Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

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There’s nothing like eating cooked turkey legs! In fact you’ll love how easy and simple it is to make Air Fryer Turkey Thighs in your Air Fryer or Instant Pot Crisp Duo.

Air Fryer Turkey Legs, are perfect for grabbing and eating at the game or for a quick dinner. And turkey thighs are a great way to load up on protein.

We love making turkey legs in the air fryer because they turn out perfectly every single time. The outer crust is crisp and the middle is tender and juicy. Trust me when I say that you’re never going to want to eat turkey legs any other way.

Turkey Legs Vs Turkey Thighs

Turkey legs are also known as turkey thighs are pretty much the same thing. A Turkey leg consists of the thigh and the drumstick leg. Hence the word Turkey thighs and turkey legs are often used to refer to the same cut of turkey meat.

What Does Turkey Taste Like?

Turkey is a type of poultry meat that has a milder and more delicate flavor than chicken. This makes it perfect for adding other flavors or seasonings to the turkey, which is why turkey legs are so delicious when cooked in an air fryer.

Air fryer turkey thighs have a delicious crispy skin and the big turkey thigh meat is tender, juicy and flavorful.

If you love turkey, then you will love cooking turkey legs in an air fryer or Instant Pot Crisp Duo! Give it a try today and experience the delicious flavor of these tasty turkey thighs for yourself.

Is Turkey A Dark Meat?

Yes, turkey is considered dark meat because of its higher fat content and richer flavor. This makes it the perfect choice for slow cooking or air frying in an air fryer since both methods help to keep the meat juicy and tender.

Air Fryer Or Duo Crisp?

You can use a regular air fryer to cook these air fryer turkey thighs or you can place them into your Instant Pot and cook using the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. Both methods have the same cooking time of 15 minutes.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Turkey Legs

Once you realize how simple it is to cook fried turkey legs, you’re going to keep this simple recipe handy to use all the time.

• Turkey thighs are fast and simple to cook in the air fryer.
• You have minimal prep work with maximum flavor.
• Turkey legs are great to eat without making a huge mess of dishes!

Ingredients For Turkey Thighs In Air Fryer

Here are the ingredients to get tasty turkey legs with crispy skin:

• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Chili powder
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon Onion powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne powder
• 1 Teaspoon Cumin
• Turkey legs

How To Air Fry Turkey Thighs

Here is a step-by-step guide how to air-fry turkey thighs or turkey legs.

Step 1: Prepare The Turkey Leg

Dry turkey leg and rub the seasoning all over the entire turkey leg. Preheat the air fryer setting at 380.

Step 2: Add Turkey To The Air Fryer

Place turkey thigh or legs in the preheated air fryer basket and spray with cooking spray. You might need to cook one leg at a time depending on the size of either the legs or the air fryer basket. Typically air fryer units can fit around 3-4 turkey thighs at a time. However this can vary depending on the size of your air fryer and air fryer basket.

Step 3: Air Fry Turkey Legs

Cook the turkey legs on 380 for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature measures 165°f.

Step 4: Serve Your Cripsy Turkey Thighs

Remove and cover your crispy air fryer turkey thighs to keep warm until you are ready to serve.

What Temperature Should A Turkey Leg Be Cooked?

For a turkey leg to be considered cooked all the way, it needs to have an internal temperature of 180 degrees. The best way to check the temperature is to use an Instant meat thermometer.

An Instant read thermometer is ideal for accurately checking the temperature of your turkey legs.

Once cooked, you can enjoy delicious turkey legs hot from the air fryer with your favorite sides and condiments!

Why Cover Turkey Until Served?

It is important to cover your cooked turkey legs until serving to keep them warm and juicy. This prevents moisture loss, which can cause the meat to become dry and tough.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Turkey Legs?

There are so many delicious side dishes that you can serve with your air fryer turkey legs. Some of our favorites include:

–Garlic Mashed potatoes

–Corn on the cob

–Salad

–Coleslaw

–Mac and cheese

–Hawaiian rolls or flatbreads

-Braised greens or Spanikopita

Is A Turkey Leg Healthy?

They are! As long as they’re not breaded, they’re great for a low-carb diet. The turkey legs are also loaded with protein as well making them great after exercise and for building muscle.

