Air Fryer Turkey Legs Recipe

Baked turkey legs on a serving plate with rosemary from the top view.

These Air Fryer Turkey Legs are seasoned with a butter rub for a beautifully crisp skin and a juicy middle. Serve this festive, easy dish as a crowd-pleasing main course for a small holiday gathering, a fun handheld snack for Game Day, or even for a quick weeknight dinner.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Resting Time 10

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 516kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

2 Turkey Drumsticks approximately 12 ounces each
1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened or olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Prep the turkey legs: Remove turkey legs from their packaging onto a plate and pat dry with paper towels as much as you can. Set them aside.
Make the rub: Mix together the softened butter, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl until well combined.
Apply the rub: Spread each turkey drumstick with the butter mixture on all sides and under the skin while being careful to not tear the skin.
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the air fryer basket and place the turkey legs.
Air fry: Air fry the drumsticks for 20 minutes, rotate and flip, and then air fry for another 10-15 minutes* or until the internal temperature of one of the turkey legs registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted with a meat thermometer.
Rest and serve: Remove the turkey legs from the air fryer, cover them loosely with foil, and let them rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cook time: There’s a direct correlation between the size of the turkey leg and its cook time. Keep an eye on your turkey legs while cooking, especially the smaller ones because they cook faster. They're done when the internal temperature of the turkey legs reaches 165 degrees F.
Turkey legs and thighs: You can air fry turkey legs and thighs together using this recipe. The cooking temperature would still be the same. The timing would depend on the size of your turkey thighs and drumsticks. However, as long as they are similar (approximately 12 ounces) in size, it should be around 35 to 40 minutes of air frying time. Be sure to flip them halfway through and air fry them until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F.
Store: After air frying your turkey legs, let them cool to room temperature. Once they have cooled, place leftover turkey legs in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat: To reheat them in the air fryer, set your air fryer to 350 degrees F and lightly spray or coat the basket with oil. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.

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