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+ servings
smoked turkey legs on a cutting board

Easy Smoked Turkey Legs

Turkey legs brined overnight then slow smoked with indirect heat until fall apart tender meat with crispy skin.
These smoked turkey legs can be made on a gas grill, a pellet grill like a Traeger, Pit Boss or Camp Chef, or in any kind of propane or electric smoker such as a Masterbuilt.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Brining Time 6 hours
Total Time 8 hours 45 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Australian, barbecue, BBQ, Christmas, Holiday, Keto, Smoked, Thanksgiving
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Gas Grill, Pellet Grill, or Smoker
  • Wood pellets, chunks, or a pellet tube smoker with pellets or a smoker box with wood chips
  • Paper Towels
  • Baking Dish or Large Sealable Plastic Food Storage Bags
  • Instant Read and/or Leave in Probe Thermometer
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Large Raw Turkey Legs
  • Your Favorite BBQ Rub

Overnight Brine

  • 1 Cup Hot Water
  • 4 Cups Cold Water
  • 2 tablespoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 2 Bay Leaves whole
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced or 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Remove the turkey legs form their packaging and rinse under cold running water.

Brine the Turkey Legs Overnight

  • Bring 1 cup water to a gentle simmer in a stovetop pot. Add salt and brown sugar and whisk until dissolved.
  • Add bay leaves, garlic, pepper, and cold water and remove from heat.
  • Once cooled, pour the brine mixture over the turkey legs in a covered baking dish or sealable plastic bag.
  • Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 4-6 hours.

Rinse and Dry the Brined Turkey Legs

  • After the turkey legs are finished brining, take them out of the mixture and rinse them off really well under cold running water.
  • Pat the turkey legs dry with paper towels, and place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet to air dry.
    raw turkey legs on a wire rack drying after brining
  • Generously sprinkle your favorite BBQ rub all over the turkey legs on all sides.
    raw turkey legs on a wire rack seasoned with bbq rub

Set up your Grill or Smoker

  • Light or turn on your smoker, grill or pellet grill and set up the temperature to 300°F. If using a grill, only light a small amount of charcoal or light a single burner on one side for indirect cooking
  • Add your wood chunks directly to the firebox of a smoker, or use chips in a smoker box, or pellets in a tube smoker or pellet grill.
  • Once smoke is being produced and the grill or smoker is at 300°F, put your turkey legs on the indirect side and close the lid.
    turkey legs smoking on the grates of a pit boss pellet grill

Smoking the Turkey Legs

  • Continue smoking the turkey legs, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 175°F internally. This may take 2-3 hours.
    turkey legs with an instant read thermometer inserted measuring 178 degrees F
  • Remove the smoked turkey legs from the smoker and serve immediately.
    smoked turkey legs on a wooden cutting board

Notes

Recipe inspired by and video courtesy of Baum Grilling BBQ

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal
Keyword Brine, caveman, disney, Masterbuilt, Pit Boss, poultry, smoked turkey, smoked turkey legs, thanksgiving, traeger, turkey leg, Weber, wet brine
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