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Slow Cooker Turkey Legs + VIDEO

Slow cooker turkey legs is a simple recipe that produces seasoned, tender turkey leg meat. Slow cooking turkey legs in a crockpot allows them to cook low & slow, which can help break down tough connective tissues and result in super juicy meat. Instructions to make these turkey legs in the Instant Pot are also included. Switch things up this holiday season and cook your turkey legs in the crockpot! 

overhead shot of cooked slow cooker turkey legs on a white platter

Ingredients For Crockpot Turkey Legs

There are only 3 ingredients in this easy turkey slow cooker recipe. 

  • Turkey Legs
  • Seasonings: I like to use a homemade rotisserie inspired seasoning. It’s included in the recipe box. Feel free to use your own seasoning. 
  • Oil

collage of ingredients for slow cooker turkey legs

How To Make Turkey Legs In The Slow Cooker

Prepare The Turkey Legs

  1. Mix seasonings together in a small bowl.
  2. Rub oil evenly over each turkey legs and rub mixture generously on each turkey leg.

Slow Cooker

  1. Add the prepared turkey legs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Pour water into the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add the prepared turkey legs on top.
  2. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 25 minutes (make sure internal temperature for the turkey is 165° Fahrenheit).  Natural release 10 minutes then quick release remaining pressure.

Optional but recommended step for both slow cooker & Instant Pot: Use tongs (the turkey legs will be hot) and remove them from the appliance. Place the turkey legs on a baking sheet and BROIL them in the oven for approximately 3-5 minutes to crisp the skin. 

overhead shot of cooked turkey legs in a black slow cooker

before

overhead shot of cooked turkey legs in a black slow cooker

after

What Are Turkey Legs

Turkey legs are the leg of the turkey from the thigh to the knee. Similar to chicken leg drumsticks, turkey legs are dark meat so they’re flavorful and great for the low & slow cooking method of the slow cooker. Most people serve turkey legs at Thanksgiving but I actually serve them year-round.  Being a household of two, I find them to be a more practical and affordable option to cooking a whole turkey or turkey breast. 
 
overhead shot of cooked turkey legs on a a foil lined baking sheet

broil (optional)

Why You Should Cook Turkey Legs In The Crock-Pot

There are a few reasons to make easy turkey legs in the slow cooker. For one, if you are a small household (like me, I’m a household of 2), turkey legs are a great alternative to cooking a whole turkey. In addition, turkey legs are perfect for the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Dark meat poultry in general is a good cut because the low & slow method of slow cooking tenderizes the even toughest cut of poultry like turkey legs.
 
close up shot of slow cooker turkey legs on a white plate garnished with fresh parsley

Turkey Soups

Homemade Seasoning

This uses my homemade rotisserie seasoning. It’s enough for up to a 4 pounds of turkey legs without having to make any adjustments to the measurements. Anything larger you might want to use more seasonings. Of course you can always use your preferred seasoning for turkey recipe.

close up shot of shredded turkey leg meat on a white plate garnished with fresh parsley

Broil The Skin

After the turkey legs are done slow cooking, I like to broil the turkey legs in the oven to crisp the skin. This is an optional but recommended step. If you choose to do this, use tongs to remove the turkey legs from the appliance because they will be hot. The meat will also be very tender. My turkey legs usually fall apart a bit when I take them out.

overhead shot of cooked, shredded slow cooker turkey legs on a white platter

FAQs & Tips 

  • You may need to maneuver your turkey legs around to make them fit in the slow cooker. It’s okay if the turkey legs overlap a bit but they should not be stacked.
  • Use tongs removing the turkey legs from the slow cooker or Instant Pot because they will be hot.
  • Store leftover turkey legs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. 
  • I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

Turkey Recipes 

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overhead shot of cooked slow cooker turkey legs on a white platter

Slow Cooker Turkey Legs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

Slow cooker turkey legs is an easy turkey recipe that produces seasoned, tender turkey meat. Slow cooking turkey legs in a crockpot allows them to cook low & slow, which can help break down tough connective tissues and result in  juicy meat. Using only a few ingredients including a simple, homemade seasoning, this turkey leg recipe is a true set-it-and-forget it recipe. Instructions to make this easy turkey legs recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. Switch things up this holiday season and cook your turkey legs in the crockpot!

  • Total Time: 4 hours 10 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 medium-size turkey legs (approximately 23 pounds total)
  • 1 tablespoon oil of your choice
  • 1 cup water (for Instant Pot only)

Homemade Seasoning 

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

Instructions

Prepare The Turkey Legs

  1. Mix seasonings together in a small bowl.
  2. Rub oil evenly over each turkey legs and rub mixture generously on each turkey leg.

Slow Cooker

  1. Add the prepared turkey legs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Pour water into the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add the prepared turkey legs on top.
  2. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 25 minutes (make sure internal temperature for the turkey is 165° Fahrenheit).  Natural release 10 minutes then quick release remaining pressure.

Optional but recommended step for both slow cooker & Instant Pot: Use tongs (the turkey legs will be hot) and remove them from the appliance. Place the turkey legs on a baking sheet and BROIL them in the oven for approximately 3-5 minutes to crisp the skin. 

  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 4 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 189
  • Sugar: 0.3 g
  • Sodium: 642.5 mg
  • Fat: 12.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3.4 g
  • Fiber: 1.2 g
  • Protein: 16.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 55.9 mg

 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on one of the product links, I might receive compensation. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Legs + VIDEO
Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Loretta

Monday 25th of March 2024

No water in the crock pot? Also how long on high or low?

Cheryl

Monday 20th of November 2023

Can I throw some turkey thighs in with the legs

Shannon Epstein

Monday 20th of November 2023

Absolutely. Fantastic idea!

Nina

Monday 25th of September 2023

I made this for Christmas during covid when it was just my husband and me. I now make it on a regular basis when I can find turkey lets. The seasoning blend is perfect. Thanks for such a great recipe.

Cheryl

Monday 20th of November 2023

@Shannon Epstein,

Shannon Epstein

Monday 25th of September 2023

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoy the recipe. The blend is pretty dang good if I must say so myself. I use it on chicken, pork, and beef:-)

Sandy Poppentey

Wednesday 12th of October 2022

This recipe is a winner. I followed the instructions to a tee and the turkey legs came out delicious!

CatW

Sunday 12th of June 2022

Love turkey but not the legs so much and part of that is the toughness of them. Im excited to give this a try. Approximaely how long do you broil the legs and do you turn them Also so you do not have to turn on the oven in summer, would these fit in a 6 qt air fryer to crisp up and how long in an air fryer. I do have a 10 qt for when Im prepping food and know they would fit there but it is kind of pain. Thx