What Are Turkey legs and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with turkey legs? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them — with 9 recipes to put them to work.

Recipes using turkey legs

There are 9 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Grilled Turkey Legs

Ready the grill for this succulent recipe that tastes great with baked or mashed potatoes.

Turkey Mole

Turkey legs braised in a rich mole sauce built from chocolate, peanut butter, raisins, ground chile, and warm spices. This authentic Mexican mole delivers deep, layered flavor that will have you licking the plate clean.

Turkey Gumbo (Franz)

Turkey gumbo built from a leftover carcass with a dark roux, okra, smoked sausage, bacon, and Cajun spices. A rich, hearty way to use your holiday turkey.

Turkeylegs Provenciale

Turkey legs braised Provencale-style with tomatoes, olives, almonds, rosemary, garlic, and white wine. A rustic French one-pot braise with Mediterranean flavors.

Nine Bean Soup

Nine bean soup simmered with beef chuck roast, turkey leg, tomatoes, chili powder, and small pasta. A hearty, slow-cooked bean soup with two meats for deep, rich flavor.

New Orleans Red Beans & Rice

New Orleans red beans and rice cooked low and slow in a crockpot with smoked turkey legs, onion, celery, bay leaves, and hot sauce. Makes enough to freeze multiple family meals.

New Orleans Turkey Creole

New Orleans turkey creole with poached turkey legs, bacon, tomatoes, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, and okra served over rice. A Southern Creole classic with bold bayou flavor.

Oven-Barbecued Turkey Legs

Oven-barbecued turkey legs dredged in chili-spiced flour, seared golden, then braised low and slow in barbecue sauce with chicken bouillon. Fall-off-the-bone tender in 2 hours.

Hearty Hungarian Peasant Soup

Hungarian peasant soup with chicken, turkey legs, and stewing beef simmered with kohlrabi, parsley root, leeks, and whole peppercorns. A two-course meal from one pot.

All 9 recipes