How to Cook Turkey Legs: Crock Pot Recipe

Name: How To Cook Turkey Legs: Crock Pot Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 420 min
Total time: 425 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 6 turkey legs; salt and pepper; 1 cup ketchup; 1/3 cup water; 1/4 cup brown sugar ((loosely packed)); 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard; 3 tablespoons vinegar; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika ((use regular paprika if you don' have this handy))

By Kristin Published August 4, 201960 Comments

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Gammy’s recipe for how to cook turkey legs and let me tell you, this meal can’t get any easier! Throw some turkey legs in the slow cooker and top them with an easy homemade sauce, and in a few hours you’ll be enjoying a delicious dinner!

Side view of two turkey legs garnished with rosemary on a blue plate. — This tasty recipe is perfect for a busy lifestyle!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in October 2013, but was republished with tips and step by step photos in August 2019.

Turkey Legs in Slow Cooker

Guys you’re going to love this recipe! It is from my Gammy (not Grammy. 🙂 I am not sure why, but we called my grandmother ‘Gammy’. It may have been a carryover from my older cousins, I suppose)!

My mother still has some of Gammy’s recipes, and it is cool when I go back to my parents’ house for a visit and see the ones that she wrote out by hand.

There is something so personal about those handwritten recipes. I guess we lose some of that now in the digital age, but the trade-off is that we can exchange recipes and share ideas so much more easily with all the technology!

This turkey is fall-off-the-bone tender! Once you’ve learned how to cook turkey legs in your crock pot, it will be an easy go-to weeknight meal!

I’ve been making whole chicken in the slow cooker for years, but my mother makes turkey legs in the crock pot, and I found out recently that the sauce was a recipe from my grandmother!

Crock Pot Turkey Legs

In any case, these turkey legs are SOOOOOO good! I actually had a hard time getting them ready for the photo because the meat was so tender, the legs kept falling apart as I was trying to position them on the plate.

But the best part is that Gammy’s recipe for how to cook turkey legs is one of the easiest recipes ever. I L-O-V-E easy recipes, you too right? Especially when the whole family enjoys them. I will be making these crock pot turkey legs again soon, for sure!

Grocery list for Turkey Drumsticks in Slow Cooker

turkey drumsticks
ketchup
brown sugar
yellow mustard
vinegar
paprika
salt and pepper

Easy stuff, right? I bet all you will need to pick up are the turkey legs!

Overhead shot of raw turkey legs, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, paprika, and vinegar in clear bowls. — Gather your ingredients to complete your crockpot turkey legs!

Slow Cooking Turkey Legs

How do you know when turkey legs are done?

When the turkey is done, a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick will register 165 degrees.

If you do not have a meat thermometer, insert a knife into the thickest part of the meat and juices should run clear.

Can you eat undercooked turkey?

Definitely not! Invest in a good quality instant read meat thermometer. They aren’t that expensive and you’ll know your meal is ready to serve to your family.

Do you rinse turkey before cooking?

The USDA does not recommend rinsing poultry before cooking. It can easily spread bacteria. Just pat it dry with a paper towel prior to cooking.

How do you reheat turkey legs?

You can microwave them, but I’d recommend putting them in a covered casserole dish and reheating them in a preheated oven at 350 until the temp is about 155 degrees.

Of course, that is if you even have leftovers! Thing 2 rated this at 4.5 out of 5 biscuits, which is an extremely high rating. He liked it, yippee!

Overhead view of two finished turkey legs with a rosemary garnish on a small blue plate. — After 7-9 hours in the crockpot, your delicious meal is ready to serve!

How to make turkey legs in the crock pot – Step by Step

Step 1.

Place the turkey legs in the crock pot and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Process shot of raw, seasoned turkey legs in black crockpot.

Simply add seasoning before the sauce and these crockpot turkey legs are ready to cook!

Step 2.

Combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and paprika in a medium bowl and mix well.

Overhead shot of barbecue sauce mixture in a clear bowl with whisk.

This six ingredient barbecue sauce is quick and easy to make for such an appetizing dish!

Step 3.

Pour the sauce over the turkey legs.

Close up shot of sauce being poured over raw, seasoned turkey legs in black crock pot.

Drizzle this delicious sauce over your turkey legs and they are ready to cook in the crockpot!

Step 4.

Cover and cook on low. Then enjoy!

Overhead shot of three cooked turkey legs covered in homemade barbecue sauce in black crockpot.

With this easy recipe, you can have a busy workday and have a scrumptious meal waiting when you get home!

HOW TO COOK TURKEY LEGS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME

This method is very forgiving, so don’t worry! The slow cooker and the barbecue sauce work together so that your turkey legs will not easily dry out.
The turkey legs are done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick registers 165 degrees F.
To get that delicious golden brown crispy skin, place the slow cooked turkey legs on a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes before serving.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Make sure to include some of the juices for when you reheat!
Reheat the leftovers in a 350 degree F oven in a covered casserole dish along with some of the juices until very warm (20-30 minutes). You can also microwave them for 1-2 minutes at a time, rotating the legs in between, but the oven method will give you the best results.

What can I serve with Crock Pot Turkey Legs?

Now that you know how to cook turkey legs in your slow cooker, what are the best side dishes to serve with them? Here are my suggestions:

Potato and Grilled Corn Salad – love the crunch that grilled corn gives this salad!
Boston Baked Beans – always a delicious side dish!
and bread…. you’ll definitely need some bread to sop up all that good sauce, right? Check out Slow Cooker Olive and Parmesan Bread or Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Bread. Both are super easy and SO GOOD!
Dessert? Well of course! This Lemonade Pie with a Sugar Cone Crust will have everyone smiling at the end of your meal!

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Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram! You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry !