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Roasted Turkey Legs

missravenskitchen
Roasted Turkey Legs are perfect for almost any day of the week and small Thanksgiving gatherings. Juicy, tender meat and crispy skin every time you make these! With only a small list of ingredients, you'll practically be wanting these when it's not Thanksgiving.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Dishes, Turkey
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 685 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 turkey drumsticks bone-in skin-on (10 oz each)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 450F. Fit a rimmed roasting pan with a roasting rack, or line a baking sheet with foil then place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick spray.
  • Combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, paprika, and poultry seasoning in a small bowl.
  • Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Brush them all over with the melted butter. Sprinkle the seasoning mix all over the turkey legs, then rub them in.
  • Roast in the oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the skin is browned.
  • Cover the turkey legs loosely with foil (this will prevent the top from scorching) and continue roasting for about 30 minutes more, or until the juices run clear when pricked with a fork and the internal temperature is 165F (make sure the thermometer doesn't touch the bone when temping).
  • Remove the turkey legs from the oven and allow them to rest, keeping them still covered with the foil, about 10 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat in a 350F oven until heated through, or use the microwave. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out. It's also great cold!
  • Freeze: Allow the turkey legs to cool to room temperature. Place them onto a baking sheet and transfer to the freezer for about 1 hour or until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe ziploc bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight before reheating.
Do not skip the resting period: This will help the juices stay locked in. If you cut or bite right into it as it comes out of the oven, the juices will leak out; therefore, the meat might become dry.
Wouldn't you roast turkey in a 350F oven? Many recipes will tell you to bake turkey drumsticks for an hour and a half at 350F. However, if the drumsticks aren't too large, then baking them at a high temperature for a short time yields the best results: crispy, well-browned skin, juicy meat. Having said that, if the drumsticks are larger (about a pound each), then you will need to bake them for at least an hour and a half at 350F in the oven.
Variations:
  • Swap out the spice mix for lemon pepper seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Italian seasoning. Experiment with different seasonings!
  • Use olive oil instead of butter.
Serving Suggestions:
  • If you're serving this for Thanksgiving, then traditional items such as cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a green bean casserole are perfect.
  • At other times, it's very versatile and can be served with many different items. Mashed potatoes, Corn Risotto, and roasted veggies are great examples.
Keyword Drumstick, Holiday, Roasted, Turkey