Make these Slow Cooker Turkey Legs for a twist on the classic Thanksgiving turkey! So easy to make, this recipe includes a homemade sauce for maximum flavor.
The slow cooker ensures the turkey legs turn out moist and tender for a comforting meal the whole family will love. Perfect for Sunday dinners or for a shortcut holiday feast!
Jump to:
- 🩵 About This Recipe
- What readers are saying...
- 🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 🔪 Let's Make Turkey Legs in the Crock Pot!
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- ❔ FAQs
- 📝 How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey Legs
- 🥡 Storage and Reheating
- 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
- 😋 More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
- 📋 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews and Comments
🩵 About This Recipe
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!
These juicy turkey legs are 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 main dish for a weeknight meal! It's like being able to have a mini Thanksgiving dinner anytime, lol. Especially if you are like me and really appreciate dark meat.
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!
What readers are saying...
I loved making these in the slow cooker. So tender and easy. I did put them under the broiler as you suggested which put them over the top, yummy.
- Eileen
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- turkey legs - turkey legs are made up of dark meat and result in a tender and super flavorful meal.
- seasonings - all you need is paprika, salt, and black pepper!
- sauces - a combination of ketchup and mustard gives your turkey legs a balance of tangy, sweet, and savory.
- brown sugar - helps balance out all of the savory with some complex sweetness.
🔪 Let's Make Turkey Legs in the Crock Pot!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Make Sauce
Combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and paprika in a medium bowl and mix well.
Add Turkey
Place the turkey legs in the bottom of the slow cooker and season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
Add Sauce
Pour the sauce over the turkey legs.
Slow Cooker
Cover and cook on low heat. Check the internal temperature to be sure they are cooked. Then enjoy!
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- This crock pot turkey recipe 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 3-5 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.
❔ FAQs
When the turkey is done, a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the slow-cooked turkey leg will register 165 degrees. If you do not have a meat thermometer, insert a knife into the thickest part of the cooked meat and juices should run clear.
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.
The USDA does not recommend rinsing poultry before cooking. It can easily spread bacteria. Just pat it dry with paper towels prior to cooking.
📝 How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey Legs
- If you are looking for a way to prepare your turkey legs that is a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, you might want a version of this recipe that is a little less barbecue-y.
- In that case, season your turkey leg with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Then place them in the slow cooker and pour about 1 cup of chicken stock into the slow cooker. Then cook as directed in this recipe, on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- If desired, you can also chop a medium onion and put it in the bottom of the slow cooker before you place the drumsticks in, as they will provide even more flavor.
Looking to cook your turkey legs in the oven? Check out this recipe for Roasted Turkey Legs for an easy and delicious holiday dinner!
Kristin’s Kitchen Tip
Don't worry about overcooking your turkey legs - the slow cooker ensures that they're perfectly moist and tender every time!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container or a ziploc bag in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
You can microwave leftover turkey legs, 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. My family loves this dinner and we rarely have any left over!
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this slow cooker turkey legs recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
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 some suggestions:
Dessert? Well of course! This Lemonade Pie with a Sugar Cone Crust will have everyone smiling at the end of your meal!
Potato and Grilled Corn Salad - love the crunch that grilled corn gives this salad!
A nice baked russet or even sweet potato is always a great side for crock pot turkey legs. I like to bake them in the oven or even air fry them! You might want to try these delicious air fried baked sweet potatoes!
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!
😋 More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs - Another great and satisfying recipe with a blend of sweet and savory flavors.
- Slow Cooker Red Lentil Curry - Made with pantry staples for a budget friendly and flavorful curry.
- Beef Rump Roast in the Crock Pot - This dish includes hearty beef and tender veggies for an all-in-one dinner.
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast - Can't get enough turkey? Try this super easy slow cooked turkey breast from JZ Eats!
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Turkey Drumstick Recipe
⭐ Did you make this recipe? Awesome! I would love to hear from you. Please give it a star rating and review below! 👇
📋 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar (loosely packed)
- 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 6 turkey legs
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and paprika in a medium bowl and mix well.1 cup ketchup, ⅓ cup water, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard, 3 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Season the turkey legs with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker.6 turkey legs, salt and pepper
- Pour the sauce over the turkey legs, and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- You can use regular paprika if you don't have smoked paprika handy.
