Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Legs

This  slow cooker BBQ turkey legs recipe is an easy dish that produces tender, flavorful, turkey leg meat. Turkey legs are an inexpensive alternative to cooking an entire turkey, and the slow cooker makes them practically effortless. Instructions to make Instant Pot BBQ turkey legs are also included.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Legs

• Turkey legs: This recipe uses 2 fully thawed, bone-in turkey legs weighing approximately 1 to 1½ pounds total. Larger turkey legs may require additional cooking time.
• BBQ sauce: Use your favorite sweet, smoky, spicy, or tangy barbecue sauce.
• BBQ rub: Use two tablespoons of your favorite store-bought barbecue seasoning or the included homemade blend.
• Homemade BBQ Rub
  • Paprika: Paprika provides color and mild smoky flavor. Smoked paprika can also be used.
  • Salt: Salt seasons the turkey throughout. If your barbecue sauce is particularly salty, you can reduce the amount slightly.
  • Garlic powder and onion powder: These pantry seasonings add savory flavor without requiring fresh garlic.
  • Dried oregano: Oregano adds an earthy herb flavor to the rub.
  • Black pepper: Pepper provides a mild bite that balances the sweeter barbecue sauce.

How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Legs

Slow Cooker

1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and black pepper.
2. Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Rub the BBQ seasoning evenly over every side of the turkey legs and underneath the skin when possible.
3. Add the sliced onion to the bottom of the slow cooker, if using.
4. Place the seasoned turkey legs on top of the onion. Pour or brush the BBQ sauce evenly over the turkey legs.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or on LOW for 5 to 6 hours. The turkey is done when it is tender and has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
6. Carefully remove the turkey legs from the slow cooker. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Instant Pot

1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and black pepper.
2. Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Rub the seasoning evenly over all sides of the turkey legs and underneath the skin when possible.
3. Pour 1 cup of water or low-sodium chicken broth into the Instant Pot. 
4. Place the seasoned turkey legs on the trivet. Brush approximately half of the BBQ sauce over the turkey legs. Do not stir the BBQ sauce into the cooking liquid because the sugar in the sauce may cause a burn warning.
5. Close and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
6. When the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure.
7. Check that the turkey has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the leg without touching the bone.
8. Carefully transfer the turkey legs to a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush them with the remaining BBQ sauce.
9. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely, until the sauce is caramelized and the skin begins to crisp.
10. Let the turkey legs rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Optional Broiling Step 

1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Place the cooked turkey legs on a foil-lined baking sheet.
3. Brush the legs with some of the cooked sauce from the slow cooker or Instant Pot or use additional BBQ sauce.
4. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching them closely, until the sauce is lightly caramelized and the skin begins to crisp.
5. Let the turkey rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Simple ingredients. You only need turkey legs, barbecue seasoning, sauce, and an optional onion.
• Easy preparation. Season the turkey, place it in the slow cooker, and let the appliance do the work.
• Homemade BBQ rub. The included seasoning blend is made with common pantry spices.
• Great for a small meal. Two turkey legs provide the flavor of barbecue turkey without cooking an entire bird.
• Optional caramelized finish. A few minutes under the broiler makes the sauce sticky and lightly caramelized.

FAQs & Tips

Do I need to brown the turkey legs first?

No. Browning is not necessary for this recipe. If you want crispy skin or caramelized sauce, place the turkey legs under the broiler after slow cooking.

Can I cook frozen turkey legs in the slow cooker?

No. Completely thaw the turkey legs before placing them in the slow cooker. Frozen poultry can take too long to reach a safe cooking temperature in a slow cooker.

How do I know when turkey legs are done?

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the turkey leg without touching the bone. Turkey is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F. The dark meat may become more tender when cooked beyond that temperature.

Why isn’t the skin crispy?

A covered slow cooker creates moist heat, so it will not produce crispy skin. Broiling the turkey legs for a few minutes after cooking will give them a better color and texture.

Do I need to add liquid?

