These Slow Cooker Turkey Legs are so flavorful, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender, they’ll quickly become a family favorite! They pair well with just about any side dish and are perfect for whenever you need a mostly hands-off dinner idea for busy nights.
Recipe Summary
- Flavor Profile: Savory, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender with simple pantry seasonings.
- Best For: Easy weeknight dinners, meal prep, or a low-fuss holiday main.
- Cooking Method: Slow cooker with a quick broil for crispy skin.
- Pro Tip: Pat the legs dry and cook until 175–190°F for perfectly tender dark meat every time.
- Serve With: Mashed potatoes, honey butter corn, roasted veggies, or use leftovers in turkey sliders.
If you’re a fan of my popular slow cooker chicken legs, then you’ve got to give this turkey leg recipe a try! It’s perfect if you’re looking for something a little heartier, as turkey drumsticks are inherently larger and meatier than chicken drumsticks.
And cooking turkey legs in a slow cooker is easier than oven-roasting a whole turkey, so if you’re in the mood for turkey without the fuss, this recipe is exactly what you need!
Plus, you don’t have to wait until the holidays to enjoy some home-cooked turkey. If your family is anything like mine, they will beg you to make these all year long! For more tasty turkey recipes, check out these Asian turkey meatballs and this air fryer turkey bacon next.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Minimal Prep: Once you season the turkey legs, the slow cooker does the rest of the work, making this recipe perfect for busy families.
- Perfect Flavor & Texture: If you want to know how to cook a turkey leg so it turns out juicy and tender instead of dry and tough, the crockpot is the answer! Cooking low and slow locks in moisture and allows the meat to soak up the flavor of the seasonings.
- Versatile: These turkey legs are great for any occasion, from weeknight dinners to weekend gatherings. Plus, they pair well with almost any side dish and make terrific leftovers.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Turkey Legs: You’ll need about 2 pounds of turkey legs. Note that this recipe also works with wings, so if you’ve got those on hand instead of legs, you can use them to make slow cooker turkey wings.
- Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings stick and adds flavor to this turkey legs recipe. Feel free to use avocado oil if preferred.
- Seasonings: A simple combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper creates an amazing flavor.
- Water: Keeps the meat moist and prevents it from sticking to the slow cooker. You can use slow cooker chicken broth instead to add even more flavor.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy Kick: Add a bit of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the seasoning blend for a little heat.
- BBQ Flavor: Replace the Italian seasoning with smoked paprika and brush the turkey legs with BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Thanksgiving Turkey Legs: Skip the fuss of cooking the whole bird and make crockpot drumsticks instead! Simply swap the Italian seasoning for poultry seasoning or use a blend of sage, rosemary, and thyme for that classic Thanksgiving flavor.
How to Make Turkey Legs in a Slow Cooker
To get started making this turkey drumstick recipe, lightly coat your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 1: Make the seasoning mixture. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and stir to combine.
Step 2: Brush turkey legs with oil. Use a basting brush or your hands to coat each side of the turkey legs with olive oil.
Step 3: Rub with the seasoning mixture. Once coated with the olive oil, rub the seasoning blend onto both sides of the turkey legs.
Step 4: Add turkey legs to the slow cooker. Place the seasoned turkey legs into the crockpot, then pour in the water.
Step 5: Cook. Cover and cook the turkey legs until they are tender.
Step 6: Broil. Transfer the turkey legs to a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for a few minutes to crisp up the skin. This step is optional, but I highly recommend it!
Expert Tips
- Use the right size slow cooker: I recommend using at least a 6-quart crockpot so that you have enough room to fit the turkey legs without overcrowding.
- Pat them dry: Use a paper towel to pat the turkey legs dry to help the olive oil and seasonings stick.
- Check for doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey legs are fully cooked. For safety, the internal temperature should read at least 165°, but it’s recommended to cook dark meat to 175° to 190°F for the best texture.
- Storing and reheating: Store leftover turkey legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Place them in a baking dish with a little broth to keep them moist and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
- These turkey legs are great with potatoes! Try them with these purple mashed potatoes or these hasselback potatoes for a stunning side dish.
- You can’t go wrong with a side of veggies. Roasted green beans and honey sriracha Brussels sprouts are great options.
- Tear off your leftover turkey leg meat and use it to make these leftover turkey sliders for an easy lunch!
Recipe FAQs
It takes about 3-4 hours on high and 6-8 hours on low to make turkey legs in a slow cooker.
No, there’s no need to sear them first. Just season them, then place them right into the crockpot.
Yes! First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Season the turkey legs and place them in a roasting pan with ½ cup of water or broth. Cover with foil and bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F. To crisp up the skin, remove the foil for the last 15-20 minutes or broil for a couple of minutes at the end of cooking.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs turkey legs About 6
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup water
- Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Brush the turkey legs with olive oil and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the dried seasonings and stir until well mixed.
- Rub the entire mixture over each side of the turkey legs.
- Transfer the seasoned legs into the prepared slow cooker.
- Pour 2 cups of water in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook for 3-4 hours high or 6-8 hours low.
- Remove legs from slow cooker and transfer to serving platter.
- Optional: Place under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the skin, if desired.
- Serve with fresh parsley as garnish.
Notes
- If the turkey legs are wet when you remove them from the package, pat them dry with a paper towel before coating with the oil and seasonings.
- Ensure your slow cooker is large enough to comfortably fit the turkey legs so that they cook properly.
- The turkey legs are safe to eat when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick reads at least 165°F, however a range of 175°-190°F is ideal for more tender dark meat.
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