I am sharing my Gammy's recipe for how to cook turkey legs and let me tell you, this meal can't get any easier!
Just throw some turkey legs in the slow cooker and top them with an easy homemade sauce, and in a few hours you'll be enjoying a delicious dinner!
Jump to:
💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe
Guys you're going to love this recipe! It is from my Gammy - not Grammy. 🙂 I am not sure why, but we called my grandmother 'Gammy'. It may have been a carryover from my older cousins, I suppose!
My mother still has some of Gammy's recipes, and it is cool when I go back to my parents' house for a visit and see the ones that she wrote out by hand.
There is something so personal about those handwritten recipes. I guess we lose some of that now in the digital age, but the trade-off is that we can exchange recipes and share ideas so much more easily with all the technology!
These juicy turkey legs are fall-off-the-bone tender. Once you've learned how to cook turkey legs in your crock pot, it will be an easy go-to main dish for a weeknight meal! It's like being able to have a mini Thanksgiving dinner anytime, lol. Especially if you are like me and really appreciate dark meat.
I've been making whole chicken in the slow cooker for years, but my mother makes turkey legs in the crock pot, and I found out recently that the sauce was a recipe from my grandmother!
In any case, these turkey legs are SOOOOOO good! I actually had a hard time getting them ready for the photo because the turkey meat was so tender, the legs kept falling apart as I was trying to position them on the plate.
More About Turkey Legs
Turkey legs are the drumsticks or lower portions of a turkey's legs and are a popular part of the turkey that people enjoy eating. They sometimes can consist of turkey thighs and drumsticks still attached together, although in this recipe we are using the drumstick only.
Turkey legs are known for their dark meat, which has a distinct flavor and texture compared to the turkey breast, which is white meat.
Using the slow cooker is one of my favorite ways to cook turkey, because it frees up the oven for yummy side dishes. This can be really handy especially when preparing meals during the holiday season, since everyone in my family expects to enjoy a few special side dishes alongside the turkey!
Wondering why some people prefer to eat turkey legs over other parts of the bird? Here are a few reasons:
- The higher fat content in the dark meat contributes to a richer, more flavorful meat.
- Turkey legs tend to be juicier and less likely to dry out during cooking, making them a preferred choice for those who want a tender and moist meat.
- Turkey legs are usually larger and more substantial in terms of serving size, making them a satisfying option for those with hearty appetites.
- Some people find that cooking turkey legs is simpler than dealing with the whole bird or specific cuts like the breast, which can be more challenging to prepare without drying out.
🦃 Thanksgiving Variation
I have had many readers ask for a version of this recipe that is less barbecue-y and more Thanksgiving-y. 🙂 Below I have outlined instructions, and I also included them in the notes section of the recipe card for easy printing!
Instead of making the sauce, all you will need is poultry seasoning (use my easy recipe for homemade poultry seasoning or buy it pre-made at the store) and chicken broth.
Simply rub the poultry seasoning all over your turkey legs. For 6 turkey legs, I used about 3 tablespoons, but you can use more or less as desired.
Place the turkey legs in the crock pot and pour in about 1 cup of chicken broth (it isn't important to be accurate, you just want to provide a little moisture for cooking).
Cook on low for for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4.
I recommend broiling the turkey legs for a few minutes prior to serving to get a nice color and crispy skin. Be careful removing the legs from the crock pot - it's best to use tongs. They will be very tender and have a tendency to fall apart which is good for eating but makes it hard to transfer them.
Broil for 3-5 minutes (watch carefully to prevent burning!), then serve.
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- turkey drumsticks
- ketchup
- brown sugar
- yellow mustard
- vinegar
- paprika
- salt and pepper
Easy stuff, right? I bet all you will need to pick up are the turkey legs!
❔ FAQs
How do you know when turkey legs are done?
When the turkey is done, a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the slow-cooked turkey leg will register 165 degrees.
If you do not have a meat thermometer, insert a knife into the thickest part of the cooked meat and juices should run clear.
Can you eat undercooked turkey?
Definitely not! Invest in a good quality instant read meat thermometer. They aren't that expensive and you'll know your meal is ready to serve to your family.
Do you rinse turkey before cooking?
The USDA does not recommend rinsing poultry before cooking. It can easily spread bacteria. Just pat it dry with paper towels prior to cooking.
How do you reheat turkey legs?
You can microwave them, but I'd recommend putting them in a covered casserole dish and reheating them in a preheated oven at 350 until the temp is about 155 degrees.
Of course, that is if you even have leftovers. My family loves this dinner and we rarely have any left over!