No additional liquid is needed. The barbecue sauce, onion, and turkey will release enough moisture as they cook.

Can I use store-bought BBQ seasoning?

Yes. Replace the homemade blend with two tablespoons of your preferred BBQ rub. Check the salt content because some commercial seasoning blends are saltier than others.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, as long as the turkey legs fit comfortably inside your slow cooker and the lid closes completely. Larger or additional turkey legs may take longer to cook, so always check their internal temperature before serving.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use smoked paprika in the homemade rub for a smokier flavor.
• Add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy BBQ rub.
• Use a sugar-free BBQ sauce to reduce the amount of added sugar. This will make the recipe low-carb & keto friendly. 
• Add a small amount of liquid smoke for a more pronounced smoky flavor.
• Replace the homemade seasoning with 2 tablespoons of a store-bought BBQ rub.

How To Serve BBQ Turkey Legs

Serve these turkey legs with classic barbecue side dishes such as coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, corn on the cob, collard greens, or cornbread. You can serve one turkey leg per person or remove the meat from the bones and divide it into smaller portions. Spoon additional sauce from the slow cooker over the turkey or serve extra BBQ sauce on the side.

Storage

Allow leftover turkey to cool completely. Remove the meat from the bones and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Leftover turkey can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Reheat the turkey in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a covered baking dish in the oven. Add a small amount of barbecue sauce or cooking liquid to prevent the meat from drying out.

What size slow cooker should you use?

I used a small, 3.5-quart slow cooker. Feeding a larger crowd? Double the recipe and use a 6-quart slow cooker.

BBQ Recipes

• Shredded Beef

• Pulled Chicken

• Brisket

• Chicken Legs

• Pulled Pork

• Chicken Tenders

Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Legs

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This  slow cooker BBQ turkey legs recipe is an easy dish that produces tender, flavorful, turkey leg meat. Turkey legs are an inexpensive alternative to cooking an entire turkey, and the slow cooker makes them practically effortless. Instructions to make Instant Pot BBQ turkey legs are also included.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Pressure Cooking, Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 turkey legs, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds total
• 2 tablespoons BBQ rub (see below for homemade blend)
• 1 cup BBQ sauce of your choice

Homemade BBQ Rub (2 tablespoons)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or more)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and black pepper.
2. Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Rub the BBQ seasoning evenly over every side of the turkey legs and underneath the skin when possible.
3. Add the sliced onion to the bottom of the slow cooker, if using.
4. Place the seasoned turkey legs on top of the onion. Pour or brush the BBQ sauce evenly over the turkey legs.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or on LOW for 5 to 6 hours. The turkey is done when it is tender and has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
6. Carefully remove the turkey legs from the slow cooker. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Instant Pot

1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and black pepper.
2. Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels. Rub the seasoning evenly over all sides of the turkey legs and underneath the skin when possible.
3. Pour 1 cup of water or low-sodium chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Pl
4. Place the seasoned turkey legs on the trivet. Brush approximately half of the BBQ sauce over the turkey legs. Do not stir the BBQ sauce into the cooking liquid because the sugar in the sauce may cause a burn warning.
5. Close and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
6. When the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure.
7. Check that the turkey has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the leg without touching the bone.
8. Carefully transfer the turkey legs to a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush them with the remaining BBQ sauce.
9. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely, until the sauce is caramelized and the skin begins to crisp.
10. Let the turkey legs rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Optional Broiling Step

1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Place the cooked turkey legs on a foil-lined baking sheet.
3. Brush the legs with some of the cooked sauce from the slow cooker or Instant Pot or use additional BBQ sauce.
4. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching them closely, until the sauce is lightly caramelized and the skin begins to crisp.
5. Let the turkey rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

nutritional information does not include BBQ sauce

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 92
• Sugar: 0.3 g
• Sodium: 42 mg
• Fat: 3.8 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 3.5 g
• Fiber: 1.2 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Cholesterol: 37.3 mg

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive money if you make a purchase using one of the links. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/