Learn how to make Traeger smoked turkey legs on your pellet grill with this easy, step-by-step recipe. Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly smoked, these turkey legs are a backyard favorite! Let’s fire up the grill and smoke ‘em to perfection.
For an appetizer, try my Smoked Potato Skins with Bacon.
INGREDIENTS
It’s easy to scale this recipe, use a 1:1 ratio to accommodate as many turkey legs as you want to smoke.
- 3 LB turkey legs about 1 LB each
- 3 tbsp BBQ rub or any or poultry seasoning
- 3 tsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter melted
See how to smoke a whole turkey.
HOW LONG TO SMOKE TURKEY LEGS?
It takes almost two hours to smoke 1-pound turkey legs directly on the grill grates. Since you’re cooking to temperature, the time will vary depending on the size of your turkey legs and the temperature you maintain in your smoker.
SHOULD I BRINE TURKEY LEGS?
Brining turkey legs is up to you. This recipe uses a no-brine method—just a dry rub that I let adhere for several hours in the fridge before smoking.
If you choose to brine your turkey legs, you’ll need kosher salt, cold water, sugar, peppercorns, and an acid like lemon or oranges. Mix these ingredients, then place your turkey legs in the brine using a container with a lid or a resealable plastic bag.
After 12–24 hours in the fridge, remove the turkey legs from the brine, pat them dry, and season before smoking.
HOW TO SMOKE TURKEY LEGS ON THE TRAEGER
Here’s the step-by-step recipe…
Step 1 – Preheat your grill – Set your Traeger, Pit Boss, or any pellet grill to 250°F.
Step 2 – Prep the turkey legs – Pat them dry with paper towels and brush with olive oil.
Step 3 – Season – Rub turkey legs with your favorite BBQ or poultry seasoning. Refrigerate up to overnight if time allows for extra flavor.
Step 4 – Smoke low and slow – Bring turkey legs to room temperature and smoke for about 90 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 150–155°F.
Step 5 – Baste – Brush turkey legs with melted butter.
Step 6 – Finish high heat – Increase the smoker temperature to 450°F and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165–175°F.
Step 7 – Rest and serve – Let the smoked turkey legs rest briefly before enjoying!
See how to cook smoked turkey thighs.
Also see the Sip Bite Go recipe for smoked turkey wings.
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I’d love to know how your version turned out! Drop a rating and leave a comment below to help the Sip Bite Go community. And if you snapped any photos, tag me on Instagram—I love sharing reader pics in my Stories!
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BEST Traeger Smoked Turkey Legs Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 LB turkey legs about 1 LB each
- 3 tbsp BBQ rub or any or poultry seasoning
- 3 tsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat your grill – Set your Traeger, Pit Boss, or any pellet grill to 250°F.
- Prep the turkey legs – Pat them dry with paper towels and brush with olive oil.
- Season – Rub turkey legs with your favorite BBQ or poultry seasoning. Refrigerate up to overnight if time allows for extra flavor.
- Smoke low and slow – Bring turkey legs to room temperature and smoke for about 90 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 150–155°F.
- Baste – Brush turkey legs with melted butter.
- Finish high heat – Increase the smoker temperature to 450°F and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165–175°F.
- Rest and serve – Let the smoked turkey legs rest briefly before enjoying!
Notes
Nutrition
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Pro tip: One of my go-to tricks for perfectly cooked food every time is using the right BBQ meat thermometers.
Randall says
Smoked turkey legs and chicken legs at the same time. Chick legs were done first of course,then the turkey legs. I’m here to tell you they were so good there were no leftovers.will definitely keep this recipe in our favorites. Thank you so much! Big r