🔪 Instructions
- Place the turkey legs in the bottom of the slow cooker and season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
- Combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and paprika in a medium bowl and mix well.
- Pour the sauce over the turkey legs.
- Cover and cook on low heat. Check the internal temperature to be sure they are cooked. Then enjoy!
How to Cook Turkey Legs Perfectly Every Time
- This crock pot turkey recipe is very forgiving, so don't worry! The slow cooker and the barbecue sauce work together so that your turkey legs will not easily dry out.
- The turkey legs are done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick registers 165 degrees F.
- To get that delicious golden brown crispy skin, place the slow cooked turkey legs on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Make sure to include some of the juices for when you reheat!
- Reheat the leftovers in a 350 degree F oven in a covered casserole dish along with some of the juices until very warm (20-30 minutes). You can also microwave them for 1-2 minutes at a time, rotating the legs in between, but the oven method will give you the best results.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
If you are looking for a way to prepare your turkey legs that is a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, you might want a version of this recipe that is a little less barbecue-y.
In that case, season your turkey leg with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Then place them in the slow cooker and pour about 1 cup of chicken stock into the slow cooker. Then cook as directed in this recipe, on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
If desired, you can also chop a medium onion and put it in the bottom of the slow cooker before you place the drumsticks in, as they will provide even more flavor.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Now that you know how to cook turkey legs in your slow cooker, what are the best side dishes to serve with them? Here are some suggestions:
- Potato and Grilled Corn Salad - love the crunch that grilled corn gives this salad!
- A nice baked russet or even sweet potato is always a great side for crock pot turkey legs. I like to bake them in the oven or even air fry them! You might want to try these delicious air fried baked sweet potatoes!
- Boston Baked Beans - always a delicious side dish!
- And bread.... you'll definitely need some bread to sop up all that good sauce, right? Check out Slow Cooker Olive and Parmesan Bread or Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Bread. Both are super easy and SO GOOD!
- Dessert? Well of course! This Lemonade Pie with a Sugar Cone Crust will have everyone smiling at the end of your meal!
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
How to Cook Turkey Legs
📋 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Ingredients
- 6 turkey legs
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar (loosely packed)
- 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (use regular paprika if you don' have this handy)
Instructions
- Season the turkey legs with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker.6 turkey legs, salt and pepper
- Combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and paprika in a medium bowl and mix well.1 cup ketchup, ⅓ cup water, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard, 3 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Pour the sauce over the turkey legs, and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Typically there is no need to worry about drying out your turkey legs. The slow cooker and the barbecue sauce work together to keep the meat tender and moist. However, due to differences in slow cooker temperatures, the first time you make this, check your turkey legs at the 4 hour mark to make sure they are not drying out.
- Check doneness with a meat thermometer, It should read 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick.
- Before serving, you may want to place the slow cooked turkey legs on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes to get a nice brown color and crispy skin.
- In a hurry? Just use your own premade barbecue sauce, or even store-bought barbecue sauce!
- Store leftovers for a couple of days, along with some of the juices from the crock pot, in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Oven reheating is best. Place the turkey legs with juices in a covered casserole dish in a 350 degree F oven until very warm (20-30 minutes).
- If you need to reheat quickly, you can use the microwave, 1-2 minutes at a time, rotating the legs in between, until warm enough
- THANKSGIVING VARIATION
- Instead of making the sauce, use 3 tablespoon poultry seasoning (see my easy recipe for homemade poultry seasoning or buy it pre-made at the store) and about 1 cup chicken broth.
- Rub the poultry seasoning all over the turkey legs. You can use more or less seasoning as desired.
- Place the turkey legs in the crock pot and add the chicken broth (the amount of chicken broth doesn't need to be exact).
- Cook on low for for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4.
- Optional but recommended: Broil for 3-5 minutes (watch carefully to prevent burning!), then serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in October 2013, but was republished with tips and step by step photos in August 2019 and again in October 2023.
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!
Happy cooking!
Eileen Ann Kelly
My son had to miss out family Thanksgiving celebration this year. He loves turkey drumsticks and I found your recipe. I loved making these in the slow cooker. He said they were the best turkey legs he's ever had and he has tried many different recipes. So tender and easy. I did put them under the broiler as you suggested which put them over the top, yummy.
shelby
I always love the big turkey legs at fairgrounds, but never ever thought about making them at home until I saw this recipe. The best part, the crockpot made it so easy and that sauce is incredible! This is perfect when you don't want to cook a whole turkey. It is a definite keeper!