Easy Roasted Turkey Legs
, Updated Jul 12, 2025
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Easy Roasted Turkey Legs – tender and juicy turkey for lovers of dark meat! This perfectly seasoned oven-roasted turkey leg recipe is a great alternative to roasting an entire turkey. And as anyone who has tried a juicy turkey leg at Disney World can attest, they are absolutely delicious.
Serve with my Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, Goose Fat Roast Potatoes or Air Fryer Baked Potatoes and my Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
I am a firm believer that Roast Turkey is not just for Christmas and Thanksgiving family dinners! In fact, I’d argue that this easy dinner works any time of the year and family members will be thrilled with the results.
But cooking the whole bird can be a real challenge, which is why I was excited to discover giant turkey legs for sale at my local supermarket recently.
A whole turkey leg easily feeds four to six and is super economical, perfect for small Thanksgiving gatherings or any small holiday dinner, rather than breaking out a big bird. Even better? You will be amazed how incredibly easy it is to prepare!
Forget brining, basting and getting hot and bothered about roasting the perfect turkey! These tender turkey legs are a great option if you are serving a smaller group of dark meat lovers.
PS: If you prefer white meat, check out my easy Roast Turkey Crown recipe! For a quick alternative to whole roast turkey, take a look at my Turkey Roll Recipe.
Here’s what you will need
- Turkey legs – my 1.6 kg (3 ½ pound) turkey leg came sliced into leg and thigh portions
- Olive oil
- Seasoning rub – salt, pepper, sugar, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, dried parsley and lemon zest
- Onions, rosemary sprigs and lemons – these provide a trivet for the turkey legs to cook on
- Digital thermometer to make sure they are cooked to the perfect (safe) temperature.
- A good carving set
How To Roast Turkey Legs
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
- Rub the turkey legs with olive oil. Combine all the ingredients for the rub and then sprinkle liberally over the turkey on both sides.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a roasting tin with baking paper or foil and spread the onion, rosemary and lemon slices over it.
- Place the turkey leg on top, skin side down and roast in your preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn the legs over, skin side up, and continue to cook for a further 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 75°C (167°F). This method is a great way to achieve the perfect mix of crispy skin and succulent, juicy meat.
- Rest the turkey, loosely covered with aluminum foil, for 20-30 minutes. Slice and serve as your main dish with your favorite sides!
How do I know the turkey legs are done?
The best – and safest! – way to tell when your turkey legs are cooked to perfection is to check the temperature using a digital thermometer.
Insert the probe in the thickest part of the leg, avoiding the bone, and check it has reached a minimum of 75°C (167°F). The juices should run clear – another indicator that the turkey is cooked.
Roasting time will vary depending on the size of the turkey legs and the efficiency of your oven, so do check earlier if you are cooking smaller turkey legs.
Lucy’s Pro Tip
Perfectly juicy turkey needs resting! Rest the turkey legs before serving to allow the meat fibers to relax and juices to redistribute. If you carve the turkey immediately the meat will be tough!
Serving suggestions
Serve your roast turkey legs with your favorite sides or a simple green salad! Here are some more suggestions to round off your meal:
- Lazy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Wild Rice Dressing with Sausage
- Creamy Sprouts With Bacon
- Best Greek Lemon Potatoes
- Perfectly Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Turkey Leftovers
Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Leftover dark turkey meat is great in soups, curries, pies and pasta!
- Easy Leftover Turkey Pie
- Cozy Turkey Stew Using Leftovers!
- Leftover Turkey Casserole
- Leftover Turkey Soup – Ready in 30 Minutes!
- Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta
Check out our other turkey recipes
HAVE YOU MADE MY ROAST TURKEY LEGS RECIPE? Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes and make my day!
Easy Roasted Turkey Legs
Video
Ingredients
Seasoning
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 lemon , zest only
For the turkey
- 3 ½ pounds (1.3kg) turkey leg and thigh portions
- 3 tbsp olive oil , or as needed
- 1 lemon , sliced into rounds (use the zested lemon)
- 1 red onion , sliced into rounds
- Few sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Rub the turkey with olive oil. Combine all the ingredients for the rub and then sprinkle liberally over the turkey on both sides.1 tbsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp dried parsley, ½ tbsp garlic powder, ½ tbsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp ground pepper, 1 lemon, 3 ½ pounds (1.3kg) turkey leg and thigh portions, 3 tbsp olive oil
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C. Line a roasting tin with baking paper or foil and spread the onion, rosemary and lemon slices over it. Place the turkey leg on top, skin side down and roast for 30 minutes.1 lemon, 1 red onion, Few sprigs fresh rosemary
- Turn the legs over, skin side up, and continue to cook for a further 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 75°C (167°F).
- Rest the turkey, loosely covered with foil, for 20-30 minutes. Slice and serve!
Notes
The best – and safest! – way to tell when your turkey legs are cooked to perfection is to check the temperature using a digital thermometer. Insert the probe in the thickest part of the leg, avoiding the bone, and check it has reached a minimum of 75°C (167°F). The juices should run clear – another indicator that the turkey is cooked. Roasting times will vary depending on the size of the turkey legs and the efficiency of your oven so do check earlier if you are cooking smaller turkey legs.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
I too love turkey and it is such an economical meat, especially whole legs. As a retired couple a roast is a luxury and small joints not cheap.
I got a whole huge leg of turkey for £5.34 and have deboned the drumstick to stuff. As it is so big should I be slow roasting it and if so for how long per Kg. It weighs 700g, deboned and unstuffed.
Hi Dorothy – the best way to check this would be to use a meat thermometer.
Excellent, the Turkey remained moist and the flavour was delicious, I am sure I will be looking at your other receipts.
I made this recipe. it is super easy and very tasty.
make sure not to overcook.
This was wonderful. Very easy to make and so good. I had just the leg no thighs but just so good. I love legs.
So happy you like it 😘
So…the family has sworn off turkey for the holidays. I like turkey and I love your recipe, which I make for myself. Why is it they all want some of MY turkey!!!!
That’s so great to hear 😀
great flavor.
I baked 2 turkey legs….probably should have cut the time down a bit but it very delicious.
will save this recipe for another time….so easy
Very flavorful turkey legs, with healthy ingredients.
Really delicious method for a turkey meal. Using the drippings and fat made a delicious gravy too. I roasted a 1.25 lb leg and it took 2 1/4 hours to cook. (It was still pink at 1 1/2 hours)