Herb Roasted Turkey Legs

As we near Thanksgiving I thought I’d post this Herb Roasted Turkey Legs recipe for the dark meat lovers. It is the most succulent turkey legs you are going to have. Packed with natural flavors from the fresh herbs and juiciness from the brine. You won’t be disappointed!

This Herb Roasted Turkey Legs recipe starts off in a simple brine for a couple of hours or overnight. It is then rinsed, patted dry and marinated with blended herbs. Then baked for 1.5 hours. The flavors are amazing!

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Notes and tips:

• I used 4 large turkey legs. They were about 3/4 lb. each. Each leg serves 2 people. Depending on the size you get it may serve less or more.
• I left the skin on for added flavor and to tuck in the herbs. You can remove them once they are baked or even before if you prefer.
• Using a brine really helps keep the legs moist and adds flavor. The brine I used is pretty simple: 1 and 1/2 quarts water or 6 cups water and 3 tbsp. kosher salt.
• Don’t wanna do a brine? Sure, just skip the brining step in the recipe (the brine is worth it though).
• I used a combination of cilantro, thyme, garlic, green onions in my herb mix. If cilantro is not your thing you can replace it with another herb of your choice such as rosemary, dill or sage.
• Cooking time: these took 1.5 hours to cook. 1 hour covered and 30 minutes uncovered. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the legs and oven. You want to make sure your meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted at the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone. The temperature will go up as the meat rests.

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  Ingredients

  Brine

  • 6 cups cold water
  • 3 tbsp. kosher salt

  Turkey Herb Marinade

  • 4 large turkey legs
  • 1 cup cilantro + more for garnish
  • 8 sprigs thyme
  • 4 green onions
  • 8 garlic cloves
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 large orange, zested and sliced in circles
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

  Recommended Tools

  • Large Baking Dish
  • Brine Bag (I set my bags in a large bowl before placing it in the refrigerator)
  • Meat Thermometer (I like and use this one in particular because I can leave the probe in the oven while monitoring the temperature outside).
  • Tongs
  • Zester
  • Food Processor or a Mortar and Pestle

  Method:

  1. To make brine, mix 6 cups of water and 3 tbsp. kosher salt in a large bowl. Clean and wash turkey if desired. Place turkey legs in a large zip lock or large container and pour in brine mixture. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

  5 from 1 reviews

  Herb Roasted Turkey Legs

  October 6, 2020

  Servings: 8

  Difficulty: Moderate

  Print This

  Herb Roasted Turkey Legs that is juicy and flavorful.

  By: Patricia

  Ingredients

  • 4 large turkey legs
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 8 sprigs thyme
  • 4 green onions
  • 8 garlic cloves
  • 1 large onion, thickly sliced
  • 1 large orange, zested and sliced in circles
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 6 cups water + 3 tbsp. kosher salt for brine

  Directions

  • Step 1 Make brine by mixing 6 cups water and 3 tbsp. kosher salt. Place turkey in brine bag or container and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours.
  • Step 2 Rinse turkey well after removing from brine. Pat dry.
  • Step 3 In a food processor, add cilantro, leaves from 4 sprigs thyme, 4 garlic cloves, 2 green onions, zest of 1 orange, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper. Chop finely.
  • Step 4 Pull turkey skin back and rub herb marinade all over tucking some under the skin. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Step 5 Set oven to 350 degrees. In your baking dish, add sliced onions, 4 garlic cloves, 4 sprigs thyme, 2 green onion sliced in 4ths, and orange slices.
  • Step 6 Place turkey legs in baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover, set oven at 400 degrees and roast for 30 minutes. Check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

  Serve these with my Mashed Potatoes recipe.

  Nutrition Info per 1/2 turkey leg with skin (using myfitnesspal)

  Calories: 194, fat: 10 g, carb: 5 g, protein: 23 g

  myWW smartpoints per 1/2 turkey leg (using WW recipe builder)

  Green, blue and purple plan: 7 smartpoints

  Note: nutrition info and smartpoints will vary depending on the size of your turkey legs. Please double check if you are counting smartpoints or calories.