Air Fryer Turkey Leg Recipe (Quick, Easy & Delicious!)
, Updated Sep 22, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Turkey Legs – discover the secret to perfectly cooked and delicious turkey legs using an air fryer. With a crispy skin and succulent juicy meat, this easy recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
Serve with my perfectly crispy Air Fryer roast potatoes!
Roasting a whole turkey can be a bit of a chore, especially if you are cooking for a small gathering. Who wants to deal with turkey leftovers for days on end if there’s just two of you? Making air fryer turkey legs on the other hand is so simple and quick that you can cook them any time you like.
No need to wait until Thanksgiving (or Christmas) to enjoy perfectly juicy tender turkey – you can literally serve these air fried turkey legs on a weeknight, that’s how easy this recipe is. Let’s take a look at what you will need.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Turkey drumsticks can be big, like crazy large. So the first thing to do before anything else is to check they fit your air fryer basket comfortably! By the way “turkey legs” actually refers to the thigh and drumstick but for most people turkey leg means drumstick, and that’s what we are using here.
- Turkey legs – mine were just over 2 pounds each (about 940g) and fit in a dual air fryer basket easily but I would have had to cook them one at a time in a smaller air fryer. You can use fresh or frozen and thawed turkey legs.
- Olive oil plus sea salt flakes and black pepper to season
- Mayonnaise – in this recipe I am using mayonnaise instead of a a seasoned butter rub to flavor and baste the turkey. It is easier to spread than butter and makes a killer good turkey leg!
- Dijon mustard and honey are mixed into the mayo for added yumminess.
- Smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, Cajun or poultry seasoning and Italian seasoning.
How to make Air Fryer 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!
- Take the turkey legs out of the fridge at least half an hour before cooking. Pat dry using paper towels, brush with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Loosen the skin from the legs as much as you can without tearing.
- Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, honey, paprika, sugar, Cajun and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Loosen the skin from the legs and spread some of the flavored mayo under the skin.
- Preheat the air fryer for at least 5 minutes at 350°F / 180°C. Place turkey legs to the basket, spaced slightly apart if possible to allow for best air circulation. Cook for 10 minutes per side and then start basting the legs with the remaining flavored mayo.
- Continue to cook for a further 10-15 minutes or until the legs are a deep golden brown and the internal temperature is at least 165°F / 75°C when checked at the thickest part with a meat thermometer (I swear by my Thermapen). Please note that the cook times will vary between air fryer models and the size / weight of your turkey legs.
- Remove the turkey legs from the air fryer and place on a platter, covered loosely with aluminum foil. For perfectly tender meat, make sure to rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute through the turkey legs.
- Serve with mash, roast potatoes, mac and cheese and all your favorite side dishes.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- How do you know if a turkey leg is fully cooked? A meat thermometer is the safest and best way to check but you can also do some visual checks. The meat should be piping hot all the way through and the juices should run clear when you pierce the turkey leg with a carving fork. There should be no pink meat when you slice into the the turkey leg.
- Is turkey done at 165°F (75°C)? The guidelines recommend that turkey is cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) HOWEVER dark turkey meat can be cooked until it reaches a higher temperature of 180°F (82°C). Do keep in mind that the temperature will continue to rise slightly while the meat rests!
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F /180°C for 7-10 minutes.
You will also enjoy these air fryer recipes
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Cornbread Recipe
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Duck
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Brie and Cranberry Bites
HAVE YOU MADE MY AIR FRYER 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!
Air Fryer Turkey Leg Recipe (Quick, Easy & Delicious!)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 turkey drumsticks (2 pounds / 900g each)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- sea salt flakes and pepper to season
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise , full fat
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning or poultry seasoning
- ½ tsp brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Take the turkey legs out of the fridge at least half an hour before cooking. Pat dry using paper towels, brush with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.2 turkey drumsticks, sea salt flakes and pepper to season, 1 tbsp olive oil
- Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, honey, paprika, sugar, Cajun and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Loosen the skin from the legs and spread some of the flavored mayo under the skin.4 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning or poultry seasoning, 1/2 tsp brown sugar, 2 turkey drumsticks
- Preheat the air fryer for at least 5 minutes at 350°F / 180°C. Place turkey legs to the basket, spaced slightly apart if possible to allow for best air circulation. Cook for 10 minutes per side and then start basting the legs with the remaining flavored mayo.
- Continue to cook for a further 10-15 minutes or until the legs are a deep golden brown and the internal temperature is at least 165°F / 75°C when checked at the thickest part with a meat thermometer (I swear by my Thermapen). Please note that the cook times will vary between air fryer models and the size / weight of your turkey legs.
- Remove the turkey legs from the air fryer and place on a platter, covered loosely with aluminum foil. For perfectly tender meat, make sure to rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute through the turkey legs.
- Serve with mash, roast potatoes, mac and cheese and all your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- How do you know if a turkey leg is fully cooked? A meat thermometer is the safest and best way to check but you can also do some visual checks. The meat should be piping hot all the way through and the juices should run clear when you pierce the turkey leg with a carving fork. There should be no pink meat when you slice into the the turkey leg.
- Is turkey done at 165°F (75°C)? The guidelines recommend that turkey is cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) HOWEVER dark turkey meat can be cooked until it reaches a higher temperature of 180°F (82°C). Do keep in mind that the temperature will continue to rise slightly while the meat rests.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
Im not seeing mustard in the ingredients how much do I add!
Hi Mary – it’s 1 tbsp of Dijon mustard, so sorry for leaving that out and I’ve fixed it now. Thanks very much for pointing it out and hope you enjoyed the dish!