These instant pot turkey legs are perfect for an easy dinner any time of the year or for your Thanksgiving turkey. They are a lot easier to make than a whole turkey!
This recipe is a great way to cook a turkey drumstick. It uses spices and aromatics to add flavor and chicken broth to keep the meat moist. You will love this delicious, juicy turkey leg for a quick weeknight dinner!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe is easy to make and can be completed in less than an hour. The end result is a juicy, flavorful turkey leg. The Instant Pot keeps the meat moist, and the spice rub adds a nice flavor.
Equipment Used
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I use a 6-quart instant pot for this recipe because the turkey cooks in its own juice under high pressure and comes out so flavorful.
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The instant pot is an electric pressure cooker that cooks under pressure, so all I need to do is throw all my ingredients in, and it does all the work. 6-quart was perfect for my turkey legs but if you use a smaller size, it might not fit depending on how large your turkey legs are.
Ingredients Used
- Turkey legs: You can buy fresh turkey legs from your local grocery store or from a farmer's market.
- Spices: For this recipe, I use my homemade chicken seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt. You can substitute it with your favorite poultry seasoning.
- Aromatics: The aromatics used in this recipe are onion and garlic, and they give this dish a fantastic flavor profile.
- Olive oil: I prefer olive oil for this recipe, but you could also use avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- Chicken broth: The broth gives this recipe an excellent flavor. You could also use chicken stock or turkey broth as well.
- Arrowroot powder: This ingredient is optional and is used for making turkey gravy to serve with your turkey legs.
How To Make This Recipe
- Chop the onions and garlic. Wash and pat dry the turkey legs with a paper towel.
- In a large bowl, mix the spices together. Liberally rub all over the turkey legs.
- Turn the instant pot pressure cooker to the sauté setting. Add the chopped onions and garlic and stir for a few minutes. Add the turkey legs and brown for a few minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the instant pot to deglaze.
- Press the manual button on your Instant Pot and set the cook time to 20 minutes on high pressure.
- When done, let it do a natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure by turning the knob at the top to the venting position.
- Take out the turkey legs and set them aside, then turn the instant pot back to sauté mode.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tsp of arrowroot powder and 1 tbsp of water, then mix together.
- Pour it into the instant pot and stir quickly. It will begin to thicken after a few minutes. Pour the gravy over the turkey legs and serve.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftover turkey legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
You can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to three months. Just put the turkey legs on a sheet pan and freeze them for about two hours. Then you can transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer-ready Ziploc bag.
If they are frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator the night before reheating. Then, reheat in the instant pot or on the stovetop after adding some water, sauce, stock, or reserved pan drippings.
What can I eat this recipe with?
You can pair this versatile instant pot turkey leg recipe with many side dishes. For example, try serving it with mashed cauliflower, green beans, cranberries, or brussels sprouts.
If you are looking for an easy weeknight meal, this recipe goes well with cauliflower rice, roasted zucchini, or a side salad. You can also serve with a bed of sauteed greens for a light and healthy meal. For leftover turkey, you can make this Leftover Turkey Stir Fry or Nigerian Turkey Stew.
Tips and variations
- If you cannot find a full turkey leg package at your local grocery store, you can usually find chicken legs, thighs, or even turkey wings that are a good substitute.
- Be sure to check your turkey's temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure that it is cooked properly and not in the danger zone.
- If you want your turkey to have a crispy skin, you can cook it in the oven on high heat for a few minutes.
- If you are making this recipe for Thanksgiving or another holiday, you can easily double or triple the recipe to accommodate a larger crowd.
- Make sure to let your turkey legs rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting into them. This will allow the juices to redistribute and make for a juicier final product.
- If you would like to add some more fresh herbs to this recipe, you can add rosemary, bay leaves, sage, or fresh thyme.
Frequently asked questions
The turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in an oven set to no lower than 325 degrees F. A pre-cooked smoked turkey leg will likely require 6 to 8 minutes to reheat each pound.
The easiest way to get turkey legs to fall off the bone is to cook them in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. This will ensure that they are cooked long enough to break down the collagen and make the meat tender.
You should avoid overcooking the turkey since nobody likes dry turkey! Picking relatively small pieces and roasting them for a short period of time at a high temperature is the key to preventing overcooking your turkey. Allowing the juices to settle for a few minutes before digging in will also help.
Related Recipes
Check out these other turkey recipes!
Recipe
Instant Pot Turkey Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 turkey legs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp chicken seasoning
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder optional, for gravy
Instructions
- Chop the onions and garlic.
- Wash and pat dry the turkey legs with a paper towel.
- In a large bowl, mix the spices together. Liberally rub all over the turkey legs.
- Turn the instant pot pressure cooker to the sauté setting.
- Add the chopped onions and garlic and stir for a few minutes. Add the turkey legs and brown for a few minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the instant pot to deglaze.
- Press the manual button on your Instant Pot and set the cook time to 20 minutes on high pressure.
- When done, let it do a natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure by turning the knob at the top to the venting position.
- Take out the turkey legs and set them aside, then turn the instant pot back to sauté mode.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tsp of arrowroot powder and 1 tbsp of water, then mix together.
- Pour it into the instant pot and stir quickly. It will begin to thicken after a few minutes.
- Pour the gravy over the turkey legs and serve.
Notes
- If you cannot find a full turkey leg package at your local grocery store, you can usually find chicken legs, thighs, or even turkey wings that are a good substitute.
- Be sure to check your turkey's temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure that it is cooked properly and not in the danger zone.
- If you want your turkey to have a crispy skin, you can cook it in the oven on high heat for a few minutes.
- If you are making this recipe for Thanksgiving or another holiday, you can easily double or triple the recipe to accommodate a larger crowd.
- Make sure to let your turkey legs rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting into them. This will allow the juices to redistribute and make for a juicier final product.
- If you would like to add some more fresh herbs to this recipe, you can add rosemary, bay leaves, sage, or fresh thyme.
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