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.

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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.

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 our turkey leg quarters recipe 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.

Tips

Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.

It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.

A close-up photo of a hand pulling out the basket of an open air fryer on a light-colored surface. The interior of the air fryer basket is empty and features a mesh design, perfect for cooking your favorite dishes like bang bang shrimp. The edge of the air fryer has a latch mechanism for securing the basket.

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.

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.

turkey legs in air fryer

Ingredient Notes

You can typically fit about 2 turkey legs in your air fryer basket at a time. If you have a larger family just make in batches and keep warm the ones that are done, or eat in rotations.

The key to keeping the skin crispy is Olive oil spray. Another tip for this golden brown step is to dry the skins first with a few paper towels. Both steps are key to the best crunchy outcome.

As far as seasonings go I will use Kosher Sea salt, a bit of Chili powder or more if you wanted to make them spicy. Garlic powder is a great one, Paprika and I am a big fan of Basil too for a bit of an Italian kick.

Dry Rub

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.

FAQ

What temp should turkey legs be cooked to?

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.safe internal meat temperature

How do you know when a turkey leg is done?

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.

Using tongs, a crispy, seasoned turkey leg is held above the air fryer, showcasing its golden perfection.
5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Turkey Legs Recipe

By Justine
Crispy air fryer turkey legs are a great protein packed low carb dinner idea for the holidays or year round. Made with a dry rub that's tasty.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 21 minutes
Servings: 2

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
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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

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 290kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 133g, Fat: 46g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 481mg, Sodium: 4003mg, Potassium: 1878mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 512IU, Calcium: 126mg, Iron: 12mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
turkey leg air fryer
crispy turkey legs

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.

Ninja Foodi Option

In this machine you will need to use the lid that is attached and the air crisp button on the front. Set inside the basket with the holes at the bottom or on a trivet.

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.

turkey leg

Other Leg Recipes You’ll Love

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.

About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Great idea! Turkey legs always remind me of Disney. Love this easy way to prepare them for nostalgia sake 🙂