For the turkey drumsticks, I used two 12-ounce drumsticks. Drumsticks tend to be more widely available around the holidays, so you can purchase some and freeze them for later if your local grocery store or local butcher doesn’t carry them year-round (just make sure to thaw frozen drumsticks before cooking). You can buy smaller drumsticks or even larger ones, but keep in mind that larger turkey legs may not fit in your air fryer (it depends on the size of your air fryer, too). We used giant turkey legs when first testing this recipe, which ended up burning in the air fryer because they were so large that they touched the top of the basket. To make the air fryer turkey rub, gather unsalted butter (or olive oil), garlic powder, onion powder, paprika (or smoked paprika), kosher salt, and black pepper.
Oil: We used a little bit of butter in this recipe to achieve extra crispy skin, but you can also substitute olive oil if desired. If you’d like to skip the oil/butter altogether, feel free to do so. Just keep in mind that the best way to get that super crispy skin is with the help of some fat. Roasted garlic butter: If you’re a fan of garlic, you’ll absolutely love my Roasted Garlic Butter recipe for a great alternative to the butter in this recipe. Substitute roasted garlic butter for extra caramelized, roasted garlic flavor. You’ll need about a tablespoon of garlic butter for two turkey legs. You can still combine it with other spices, but you’ll probably need to omit the garlic and salt since those are already included in the garlic butter recipe. Turkey seasoning mix: For an alternative seasoning, try my delicious Turkey Rub Recipe. This dry rub combines a number of yummy seasonings that perfectly complement the flavors of turkey. Paprika: You can change up the flavor profile of this easy air fryer turkey legs recipe by using smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika. Use whichever you prefer or have on hand, as it’s bound to be delicious either way! You can also add in some chili powder for an extra kick of spice. Poultry Seasoning: If you are short on time and just want to get to air frying, you can also use your favorite poultry seasoning as a substitute for the spices that I used in this recipe.
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: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F and lightly spray the basket with oil spray or brush with a little oil. Place turkey drumsticks in air fryer and cook for about 5-7 minutes until heated through.
Here’s how to cook pre-smoked turkey legs in an air fryer in only 10 minutes:
For an Easy Game Day dinner: Everyone knows that game day food shouldn’t require a fork and knife! What’s more fun (and delicious) than a handheld turkey leg for a game-day party? To complete the spread, serve these crispy turkey legs with some chips and dip, like my Guacamole or No Sour Cream Blue Cheese Dip. Keep your air fryer on and make my Air Fryer Mexican Corn, or try my Mexican Corn Salad for a cold option. Enjoy for a small Thanksgiving: If you’re having a small Thanksgiving dinner and don’t want to prepare an entire turkey but still want Thanksgiving turkey, make this easy recipe instead! Turkey and stuffing is a classic combo, so why not whip up my Wild Rice Stuffing or Mushroom Stuffing? Or, for a rich, classic side dish, serve my Garlic Rosemary Mashed Potatoes or Smashed Fingerling Potatoes. If you’re looking for a lighter option, make my festive Butternut Squash Salad to balance everything out. Add to your weeknight meal rotation: You definitely don’t need a party or special occasion to make these yummy, air-fried turkey legs. For quick weeknight dinners, throw them in the air fryer and serve them alongside one of my hand-picked Fall Salad Recipes for a complete meal. If a roasted veggie is more your thing, you can also serve this recipe with one of my many Vegetable Side Dishes. Some of my favorites are Maple Roasted Carrots, this Easy Green Bean Recipe, and Asparagus and Mushroom Saute.
Remove from the fridge in advance: We tested this recipe both ways, but if you do have the time, take your turkey legs out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you plan to cook them. This will allow them to warm up a little, making your job easier when applying the butter rub. If you forgot to take them out of the fridge in advance, you can use olive oil instead of butter, which will be easier to spread. Either way works, but we found that it is easier to spread the seasoned butter on a not-so-cold turkey leg. Size matters: There is a direct correlation between the size of the turkey legs and cooking time. Smaller drumsticks, also called lean turkey legs, will have a shorter cook time than large turkey legs. Avoid purchasing really large drumsticks, as they may not fit in your air fryer basket. When we first tried air frying turkey legs, we ended up burning them because they were so large that they were touching the top of the air fryer. So, check to make sure that your turkey legs fit inside the basket properly before cooking. Don’t overcrowd the basket: As with all air fryer recipes, it’s important never to overcrowd your basket, as this prolongs the cooking time and results in unevenly cooked food. For best results, depending on the size of your turkey legs, you may need to air fry them in batches. Pat dry: Make sure to pat dry each drumstick thoroughly before applying the rub. This will ensure you’ll get that sought-after, crispy, golden brown skin. Check internal temperature: Take the guesswork out of cooking these air fryer turkey drumsticks by using an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature after cooking. I use and love this one (affiliate link.) After cooking, check that the thickest part of the turkey leg registers 165 degrees F. Let them rest: Don’t skip this step! Once the turkey legs are cooked, cover them loosely with foil and let them rest for 10-15 minutes. This will give them time to reabsorb any lost liquid, resulting in a juicy turkey leg instead of dry turkey legs.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
The air fryer is such a handy tool for quickly cooking all of your favorite meats, veggies, and more without having to turn on your oven. If you’d like to get more use out of your air fryer, be sure to try one of my tried-and-true air fryer recipes below:
Air Fried Turkey Bacon Cornish Hens in The Air Fryer Air Fried Chicken Legs Asparagus in Air Fryer
If you try this Air Fryer Turkey Leg recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
