This easy air fryer turkey legs recipe is super simple and fast to make. If you want to cook a couple pieces of extra dark meat this holiday season – this is a great air fryer recipe. Cook extra turkey legs for Thanksgiving, or for a game day main dish…. Grab your air fryer and let’s get frying!
This air fryer recipe is obviously a great way to make extra turkey legs for a Thanksgiving menu or for Christmas, but there are plenty of other times of year to enjoy it.
Turkey legs also make a great game day main dish for a crowd.
A trip to Disney has inspired many Disney copycat recipes on Sip Bite Go, including smoked turkey legs.
Why Air Fryer Turkey Legs are so easy to make…
- It’s fast! It only takes 15 – 20 minutes to air fry at 375 degrees F.
- Little prep work! Coat in butter or oil, top with seasoning then air fry. If you want to go the extra mile, make a seasoned butter to rub into the turkey legs.
- Not a lot of equipment needed! You just need an air fryer basket and an air fryer.
Try making this cranberry BBQ sauce…
New to cooking air fryer turkey legs? See my step by step video for beginners (scroll to bottom of page).
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make Air Fryer Turkey Legs.
- turkey leg
- butter, salted, melted
- bbq rub (any BBQ seasoning or poultry rub will work – see my review of the Traeger Fin and Feather Rub used in this recipe demo)
- some BBQ sauce to brush on if you want to make it a recipe similar to the BBQ brushed Disney turkey leg
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How to make Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Now I’ll walk you through it…
Quick look at Air Fryer Turkey Legs recipe
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and prepare turkey legs with seasoning.
- Air fry for 15 – 20 minutes until done. Internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Remove and rest for 15 – 20 minutes.
- Enjoy.
Detailed recipe steps
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Prep turkey legs for air frying. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season turkey legs by brushing them with butter or olive oil all over. Then, sprinkle with BBQ rub or poultry seasoning and massage it into the skin.
- Air fry turkey legs at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
- Check temperature and continue air frying turkey legs until done. You can flip them over if they aren’t done when you initially check them. The turkey leg done temp is when they measure 165 degrees F with an internal read meat thermometer. (In the Sip Bite Go demonstration, they were done in 19 minutes.) Your exact air fry turkey leg time will depend on how much they weigh and how many times you open the air fryer, letting hot air escape.
- Rest a few minutes, let cool, and enjoy.
For a side, try smoking jalapeno poppers…
FAQs
Yes, you can definitely cook turkey legs start to end in the air fryer… and get crispy skin!
Cook time can depend on how big the turkey legs are. For this crispy air fryer turkey leg recipe, it took ~20 minutes to finish cooking at 375 degrees F.
At the end of the day, plan on 15 – 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the turkey leg.
Set your air fryer to 350 degrees F and air fry flipping every 5 – 7 minutes until it’s heated thoroughly.
You can follow the same method for reheating smoked turkey legs in the air fryer too.
No, that’s not completely necessary. If you have the time and desire, then go ahead and brine away. With that said, I didn’t find it completely necessary for this air fryer recipe.
Turkey legs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
What you need to air fry food
- Air Fryer Machine: In Sip Bite Go recipe tutorials, you’ll see the higher end model, the Philips Airfryer XXL Digital. Other popular air fryers include the Ninja Foodi, NuWave, and Black & Decker.
- Air Fryer Accessories: Save time with reusable air fryer basket liners and this bundle of air fryer accessories.
Easy air fryer recipes
- Air fryer chicken wings
- Air fryer hot dogs
- Air fryer chocolate chip cookies
- Air fryer filet mignon
- Air fryer broccoli
- Air fryer onions
- Air fryer sweet potato tots
- Air fryer acorn squash
- Air fryer chicken patties
Are you a foodie, too?
Hey home chefs, hope that answers all your questions about Air Fryer Turkey Legs. Here are some more air fryer recipes that you will love!
Love ribs? Try my 321 rib method for another game day favorite…
Connect…
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Air Fryer Turkey Legs (Disney Copycat Recipe) | Sip Bite Go
Ingredients
- 1 turkey leg about 1 LB
- 1 tbsp butter salted, melted
- 1 tbsp bbq rub any BBQ seasoning or poultry rub
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Prep turkey legs for air frying. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season turkey legs by brushing them with butter or olive oil all over. Then, sprinkle with BBQ rub or poultry seasoning and massage it into the skin.
- Air fry turkey legs at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
- Check temperature and continue air frying turkey legs until done. You can flip them over if they aren’t done when you initially check them, but you don't have to. In my air fryer, they are beautifully browned all over even without flipping halfway. The turkey leg done temp is when they measure 165 degrees F with an internal read meat thermometer. (In the Sip Bite Go demonstration, they were done in 19 minutes.) Your exact air fry turkey leg time will depend on how much they weigh and how many times you open the air fryer, letting hot air escape.
- Rest 5-10 minutes, let cool and enjoy.
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