsticks that have been cooked in an oven. They’re seasoned and usually cooked until they have crispy skin on the outside and tender, juicy meat inside. It’s a tasty and popular dish, especially during Thanksgiving or as a standalone meal.
How To Make Roasted Turkey Legs
If you’ve ever cooked a whole chicken, pork tenderloin, or beef shoulder in the oven, you probably know you cook them slowly at a low temperature. Here’s a simple guide for making roasted turkey legs. The detailed recipe is down below.
Ingredients:
- Turkey legs
- Seasonings (like salt, pepper, herbs, etc.)
- Olive oil or melted butter
Instructions:
1: Make the butter spread:Mix the soft butter with the herbs and spices in a bowl. If you want to try different flavors, do it now. But make sure the butter is still quite thick so it stays on the turkey. If it’s too thin and watery, it won’t stick and won’t make the turkey taste good.
2: Coat the turkey legs: Split the butter mix between the four turkey legs and massage it into the skin and meat. You’ll need to use your hands for this because a spatula won’t get everything covered well enough.
3: Make the bed:Put the carrots and onions at the bottom of the baking dish or roasting pan. We also threw in some celery. Add the lemon slices. Then, place the turkey legs on top of the veggies. You might need to arrange them differently so they all fit in the pan.
4:Bake:Put the pan in the hot oven and bake for about 1 1/2 hours. If your turkey legs are small (less than 10 ounces each), check their temperature after 60 minutes. Bigger ones might need more time.
5: Let rest: When the thickest part of the Roast Turkey Legs reaches 160°F (but make sure the thermometer doesn’t touch the bone), take the dish out of the oven. Get a piece of foil, fold it in half to make a tent, and cover the turkey legs. Gently press the foil edges around the pan. The turkey will keep cooking and reach 165°F. Let it sit like this, covered with foil, for at least 10 minutes before you serve it.
How Do I Know My Turkey Is Done?
To make sure the turkey leg is cooked right, use a meat thermometer. Stick it into the thickest part of the leg, but don’t touch the bone because that can give the wrong temperature. When it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s safe to take the turkey legs out of the oven and let them rest.
What to Serve With Turkey Legs
If you don’t feel like making a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, these roasted turkey legs are a great idea. They cook faster and work well for smaller groups. Serve them with classic holiday sides like mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, or macaroni and cheese.
Conclusion
Roasting turkey legs for maximum flavor is a straightforward and rewarding process. By seasoning them well, using flavorful butter or herbs, and ensuring proper cooking time and temperature, you can achieve delicious, juicy turkey legs that are perfect for any meal, especially during holiday gatherings. The key lies in attention to detail, from the initial seasoning to checking for doneness, resulting in flavorful turkey legs that everyone will enjoy.
