Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (2024)

Written by Pedro BarbosaPublished on Updated onJanuary 15, 2024

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This delicious roasted turkey leg recipe is crispy, juicy and tender. It's so easy that practically cooks itself! It's an easy dinner for the whole family!

Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (1)

Roasted turkey legs are so delicious and satisfying! Baking them at the perfect temperature ensures a crispy skin and a juicy meat.
This roasted turkey leg with potatoes practically cooks itself, you can easily feed a family of four with just one leg.
Learn how to prepare this delicious recipe the easy way, no flipping or covering with aluminum foil required. Simply season the turkey leg and potatoes with salt, lemon juice and some spices. Baste with olive oil and white wine and bake at 180ºC (350ºF) until the skin turns crispy and the meat is tender and juicy.
One of my favorite aspects of this recipe is that it tastes and looks so delicious for how easy it is to prepare, making it one of the most popular recipes around here. It's a great alternative if you prefer turkey to chicken.
This juicy turkey leg recipe is sure to impress dark meat lovers everywhere. It's the perfect main dish to serve for a simple family dinner or a special thanksgiving dinner!
Bellow you will find the step by step guide, tips and questions for this recipe.

If you’re looking for flavorful and tender meat recipes, then I’ve got you covered with my Spicy roasted chicken legs, Roasted turkey leg with mustard, Best and easy baked pork steaks, Easy baked pork with spices, and many more!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Ingredients
  • How to make (step-by-step with photos)
  • Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • You may also like
  • Roasted turkey leg with potatoes
  • Nutrition facts

INGREDIENTS FOR ROASTED TURKEY LEG WITH POTATOES

Here you'll find all the ingredients needed to make this recipe:

  • Turkey leg - The main ingredient of this recipe. Tender and juicy.
  • White wine, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, garlic and bay leaf - To season, flavor and add aroma to the turkey leg and potatoes.
  • Potatoes - Unpeeled small potatoes.
  • Onion - Sliced onion. To add flavor to the seasoning.
  • Salt - Highlights all the other flavors.

Below you’ll find the correct measurement of all ingredients and the step-by-step guide for this recipe.

HOW TO MAKE ROASTED TURKEY LEG WITH POTATOES

Step 1: Place the onions cut into round slices at the bottom of a baking dish. Place the turkey leg and the unpeeled potatoes on top and season with salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, the peeled whole garlic, lemon juice and the bay leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and white wine and let marinate for 1 to 2 hours.Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (2)

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF).

Step 3: Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Baste the leg and the potatoes occasionally with the sauce to prevent drying out.

Step 4: Turn off the oven and serve.

Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (3)

RECIPE TIPS

If you have leftovers, store the turkey leg and the potatoes in the fridge in a properly airtight container (to prevent the growth of microorganisms).

To prevent the meat from drying out, use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the turkey.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long should I marinate this recipe?

Our suggestion is to marinate for about 2 hours, but If you are short on time, you can reduce the marinating time to 1 hour or skip this step.
Skipping the marination step might speed up the process, but the turkey leg will lose flavor and tenderness.
Remember that while marinating enhances flavor and tenderness, it's important not to over-marinate, especially with acidic marinades such as lemon or orange, as this can negatively affect the texture of the leg.

Is it better to roast at 180ºC (350ºF) or 150ºC (300ºF)?

We usually roast the turkey leg at 180ºC (350ºF), we think this is the limit oven temperature to prevent the leg, potatoes and the sauce from drying out. What we usually do is open the oven from time to time and baste the turkey leg and the potatoes with the sauce that is full of seasonings. In addition to preventing from drying out, we are adding more flavor to the recipe.
For a lower temperature, such as 150ºC (300ºF), it will take longer to roast but it has the advantage of enhancing much more the flavors and making the turkey leg more tender and flavorful (Roasting time will increase by about 30 to 45 minutes).
Note: You can roast at a high temperature, like 200ºC (400ºF), but don't forget to cover with aluminum foil and to add more olive oil and white wine to prevent it from drying out.

Can I store in the fridge?

Yes, you can! Place the turkey leg and the potatoes in an airtight container and let cool down at room temperature for about 1 hour before refrigerating it. This helps prevent a significant temperature increase in the fridge, which can affect other perishable items.
Following these steps prevents the growth of microorganisms.

Can I roast with lemon slices?

Yes, you can!

Can I replace garlic cloves with garlic powder?

Absolutely!

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  • Perfect and easy turkey and sausage rice
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  • Turkey kebabs
  • Roasted turkey leg with honey and spices
  • Stewed turkey steaks
  • Baked turkey loin with lemon and cinnamon
  • Stuffed turkey steaks
  • Turkey loin with orange
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  • Turkey in a bag from The recipe critic
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Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes

Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (4)

This delicious roasted turkey leg recipe is crispy, juicy and tender. It's so easy that practically cooks itself! It's an easy dinner for the whole family!

Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (5)Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (6)Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (7)Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (8)Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (9)

4.57 from 7 reviews


PRINT RECIPE

    Category:Main dishes, Meat, Recipes

    Cuisine: Portuguese

    Difficulty: Easy

    Servings: 4

    Prep Time:

    10 m

    Cook Time:

    1:45 h

    Total Time:

    2:55 h

    Ingredients

    • 1 kg (2 1/4 pounds) turkey leg
    • 100 ml (1/2 cup) white wine
    • 100 ml (1/2 cup) olive oil
    • Juice of one lemon
    • 1.2 kg (2 2/3 pounds) small potatoes
    • Pepper (to taste)
    • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
    • Nutmeg (to taste)
    • 5 bay leaves
    • 6 cloves of garlic
    • 2 medium onions
    • Salt (to taste)

    Directions

    1. Place the onions cut into round slices at the bottom of a baking dish. Place the turkey leg and the unpeeled potatoes on top and season with salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, the peeled whole garlic, lemon juice and the bay leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and white wine and let marinate for 1 to 2 hours.
    2. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF).
    3. Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Baste the leg and the potatoes occasionally with the sauce to prevent drying out.
    4. Turn off the oven and serve.

    Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes

    Nutrition facts

    Serves 4

    Per Serving:

    % DAILY VALUE

    Calories 885

    Total Fat 36.5 g(56%)

    Saturated Fat 7.5 g(38%)

    Cholesterol 189 mg(63%)

    Sodium 236 mg(10%)

    Total Carbohydrate 54.5 g(18%)

    Protein 79 g

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Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (10)

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Easy Roasted Turkey Leg with Potatoes Recipe | Food From Portugal (2024)

FAQs

Why are my baked turkey legs tough? ›

The most important thing to keep in mind with Turkey Drumsticks is that, especially for our pastured birds, they're going to be tough if they aren't cooked long enough. Just like a brisket, Turkey Drumsticks do best when cooked low and slow, to allow the muscle fibers to relax and become tender.

How do you not overcook turkey legs? ›

Use a thermometer .. breast should be at 160, legs and thighs at 165 when you pull them out of the oven. 2. Let it rest, about 3 minutes per pound so for a 10lb turkey, it should rest for about 30 minutes.

Do you separate turkey legs before cooking? ›

As a delicious added plus, separated legs can be slow-cooked to break down their connective tissue and provide a wonderfully silky mouthfeel.

Is baked turkey legs good for you? ›

Rich in selenium, zinc, phosphorus and iron, turkey meat makes a useful inclusion to support thyroid function, immunity, bone health and energy production. The darker cuts of meat like the leg and thigh are richer in certain minerals, such as iron.

What temp does a turkey leg fall off the bone? ›

Baking time – IMPORTANT NOTE: we are baking the meat longer than it's necessary to reach the safe temperature of 165°F (74°C). This will result in fall-off-the-bone meat. You can do that with just bone-in legs, not breasts!

Why put foil on turkey leg? ›

Because roasting racks are shallower than roasters, more hot air can circulate around the turkey. That helps make the skin extra crispy. Covering the bird with foil mimics what a roaster lid would do: it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn't dry out, all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.

What temp should turkey legs be cooked to? ›

Cook until the deepest sections of the turkey legs reach an internal temperature of 165°F, or about 2 1/2 hours. Hot TipUse an instant read thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the turkey. 7. Remove the turkey legs from your smoker and let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

How do you know if a turkey leg is fully cooked? ›

The meat should feel soft and the leg will move easily when twisted. Another check is to run a long-tined fork into thick muscle; the meat should feel tender and the juice should show no pink tinge.

Can turkey legs be overcooked? ›

A roasted turkey leg can overcook. And, fair enough, so can a braised turkey leg. But it's much much harder to overcook a braise. Braises come with gravy.

Do you have to wash turkey legs? ›

Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it's virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.

What can I tie turkey legs with? ›

If Your Turkey Doesn't Come with a Hock Lock, Use String. Or, you can simply use twine, kite string, or unwaxed dental floss to hold the legs together.

Do you have to clean turkey legs? ›

For this method start by removing the turkey leg from the packaging and patting it dry with paper towels. There is no need to wash the turkey leg but feel free to rinse in cold water if you prefer.

What's the difference between a turkey leg and a turkey drumstick? ›

A turkey leg is technically comprised of the bird's thigh and the drumstick (the part of the leg below the knee joint), though in many recipes the term is used to refer to just the drumstick. Skin-on and bone-in, a full leg typically weighs between one and two and a half pounds.

Are turkey legs healthier than chicken? ›

Heart Health: Both meats are heart-healthy options because they are low in saturated fat. Turkey is a little better choice for people watching their cholesterol levels because it has slightly less cholesterol than chicken.

Can diabetics eat turkey legs? ›

Turkey is a low glycemic index (GI) food. That means it won't cause the blood sugar spike that you'd get from more sugar-rich and carb-rich foods. If you have diabetes, including turkey in your diet can help you to keep your blood sugar under control.

How do you soften turkey legs? ›

Wet brining your turkey legs involves submerging the drumsticks in saltwater and placing them in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours. Brining will soften the turkey meat, ensuring it takes less time to grill. It will also infuse the turkey legs with extra moisture to prevent the meat from drying out while it grills.

Why did my turkey turn out tough? ›

If a turkey is cooked too long, the muscle proteins coagulate within the meat and cause dryness. In all of our research, we learned that moisture is the most important piece behind cooking the perfect turkey. It's also the most challenging.

Can you overcook turkey legs? ›

A roasted turkey leg can overcook. And, fair enough, so can a braised turkey leg. But it's much much harder to overcook a braise. Braises come with gravy.

How do you tenderize a cooked turkey leg? ›

Stick the pan in the oven and slow-bake for about 2 hours ~ turn the legs over after 2 hours, and then let them slow-bake for ANOTHER 2 hours ~ the longer they slow-bake, the more tender they'll be.

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