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!

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Festival Turkey Legs

  • onion
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flake
  • steak seasoning
  • lemon lime carbonated soda
  • sugar
  • honey
  • hot sauce
  • turkey leg
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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
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Barbecue Turkey Legs

  • tomato sauce
  • water
  • onion
  • butter
  • worcestershire sauce
  • salt
  • celery
  • ketchup
  • black pepper
  • mustard
  • brown sugar
  • turkey leg
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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
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Barbecued Turkey Legs

  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • cayenne pepper
  • barbecue sauce
  • light brown sugar
  • chili powder
  • mustard powder
  • garlic powder
  • turkey drumstick
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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
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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
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Confit Turkey Legs

  • lingonberry preserve
  • salt
  • chile flake
  • black peppercorn
  • rosemary
  • sugar
  • bay leaf
  • qt duck
  • thyme
  • turkey drumstick
  • garlic

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
turkey leg
thyme
garlic
butter
onion
black pepper
black peppercorn
garlic powder
all purpose flour
bay leaf
turkey drumstick
hot sauce
chili powder
olive oil
brown sugar
celery
rosemary
worcestershire sauce
cayenne pepper
vegetable oil
sugar
honey
onion powder
water
ketchup
dark brown sugar
white wine
light brown sugar
green onion
milk
poultry seasoning
chicken broth
pepper
red pepper flake
steak seasoning
lemon lime carbonated soda
smoked paprika
chive
carrot
chicken stock
red wine
canola oil
pineapple
liquid smoke
apple cider vinegar
red chile
orange
thanksgiving stock
tomato sauce
mustard
soy sauce
orange juice
ginger
fish sauce
jalapeño
star anise
cipolline
egg yolk
leek
parsley
heavy cream
turkey stock
cumin seed
sesame seed
celery seed
shallot
tamarind pod
barbecue sauce
mustard powder
paprika
baking powder
egg
sage
allspice
clove
chipotle
lingonberry preserve
chile flake
qt duck
seasoning

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 69%
  • turkey leg 69%

Usual Ingredients

  • butter 31%
  • garlic 31%
  • onion 31%