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A platter of roasted turkey legs. A gravy boat is pouring turkey gravy over them. A bowl of mashed potatoes is in the background
5 from 5 votes

Roasted Turkey Legs

It's easy to make tender, juicy Roasted Turkey Legs for any occasion using this tested recipe for baked turkey legs and pan gravy.
Author Diana
Servings 4 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Baking pan

Ingredients

  • 2 turkey legs
  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For Gravy

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C, and line a baking pan with parchment paper. If you’re making gravy, then skip the parchment paper since you'll want the little brown bits that stick to the pan to flavor the gravy.
  • Make the herb butter. In a small bowl, combine butter with garlic powder, paprika, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Mash together with a fork or flexible spatula until well combined.
  • Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels, then gently separate the turkey skin from the meat. There is a membrane that’s holding the skin to the meat, so use a small sharp knife to release the skin when needed. Apply the herb butter between the skin and the meat and all over the skin too.
  • Place in the roasting pan, and roast the turkey legs unconvered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then cover with foil and continue roasting for 50-60 more minutes. The turkey legs are done when the internal temp reaches 170°F/77°C. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before removing the meat from the bones and slicing.

For the gravy:

  • Remove the drippings from the pan the turkey legs were cooked in, and measure out 4 tablespoons. Scrape the pan with a spatula to remove the brown bits (all the flavor is there!)
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Add the brown bits and the 4 tablespoons of drippings. Add ¼ cup of flour, and saute for 30 seconds. Then add 2-3 cups of stock, water, milk, or a combination of those liquids, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and serve.

Notes

  • Adding herb butter under the skin of the legs will keep the meat moist. Because the skin shrinks when it cooks, the meat will be exposed, but the butter is there to protect it! 
  • Roasting time can vary depending on the size of the turkey legs. Mine were about 2 pounds each. If yours are smaller than that, start checking them after 1 hour in the oven. 
  • You can use this recipe to roast full chicken legs (thigh + drumstick) too. The cook time will likely be a little bit longer. 
  • The key to tender turkey legs is cooking them for a long time!  
  • Technically, two large turkey legs are enough to serve four people, but if you have big eaters, you may want to plan for one leg per person. 
  • To make a gluten-free gravy, skip the flour. Instead, cook the drippings and broth until boiling, then stir in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water. 
  • To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 664kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 70g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 274mg | Sodium: 802mg | Potassium: 1075mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 7mg