How to cook air fryer turkey legs with dry rub is a great protein packed low carb dinner idea for Thanksgiving, Christmas or year round. If you want more meat than our air fryer whole turkey wings in Ninja Foodi or Cosori, these are great.
Air fryer turkey legs are great for a quick protein packed low carb dinner. During the holidays it’s perfect when there are only a few of you at home. Air fryer recipe success tonight. (affiliate links present)
Ninja Foodi Turkey Legs
I mean you may want that classic dish on your table but don’t want to buy a whole bird because that would be WAY too much. Just two legs would be perfect for y’all, leaving just a bit to make a leftover recipe the next day. If you make this in a Foodi you will use the lid that is attached and the air crisp button.
Last week we shared how to cook turkey legs and thighs and we just couldn’t stop there. It turned out so good I wanted to show something else you could make for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. This is especially great if you only have two people in the home during the holidays.
Table of contents
If you love extra crispy food and quick recipes, here are some resources to start with:
- My Favorite models are this Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more Ninja Foodi recipes here as well; bookmark them both!
- It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. this is how to preheat air fryer first.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
Ok so I was in the grocery store looking for what to cook next, and these were staring right back at me. I hadn’t experimented much with them so I thought “why not”. At around $4 for 2 large pieces I kinda’ couldn’t go wrong, so I bought 2 packages to experiment with.
I only needed this one set because they came out great the first time around! First with this crispy crunchy method and then tested it with baked turkey legs. Loved that too.
How to Cook Turkey Legs in Air Fryer
These aren’t much different than chicken legs, just take longer. You can soak in buttermilk and coat with breadcrumbs or just season the outsides like we did here. Set inside the basket, flipped halfway until it reaches 165 F. With the right rub you can make air fry everything perfectly and make it come out amazingly out of this world.
Ingredients
- 2 turkey legs – this is what will fit in your air fryer basket at a time
- Olive oil spray
- Sea salt
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Basil
Seasonings
There wasn’t really a question as to how I was going to season these babies. I made this turkey dry rub a while back and it’s always been SO popular, so I just halved that recipe (made for the whole bird). I have made with just some salt, pepper and Old Bay too though, it’s my favorite secret ingredient for “all the things”
Just mix the seasonings together, rub it on and you’re ready to cook once your machine is preheaed. Start Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes once you pop these in and everything will be done at the same time to enjoy.
Frozen Turkey Legs in Air Fryer
Can you cook from frozen?? I mean I do this all the time with Frozen Chicken Legs in Air Fryer so these wouldn’t be much different other than the cook time. That is when the digital thermometer will come in handy. It would take another 10 minutes or so but with a lower temp. you’d be surprised at how good they turn out right out of the freezer.
We will show you how right here! In just 21 minutes without needing to flip them over they’ll come out tender and full of flavor with our dry rub recipe below.
Remove from heat source and use a meat thermometer to check. Place into thickest part of meat and when it reaches 165 degrees F you’re safe.
Remember what it will continue to increase by 10 degrees as it rests. You should allow them to sit for at least 5 minutes to stay moist and reach a safe temp. to eat.
When the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit and the juices run clear, they’re done. The meat on the end will begin to pull away from the bone too which is a good sign.
It really only takes about 10 minutes to preheat, mix the seasonings and coat the outside. Talk about a fast meal! Throw them in and when it beeps you have a delicious meal to enjoy.
How Long to Cook Turkey Legs in Air Fryer
21 minutes is about right. You do need to check with a thermometer because they all are different thicknesses and may need more time to reach 165F. We have made this as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe as well as making them in our Cosori air fryer too. It doesn’t really matter the brand you have. The main difference is the size. Mine is rather large and comfortably fits 2.
If you have a smaller one with a round basket you may have to do one at a time. I thought I may need to flip them halfway through like I do with our dry rub air fryer wings but no need.
Of course there will be a slight difference in cook times depending on how large your legs are but 20 minutes to 22 minutes is pretty dead on.
Here is a quick step by step but we have a printable recipe card below too that you can keep handy.
How to Cook Turkey Legs in Ninja Foodi
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. (with the lid that is attached on foodi)
- Mix together dry rub ingredients in a bowl. Rub on all sides of legs.
- Spray inside of air fryer basket with olive oil spray and lay legs inside.
- Spray top of legs with olive oil spray.
- Close drawer and air fry turkey legs at 390 degrees F for 21 minutes.
- Check at thickest part of leg to ensure internal temp. is at least 165 F.
- Remove from basket and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing meat off of bone and serving.
I tried a second batch at 400 degrees and I thought a bit lower was better. You don’t want the outsides to get really over crispy in order to cook the insides properly. If you love turkey these will be a huge hit.
Unique Ways to Cook Turkey Legs
Love trying new things? You can make smoked turkey legs or the whole bird as well, it’s one of our favorite methods too. If you love how quick this 30 minute meal is, you’ll also get a kick out of making sheet pan turkey. The whole bird is done in just about an hour!
Want to make slow cooker chicken legs? Those are great too. BUT our air fryer chicken leg quarters may be our favorite. It cooks similarly, and comes out just as delicious. Nutritional facts are included in the recipe card below, calories and saturated fat will vary slightly depending on their sizes.
Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 turkey legs
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp basil
- 1/2 tbsp Old Bay
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F.
- Mix together dry rub ingredients in a bowl. Rub on all sides of legs.
- Spray inside of air fryer basket with olive oil spray and lay legs inside. Spray top of legs with olive oil spray.
- Close drawer and cook at 390 degrees F for 21 minutes. Check at thickest part of leg to ensure internal temp. is 165 F. Remove from basket and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing meat off of bone and serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are great! They remind me of the turkey legs sold at amusement parks.
Totally, love them
Great idea! Turkey legs always remind me of Disney. Love this easy way to prepare them for nostalgia sake 🙂