Our AIR FRYER TURKEY LEGS recipe has a great blend of seasonings and will certainly cook your turkey leg quarters perfectly! Follow this recipe for tender, juicy meat with that perfect crispy skin every time.
I don’t eat turkey legs very often. In fact, it is very rare indeed. I pretty much eat them during a trip to Disney and that’s it!
But, I don’t know why? I really like them. I enjoy how tender they are when they are cooked right.
It was obviously high time I came up with a turkey leg recipe in the air fryer! And oh boy – so easy, so juicy, so good!
If you’re having a smaller Thanksgiving this year, these will be perfect! Or, if you just get a craving for turkey, these will do the trick!
If you are more of a white meat person, try our air fryer turkey breast!
Table of Contents
Ingredient Notes:
Turkey legs – We use turkey leg quarters, with the thigh attached to the leg. Ours were right around 2 lbs, but the size can vary. If you don’t want the thigh, you will need to adjust the cooking time to cook the legs to a minimum of 165 degrees F.
Seasonings– We use a blend of seasonings that are common ingredients. You will want to mix together brown sugar, salt, paprika, thyme, sage, garlic powder, and onion powder.
How to cook turkey legs in the air fryer:
Season the legs– Dry your turkey legs and then rub them with olive oil to coat. Next stir together your seasonings in a small bowl. Then sprinkle the seasoning onto the turkey and rub it in to completely coat the turkey legs. It is advised that you wear gloves for this step, but if you don’t be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
Wrap the legs – Score the skin and muscle of the legs with a sharp knife. Go all the way down the leg and make an upside-down “L” shape into the thigh. You only need to do this on one side of the turkey leg. Next, wrap the entire leg and thigh completely in foil.
Cook the turkey– Place the turkey in the air fryer and cook for 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and return the turkey to the air fryer. You need to cook for 20 more minutes targetting an internal temp of 180 degrees.
Serve the turkey– Remove the turkey from the air fryer and you will see juices left in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Brush those juices on the turkey while it is still hot and then let the turkey sit for 10 minutes before serving.
FAQ:
First, it is perfectly safe to eat the turkey if it is over 165 degrees F. We cook it longer because we are cooking the leg and thigh together. This particular cut of meat is very tender to eat, but they are held together tightly. It is easier to eat, and the thighs will be more tender if we cook them to 180 degrees and, because it’s dark meat, they won’t dry out!
Technically, no. The legs should include the thigh. Drumsticks are often called legs though. This recipe is for the whole leg. If you purchased drumsticks, no problem. Just adjust the cooking time to get the meat cooked between 165 and 180 degrees internally.
More traditional recipes you might like:
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Greenbean Casserole
- Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Let us know your opinion!
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Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 turkey leg quarters about 3-4 pounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Pat the turkey legs dry and rub with the olive oil to coat.
- Add the seasonings to a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle with the seasoning and rub to coat the turkey completely.
- Use a sharp knife to score the skin and muscle of the turkey legs and then wrap completely in foil.
- Place turkey legs in a single layer in the the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the foil and return the turkey to the air fryer. Continue cooking for 20 minutes or until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature is 180 degrees.
- Remove the turkey from the air fryer and brush with the juices left in the bottom of the basket before serving.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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