How to Cook Smoked Turkey Legs

These copycat Disney World Smoked Turkey Legs are easy to make and full of those classic smoky-salty flavors you desire when you crave this fair, or amusement park treat. These turkey legs are juicy and tender from the brine with a perfectly crispy crust from the grill. 

Perfect to whip up when longing for this coveted dish or elegant enough to serve at a holiday dinner. 

When I was young, trips to Disney World were met with so much excitement. Not only did I get to visit the most amazing place on Earth – I mean who wouldn’t be excited about that?! But it also meant time off of school! And as a kid, I’ll swap working on multiplication times tables for coloring books and games of I Spy, any day thank you very much!

But the best thing about Disney besides the ride and characters is the food!

And for me, the dish I could not wait to devour and enjoy was the Smoked Turkey Legs! Deliciously salty and smoked to a rich, dark, and glossy perfection. For me, it was those drumsticks that were the main attraction. 

And while we can’t take a trip to Disney every time a Smoked Turkey Leg craving hits, I can whip up a batch of these copycat turkey drumsticks! They are so easy to make and taste just like the real deal, and in my opinion, better if that’s even possible!

Plus, you can make them in a big batch with relative ease, and that is always a win-win in my household! 

What ingredients do you need to make Smoked Turkey Drumsticks?

Make easy turkey drumsticks with simple ingredients, many you may already have in your pantry. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand or need to grab from the store when you’re ready to brin and grill:

Turkey Legs

Turkey legs are available year-round in the meat counter, or at the butcher section, of most local grocery stores. If you are unable to locate, most stores will special order at no additional cost.

Brown Sugar

Feel free to use light or dark brown sugar. I tend to prefer the deeper, richer caramel flavors of dark in this recipe but if you prefer the sweeter taste of light brown, use that instead!

Kosher Salt

Note that we recommend using kosher salt for this recipe. You may use table salt instead, but you will want to half the amount.

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Pink Himalayan Salt is a type of salt, naturally pink in color, and mined hear the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan. Not only is this salt more flavorful than table salt, resulting in a better-flavored turkey leg, but it is loaded with minerals and provides numerous health benefits.

Pink Himalayan Salt can be found down the baking aisle of most grocery stores, located near the other salts.

Additional Ingredients

• Water
• Smoked Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder

How to Make Smoked Turkey Legs

Step 1: Prepare the simple quick brine by adding brown sugar, both salts, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until all ingredients have completed dissolved. 

Step 2: Once dissolved, stir in ice and cool water to complete cool brine. 

Step 3: Place drumsticks into a large container and pour the brine over meat until fully submerged. Let turkey legs soak in the bine in the fridge for 4-24 hours. 

Step 4: Once the brine bath is completed, thoroughly rinse off each turkey leg. Pat dry with a paper towel. 

Step 5: While the turkey legs are drying, preheat the smoker from 275°F to 300°F. 

Step 6: Place turkey legs in the smoker and cook for 1.5 hours or until the legs reach an internal of a minimum of 167°F.

Storage and Reheating

• Storage – Store any leftover turkey legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Reheating – To reheat, place in a baking dish and cover with a loosely fitted piece of foil. Place in a 350°F oven and warm for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until heated through.

FAQs

Additional recipes to try:

Turkey Pot Pie

Grilled Pineapple with Brown Sugar and Grand Marnier

Grilled Steak in 8 Simple Steps

Oven or Grilled Rack of Lamb

Grilled Summer Salad

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