Air Fryer Turkey Legs
These Air Fryer Turkey Legs are a great new twist on a classic holiday feast. They’re loaded with zesty flavor and served with easy stuffing and cranberry sauce.
These air fryer turkey legs are an easy weeknight dinner that will become a staple that your family will love.
Halloween is almost here, and after that we’ll be starting to think about our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables. We love to serve turkey at both, but we like to switch things up. That’s why we love making these turkey legs, they’re an unexpected twist on the classic dish.
Table of contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It features a dry rub that’s zesty and sweet.
- It’s served with classic holiday favorites, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
- It’s an easy recipe that everyone loves.
- It’s an unexpected twist on a holiday classic.
🛒Ingredients
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This easy recipe only uses a few simple ingredients that you’ll find easily at your local grocery store. We’re showcasing the ingredients that really make this recipe pop here. You’ll find the complete list of ingredients along with amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Turkey legs
- Garlic powder and salt
- Seasoned pepper
- Brown sugar
- Rosemary
- Cranberry sauce
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- Stuffing mix
See the recipe card below for quantities.
🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Making this recipe is as easy as gathering up the ingredients. It’s so easy even beginners can make it.
Step 1: Make the Dry Rub
mix the garlic powder, garlic salt, seasoned pepper, brown sugar, and rosemary together in a bowl and set aside.
Step 2: Air Fry the Turkey Legs
Spray the turkey legs with olive oil spray and rub the dry rub all over them. Then, air fryer them for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. After 20 minutes, turn them with tongs and air fry for another 20 minutes. The legs are done with a poultry thermometer reads done when inserted into the thickest part of the leg.
Step 3: Make the Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce
While the turkey legs are cooking, make the Stovetop Stuffing according to the package directions. Then, mix the cranberry sauce with sugar, honey, and cinnamon and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Plate the legs with stuffing and cranberry sauce and enjoy!
📝Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe and make it your own? Here are some ways that you can do that!
- Spicy – Add cayenne to the dry rub for a spicy kick.
- Wings – You can make this same recipe with turkey wings.
Check out our other tasty twist on turkey with this crockpot cranberry turkey breast.
🥄 Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Bowls
- Saucepan
- Air fryer
🥫 Storage
You can store these legs for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. For longer storage, you can freeze them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
💭 Tips
- Always use a poultry thermometer to be sure your turkey legs are done. They’re affordable and readily available almost everywhere.
- Always wash your hands and equipment well when they touch raw poultry.
- Always preheat your air fryer for best results. It’s a myth that air fryers don’t need to be preheated.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Dry rubs are used to enhance the flavor of meat. They’re basically an extra heavy seasoning coating.
Although air fryers preheat quickly, they do need to be preheated for proper cooking. Putting food in before preheating can throw off your cooking time.
Although the air fryer circulates air throughout its interior, the top side generally has more circulation than the bottom. Rotating the food ensures even cooking on all sides.
🍽 More Air Fryer Recipes
Do you enjoy air frying? Then try these delicious recipes:
📌 PIN IT!!
🧾Recipe Card
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 pounds fresh Turkey Legs
- Spray Olive Oil
For the rub
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Salt
- 1 teaspoon Seasoned Pepper
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 stems of fresh Rosemary – pulled and diced
Sides
- 16 ounces Cranberry Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- ½ cup Honey
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 6 ounces Stove Top Stuffing mix
Instructions
- First, mix the Garlic Powder, Garlic Salt, Seasoned Pepper, Brown Sugar, and Rosemary, and set aside.
- Lay the Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer Basket, and spray them on both sides with the Spray Olive Oil.
- Rub the Turkey Legs with the Rub mixture, on both sides, and set the Air Fryer temperature to 400 degrees, and set the time to 20 minutes.
- Cook the Turkey Legs for the first 20 minutes, and open the Air Fryer, and turn the Legs with kitchen tongs.
- Place the basket back in the Air Fryer, and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Open the Air Fryer, and place a Poultry thermometer in the thickest part of the Turkey leg.
- The Thermometer should read ‘DONE’, and the little needle should be all the way over to the DONE side of the reader. If it’s not, cook the Turkey Legs for another 5 minutes, and use the thermometer to ensure they’re done. (You can purchase the Poultry thermometers at most Grocery Stores, or Walmart Markets).
- While the Turkey Legs are cooking, make the Stove Top Stuffing according to package directions.
- Mix the Cranberry Sauce with the Sugar, Honey, and Cinnamon, in a small dish, and place in the refrigerator until time to serve.
- When the Turkey Legs are done, you can plate them on top of the Stuffing and serve Cranberry Sauce on the side. Enjoy!