- Typically there is no need to worry about drying out your turkey legs. The slow cooker and the barbecue sauce work together to keep the meat tender and moist. However, due to differences in slow cooker temperatures, the first time you make this, check your turkey legs at the 4 hour mark to make sure they are not drying out.
- Check doneness with a meat thermometer, It should read 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick.
- Before serving, you may want to place the slow cooked turkey legs on a baking sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes to get a nice brown color and crispy skin.
- In a hurry? Just use your own premade barbecue sauce, or even store-bought barbecue sauce!
- Store leftovers for a 3-5, along with some of the juices from the crock pot, in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Oven reheating is best. Place the turkey legs with juices in a covered casserole dish in a 350 degree F oven until very warm (20-30 minutes).
- If you need to reheat quickly, you can use the microwave, 1-2 minutes at a time, rotating the legs in between, until warm enough
- THANKSGIVING VARIATION
- Instead of making the sauce, use 3 tablespoon poultry seasoning (see my easy recipe for homemade poultry seasoning or buy it pre-made at the store) and about 1 cup chicken broth.
- Rub the poultry seasoning all over the turkey legs. You can use more or less seasoning as desired.
- Place the turkey legs in the crock pot and add the chicken broth (the amount of chicken broth doesn't need to be exact).
- Cook on low for for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Optional but recommended: Broil for 3-5 minutes (watch carefully to prevent burning!), then serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in October 2013, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in October 2024.
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Happy cooking!
Jann Olson
I've never cooked just turkey legs, but they look delicious! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Life Diet Health
Sounds like a tasty recipe - one question, what type of mustard? Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday.
Amanda Campbell
This looks delicious (and looks so easy!). I never would have guessed that ketchup and mustard would have been an ingredient. I'm definitely going to have to give this a try (btw say this post on ourminifamily)
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party.
Chas Greener
Sounds delicious and I'm going to have to add this to our list of things to try! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma's House We Go!
Barbara Scott
I am making the turkey legs this year but wonder if you could make it with red wine?
Kristin King
I have never tried with red wine, so I am not sure. I always like to test things before I make recommendations. 🙂 If you try it, I would be interested in hearing how it turns out. Thanks for stopping by!
Paula Smith
I just found your recipe and it sounds great.
Emmy La Ronde
Hi Kristin -
I got very excited when I saw your crock pot turkey leg recipe. Having celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving at a cousin's house with a pack of very hungry teenagers, I knew my chances of getting a "turkey care package" to take home for sammiches this week was lookin' slim, so I picked some turkey leg pieces up at the butcher on Friday to make my husband some "leftovers". I will slave over the cold crock pot tomorrow morning for 15 minutes before I skip off to work.
Thanks for sharing!
Emmy
Kristin King
Haha! I totally understand about the hungry teenagers! Hope you enjoyed the turkey legs! 🙂
Jessica
I grew up calling my grandma Gammy too!! She was known by all my friends as Gammy and even though she has passed away everyone knows her as only Gammy...anyway I came across your recipe and I thought that I need to try it as a tribute to my "Gammy". 🙂 Thank you for the rememberance and the recipe!
Kristin King
You are the first person I have ever met that called their grandma Gammy! It is funny because growing up I didn't realize it was that unique. Hope you like the recipe! Thanks for coming by! 🙂
Ryan
Wow, sounds amazing and can't wait to try it. Just curious though, if I'm using lessless than 6 turkey legs (right now I only have two big ones), would you cut down the cooking time? Thanks !
Kristin King
Yes, I would definitely expect the cook time to be less. You might want to plan to shave off an hour or two and just keep an eye on it while they cook!
lagatta à montréal
I'm doing turkey legs and (large) wing parts in my old crockpot right now, in stock I made mostly from chicken bones and vegetables. I want to give the stock a better flavour and get some luscious braised poultry. Your cooking time does sound long, unless it is on low.
I like your recipe, but wouldn't make it as is, since I find that it contains far too much sugar.
Nice to encounter your site!
Kristin King
Yes, I have the crock pot on low the whole time. Thanks for stopping by!