Air Fryer Turkey Legs come out juicy on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. It’s quick and easy recipe to air fry turkey legs and they turn out golden brown and delicious. Cooking turkey legs in the air fryer is fun to do. Every time I cook air fryer turkey legs the kids say they like them as much as the turkey legs at the state fair.
Even if you don’t have kids giant turkey legs make make an easy weeknight meal with a cooking time time of just 30 minutes of air frying cook time. This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes because I always make at least two turkey legs when having them for dinner, because leftover turkey legs make fantastic turkey sandwiches.
Jump to:
- Ingredients Needed to Make Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- How to Air Fry Turkey Legs
- Should I Brine Turkey Legs?
- Are Turkey Legs Healthy in the Air Fryer?
- Where to Buy Turkey Legs?
- Turkey Leg Cooking Variations
- What Temperature is a Turkey Leg Done?
- Cooking Frozen Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer
- How to Thaw Frozen Turkey Legs
- Kitchen Essentials and Equipment Used
- Roasting Turkey Legs in the Oven
- How to Store Turkey Legs
- Reheating Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Recipes to Enjoy
- Notes on Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Turkey Leg Brine Recipe
- Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Join Our Facebook Groups Community
Ingredients Needed to Make Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Turkey Legs
- Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Thyme
- Dried Rosemary
Jump to recipe card at the bottom for quantities.
How to Air Fry Turkey Legs
Air frying turkey legs is a simple process. Lightly spray with some oil, season turkey legs with the dry seasonings. This turkey drumsticks recipe is a dry rub of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and smoked paprika. If you prefer you also can make a seasoned butter rub by adding the spices to half of a stick of softened butter to make a butter rub.
Step 1 – Drizzle the turkey legs with avocado oil or olive oil. Combine all the spices in a bowl. Season turkey legs with spice rub.
Spray air fryer basket with oil to prevent any sticking. Place turkey legs in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
Step 2 – Flip the Turkey Legs and continue cooking for about 8- 10 more minutes.
I find that the cooking time of air fryer turkey legs is about 30 to 40 minutes depending on your air fryer. It was 28 minutes of cooking time for me.
Cook until the internal temperature of the turkey legs reads 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the turkey leg.
I take the air fryer turkey legs out a few degrees early to allow for carry-over cooking, so it won’t be dry. As you can see from the picture, it comes out moist and flavorful.
Should I Brine Turkey Legs?
Brining the air fryer turkey legs makes them even more moist and delicious. I did not brine the turkey legs for this recipe, but if you would like to try it I have included the turkey leg brine recipe below.
This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes. I love it because it is so quick and easy to make air fryer turkey legs. In no time I can throw a dinner together for myself or the whole family. These are always “GBD” which is short for golden brown and delicious. These aturkey legs have crispy skin too.
Are Turkey Legs Healthy in the Air Fryer?
Yes. Air fryer turkey legs are a healthy option. Dark meat has a lot of vitamins and minerals. Turkey can be higher in saturated fat, but if you would like to avoid this the skin can always be removed. Turkey is actually a leaner protein than chicken and even lower calories.
Where to Buy Turkey Legs?
Most grocery stores have turkey legs all year long. Brands like Butterball and Jenni O have prepackaged options. If your store does not have those options ask the butcher if they offer them. They are a common protein at your local grocery store.
Hint: Place turkey legs on parchment paper when seasoning and drizzling with oil to minimize cleanup.
Turkey Leg Cooking Variations
- Seasoned Butter – Make seasoned butter for turkey legs instead of oil and spices.
- Cajun Seasoning -Cajun seasoning is a great way to change up the turkey legs for a different delicious flavor.
What Temperature is a Turkey Leg Done?
Turkey legs are done cooking when an instant read thermometer reads 165°F. Cooking time for air fryer. Turkey legs is generally 30 to 40 minutes. Of course all air fryers are different and the size and how many turkey legs are being cooked affect cooking time.
Cooking Frozen Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer
Frozen turkey legs can be cooked in the air fryer. It just takes adding an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time. Always use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. Turkey legs are done when cooked to a temperature of 165-180 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Thaw Frozen Turkey Legs
If you would rather saw your frozen turkey legs, this can be done by leaving the turkey legs in the original packaging and submerging in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes and replace with fresh cold water. Turkey legs should thaw within two hours.
Kitchen Essentials and Equipment Used
I always list the equipment I use for every recipe. I also include other kitchen essentials. I do earn a small commission on the sale of the items but this is at absolutely no cost to you.
All of these items are used by me and items I like. Thanks for all of your support.
COSORI Air Fryer Oven Combo 5.8QT Max Xl Large Cooker
COSORI Air Fryer 6.8 Qt, Large Oven with Dual Blaze Tech
Ninja Foodi 10 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone XL 2-Basket Air Fryer with 2 Independent Frying Baskets
200pcs Air Fryer Parchment Paper, Air Fryer Liners 8.5inch
AmazonFresh Avocado Oil, 33.8 fl oz.
Naturevibe Botanicals Organic Paprika Powder
Roasting Turkey Legs in the Oven
If you’re reading this recipe and either don’t have an air fryer or are thinking of getting one you can still make this recipe. Follow all the steps of the recipe and roast in the oven using the instructions below.
Preheat Oven to 450 Degrees
Place Seasoned Turkey Legs on Baking Sheet
Roast 20 Minutes Until Skin is Golden Brown
Cover loosely with foil and continue roasting until the instant thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. About 30 minutes of cooking time.
How to Store Turkey Legs
Air Fryer Turkey legs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Reheating Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer
Place turkey legs in the air fryer basket.
Reheat at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes.
Repeat in 2 minute increments until the desired temperature is reached.
Air Fryer Recipes to Enjoy
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Green Beans
Notes on Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Preheating the air fryer with this turkey legs recipe is not necessary.
- I buy turkey legs at my local grocery store in a two pack. Sometimes I can find a bunch of them in a family pack which is my favorite way to buy them.
- All air fryers cook a little differently. Some cook hotter than others depending on the waters of the air fryer.
- Brining turkey legs is not necessary. I will include a brine recipe if you want to go ahead and do that to make the turkey legs even more moist.
Turkey Leg Brine Recipe
This is not a necessary step but it does make turkey legs and chicken even juicier. I wanted to share my standard brine recipe and ratio just in case you wanted to take this optional step.
Brine Recipe
1/4 Cup Salt
1 Quart Water
2 Tablespoons Sugar (Optional)
Turkey legs cooked in the air fryer have a cooking time of 30 to 40 minutes.
Turkey Legs should be cooked in the air fryer at 380 Degrees Fahrenheit.
A turkey leg is done cooking when it reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking temperature will rise when removed from oven a few degrees. This is called carry over cooking.
Reheat at 375 Degrees Fahrenheit 3-5 minutes.
If you need to quickly thaw, frozen turkey, legs this can be done easily by submerging original packaging in cold water. Change cold water every 30 minutes until thawed.
Turkey legs that are cooked can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Related Recipes
Looking for Other Recipes? Try These:
Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Turkey Legs About 2 Pieces
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Dried Thyme
- 1/4 tsp. Dried Rosemary
- 1/2 tsp. Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Coat the turkey legs with the avocado oil liberally.
- Mix together the rest of the dry ingredients to make a rub.
- Season turkey legs liberally with spice rub.
- Play turkey legs in the air fryer basket.
- Cook Turkey Legs at 380 Degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
- Flip Turkey Legs and cook additional 8-10 minutes until desired doneness
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