Is Turkey Healthier Than Chicken?

Although both turkey and chicken are great sources of lean protein, turkey tends to have a bit more iron and is even richer in vitamins B6 and B12 than chicken.

So if you’re looking for a leaner source of protein, turkey legs or thighs may be the better choice for you.

How To Store Turkey Legs

If you have leftover turkey thighs, that’s awesome. This is because they taste great the next day. To store your crispy air fryer turkey thighs simply place them into a Ziploc bag or large container and keep them in the fridge.

How Long Do Cooked Turkey Legs Last?

Cooked turkey legs will last in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can You Freeze Air Fryer Turkey legs?

Yes, you can cook turkey thighs and freeze them. If you want to freeze them, pat turkey legs dry before you place the turkey thighs into freezer-friendly containers or Ziploc bags.

Removing excess moisture will help prevent freezer burn and ensure your air fryer turkey thighs remain in top condition for your next turkey thigh meal or turkey roast dinner.

Can I Use The Air Fryer For A Full Roast Turkey Dinner?

Absolutely! You can use the air fryer to cook all of your Thanksgiving or holiday turkey dinners. Just be sure to adjust cooking times based on the size and cut of your turkey.

For example, a whole roast turkey will require a much longer cooking time than individual legs or thighs. Once you master using the air fryer for turkey, you can cook up any type of turkey recipe with ease!

It also depends on the size of your air fryer. It may be better to cook Turkey legs or a Turkey breast (check out this Turkey breast recipe), as a whole turkey will most likely be too big for your air fryer basket.

You can cook a full turkey roast dinner in your air fryer including the stuffing, veggies and trimmings.

Can I Slow Cook Turkey Legs?

Yes, you can slow-cook turkey legs in a slow cooker or in the Instant Pot using the slow cooker setting. Simply season your turkey legs with salt, pepper, and any herbs or spices you love, then add them to your slow cooker along with a little chicken broth or stock.

Slow cooking your turkey will give it a delicious, tender texture that is perfect for serving with mashed potatoes or over a bed of pasta.

So whether you are looking for an easy and healthy weeknight meal, or want to wow your friends and family at your next holiday gathering, air fryer turkey legs are sure to be a crowd-pleasing favorite!

What If My Turkey Is Dry?

Is your turkey dry? If your turkey legs come out dry, there are a few things you can try to help fix this.

First, make sure that you are cooking the turkey long enough to fully cook all of the way through. You may also want to experiment with different cooking times and temperatures until you find the optimal settings for your air fryer.

Additionally, you can always try bringing your turkey legs before cooking to help keep them extra juicy and tender.

Marinade Turkey Thighs

Finally, if all else fails, you can also use a delicious marinade or sauce to add moisture and flavor back into the lean protein of turkey legs. In general though, with the right cooking techniques and air fryer settings, your turkey legs should turn out moist and delicious every time!

Turkey Leg Questions

How Many Calories Is A Turkey Leg

A turkey leg typically contains around 200-250 calories, depending on the size and cut of the leg.

Where Can I Buy Turkey Legs?

Turkey legs are available at most major grocery stores and supermarkets, as well as in many butcher shops or speciality food markets.

How Do I Cook Turkey Legs In The Oven?

To cook turkey legs in the oven, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and place the turkey legs on a roasting pan.

Make a seasoned butter rub in a small bowl and rub butter onto the turkey legs before you place the turkey thigh into the oven.

If you don’t fancy a butter rub try smoked paprika, olive oil and kosher salt or rub thighs with an Italian dry rub and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted registers 165 degrees F.

Turkey Thighs Roast

Cook the turkey legs for 1 to 2 hours, or until they are fully cooked and golden brown on the outside. These easy turkey thighs will have juicy meat and incredibly crispy skin.

Serve with a sauce bowl of your favourite hot sauce or use for thanksgiving dinner or a special family meal. Cooking turkey thighs has never been easier.

More Turkey And Chicken Air Fryer Recipes

Here are some more turkey and chicken recipes you may enjoy:

• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Pizza Rolls 
• Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken
• The Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Instant Pot Turkey Burgers
• Air Fryer Chicken Pot Pies