Turkey leg
A turkey leg is a drumstick of meat cut from the thigh of a turkey. It is a common dish at fairs and festivals in the United States, and is also sold at many Renaissance fairs. Turkey legs are usually roasted or deep-fried.
The first recorded recipe for turkey legs was in the 16th century cookbook, A Book of Cookrye, by Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent. The recipe called for the legs to be boiled in water and then roasted in an oven.
Turkey legs became a popular dish in the United States during the 1800s. They were often served at political rallies and public events. In the early 1900s, turkey legs were sold as a cheap alternative to chicken at fairs and carnivals.
Advice
Turkey legs are a delicious and easy meal to make. When cooking turkey legs, make sure to start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub the turkey legs with a combination of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Place the legs on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes. To ensure that the legs are cooked evenly, turn them over halfway through the cooking process. Allow the turkey legs to rest for 10 minutes before serving. This will help to keep them juicy and flavorful. Enjoy!
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Recipes
Roasted Turkey Legs
- thyme
- poultry seasoning
- salt
- chicken broth
- butter
- pepper
- turkey leg
Festival Turkey Legs
- onion
- black pepper
- red pepper flake
- steak seasoning
- lemon lime carbonated soda
- sugar
- honey
- hot sauce
- turkey leg

Smoked Turkey Legs (Drumsticks)
- salt
- chili powder
- onion powder
- olive oil
- water
- black peppercorn
- garlic powder
- brown sugar
- smoked paprika
- turkey leg
Red Wine–Braised Turkey Legs Recipe
- salt
- chive
- carrot
- onion
- chicken stock
- red wine
- butter
- canola oil
- all purpose flour
- bay leaf
- garlic
- celery
- rosemary
- turkey leg
- thyme
Slow Cooker Island Barbecued Turkey Legs
- pineapple
- worcestershire sauce
- liquid smoke
- ketchup
- onion
- dark brown sugar
- turkey leg
- apple cider vinegar
- black pepper
- salt
Stock-Braised Turkey Legs
- white wine
- red chile
- orange
- light brown sugar
- all purpose flour
- salt
- rosemary
- garlic
- thanksgiving stock
- olive oil
- butter
- turkey leg
Barbecue Turkey Legs
- tomato sauce
- water
- onion
- butter
- worcestershire sauce
- salt
- celery
- ketchup
- black pepper
- mustard
- brown sugar
- turkey leg
Brown Sugar-Soy Turkey Legs
- salt
- soy sauce
- green onion
- orange juice
- ginger
- black peppercorn
- fish sauce
- brown sugar
- jalapeño
- garlic
- star anise
- turkey leg
Gravy-Braised Turkey Legs with Cipolline Onions
- salt
- all purpose flour
- white wine
- cipolline
- black peppercorn
- egg yolk
- leek
- onion
- thyme
- parsley
- heavy cream
- olive oil
- butter
- celery
- bay leaf
- turkey leg
- garlic
- turkey stock
Baked Tamarind and Seedcrusted Turkey Leg
- black pepper
- honey
- turkey leg
- cayenne pepper
- vegetable oil
- cumin seed
- sesame seed
- celery seed
- salt
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic
- shallot
- tamarind pod
Sous Vide Turkey Legs
- salt
- turkey leg
- thyme
Barbecued Turkey Legs
- salt
- vegetable oil
- cayenne pepper
- barbecue sauce
- light brown sugar
- chili powder
- mustard powder
- garlic powder
- turkey drumstick
Chicken-Fried Turkey Legs
- hot sauce
- hot sauce
- salt
- green onion
- vegetable oil
- milk
- cayenne pepper
- garlic powder
- paprika
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- egg
- milk
- turkey drumstick
Chipotle-Spiced Smoked Turkey Legs
- dark brown sugar
- sage
- thyme
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder
- black pepper
- allspice
- clove
- salt
- chipotle
- bay leaf
- turkey drumstick

Confit Turkey Legs
- lingonberry preserve
- salt
- chile flake
- black peppercorn
- rosemary
- sugar
- bay leaf
- qt duck
- thyme
- turkey drumstick
- garlic
Smoked Turkey Legs
- turkey leg
- salt
- seasoning
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Staple Ingredients
- salt 69%
- turkey leg 69%
Usual Ingredients
- butter 31%
- garlic 31%
- onion 31%