How To Reheat Turkey Legs In The Air Fryer?

Reheating these beauties is easy in the air fryer. Preheat it to 350F, then cook for 8-10 minutes. Flip them at midway for even heating.

How To Air Fry Lean Turkey Drumsticks?

If you want to air fry lean turkey legs, this recipe has it all for you in these simple steps. It takes about 20 – 30 minutes at 400F, flipping halfway through the cook time, though it may need a little longer depending on your air fryer and the size of your turkey legs.

Should You Brine Turkey Legs Before Air Frying?

You can surely brine them if you like, but with this recipe, my homemade cilantro lime marinade imparts flavor and improves the texture, so it’s not necessary.

What To Eat with Your Air Fryer Turkey Legs?

They can pair well with your favorite holiday sides if you serve these for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You could even reserve some of the marinades to swirl into your mashed potatoes for a perfect pairing. I’ve linked some sides below, too, that will go great for holiday sides or sides for any night.

Are Air fried Turkey Drumsticks Healthy?

Yes, they are. You’re not using gobs of oil here. And turkey legs are an excellent way to get lean protein.

Marinated Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer

Name: Cilantro Marinated Turkey Legs in the Air Fryer
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 Turkey Legs/Turkey Drumsticks (about 2.6 lbs.). I bought them fresh in the grocery store).; 5 Tablespoons of Homemade Cilantro Lime Marinade (Grab my recipe); 1 teaspoon Onion powder; 1 teaspoon Knorr Bouillon; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ Garlic powder; Cilantro and limes (optional; for garnishing); Avocado oil spray (optional; if needed)

Description

A simple recipe of air fryer turkey drumsticks marinated with cilantro lime marinade is succulent, juicy, and utterly delicious. Full of tart and tangy, savory, and pungent flavors, it’s the perfect way to flavor the turkey meat, bet it whole turkey or parts! These marinated turkey legs make a fantastic main dish for Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving, or Christmas! And with my cilantro lime marinade, they become all the more incredible.

Ingredients

Scale

3 Turkey Legs/Turkey Drumsticks (about 2.6 lbs.). I bought them fresh in the grocery store).
5 Tablespoons of Homemade Cilantro Lime Marinade (Grab my recipe)
1 teaspoon Onion powder
1 teaspoon Knorr Bouillon
½ teaspoon salt
½ Garlic powder
Cilantro and limes (optional; for garnishing)
Avocado oil spray (optional; if needed)

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Instructions

Step one; Prep. You’ll start by getting the turkey legs ready. You need to wash them off and then pat them dry with paper towels. I’ve used fresh turkey legs, but if yours are frozen, you will need to allow them enough time to defrost. They should be at room temperature before you begin.
Step two; Slash. Now you’ll take a knife and slash the turkey legs. I typically make the slashes only on one side of the meat (see photo below). This not only allows the marinade to get into the meat but also helps it cook faster.
Step three; Marinate. Next, you’ll put your turkey drumsticks into a big bowl and pour the marinade and seasoning on it. Mix it up (I like wearing gloves for this step) to ensure the marinade and seasonings get to all the pieces. Cover and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. I like to do so for an hour though you can prep this overnight, too, if you like.
Step four; Preheat. After marinating, Set Air Fryer for 30 minutes and 400F and preheat.
Step five; Air Fry. Now you’re ready to get cooking! Place cilantro marinated turkey legs in the preheated air fryer; air fry for 20 minutes and flip. Then air fry for the remaining 10 minutes. Spray with cooking spray after turning the meat if necessary.
Step six; Cook until well done! Always cook poultry to fully done. If they look too tan, drop the temperature to 375 or 350F. Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should read 165F for fully cooked turkey legs. Allow cooling before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Different air fryers may cause varying cooking times, which is why it’s important to check the turkey legs with a meat thermometer to ensure they’re fully cooked.

These are perfect for Thanksgiving if you’re not serving a lot of people. Making a big turkey is a lot of work, but these are easy, full of flavor, and the perfect answer for a smaller group.

You’ll find these are great for weeknight dinners as they cook in under 30 minutes. I’ve got some sides listed below to help you round out the meal.

This recipe leaves you with tasty marinated turkey drumsticks that don’t have that gamey flavor that turkey can sometimes take on.

If using small-sized turkey legs, you may not use up to 5 tablespoons of cilantro lime marinade. And you won’t need to cook this meat for up to 30 minutes either.

If the turkey legs are browning quickly reduce the temperature to 375F or 350F.

This is my Air Fryer! I love it to the moon and back! For real it makes the tastiest foods!

If you do not like cilantro or don’t have the ingredients or time to make the cilantro lime marinade I used in this recipe, do not sweat over it. Simply follow my method and use any other marinade of choice.

Though Knorr bouillon gives this recipe a distinctive flavor, you skip it if you wish not to use it. Or you can swap it with a creole/Cajun seasoning.