Turkey Drumsticks in About 30 Minutes

When we make turkey wings or legs, we sometimes end up adding cooking time to make sure we reach the safe standards for internal temperature. I don’t mind longer cooking times, but with the Air Fryer, because it is a smaller appliance, this may affect browning (and tenting isn’t always a deterrent to slightly scorched meats). I like crunchy, but golden brown always beats slightly burnt.

And while I love slow cooking for many things (stews, sauces, soups), sometimes you want a quickie that only tastes like you spent hours working on a delicate balance of tastes and textures. This is a good weeknight quick meal.

Turkey Drumsticks in About 30 Minutes

1 tablespoon each (see note):

Penzey’s Poultry Seasoning

Penzey’s Justice Seasoning

Penzey’s Forward Seasoning

2 tablespoons garlic powder

½ tablespoon Goya powdered chicken bouillon

Extra virgin olive oil

In a small bowl, mix the seasoning and then add olive oil (about ¼ cup) a little at a time and stir until it forms a loose paste.

Loosen the skin on the drumsticks and place about a teaspoon or two under the skin, and then rub the rest on the legs to season every inch of the surface.

I did something different this time because a few other times I made turkey legs on the Air Fryer, I’ve have to cook longer than I intended because the inside is not fully cooked and we won’t eat pink turkey. So to prep the legs, I cooked in the microwave for about 10 minutes at 80% power – and covered in a dome of plastic wrap so that it steams in its own juices.

At this point, you can transfer directly to the Air Fryer, or refrigerate for later cooking (think of it as electronic blanching). Make sure to add the cooking juices collected from the microwave dish over the drumsticks and into the Air Fryer.

To finish cooking, I left it in the Air Fryer for 20 minutes on one side at 375°F on one side, flipped them and cooked for another 10 minutes at 400°F. The juices collect on the bottom of the basket, brown and savory. The skin is golden and crispy and the meat is tender and juicy.

I served with sliced sweet potatoes, which I find cook perfectly on our microwave—in under 10 minutes while I let the drumsticks sit and collect its juices.

I made a simple Ranch dressing to dip the turkey in (mayo, dill, crushed garlic, lemon juice, and vinegar).

Note: The Penzey’s seasonings are all salt-free mixes with a variety of herbs and spices.

1. Poultry Seasoning—sage, white pepper, bell peppers, lemon peel, savory, rosemary, dill weed, allspice, thyme, marjoram and ginger.

2. Justice Seasoning—shallots, garlic, onion, green peppercorns, chives, and green onion.

3. Forward Seasoning—extra bold black pepper, onion, paprika, garlic, turmeric, spice extractives (including oleoresin of celery, rosemary, black pepper, thyme, basil and paprika).