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Smoked Turkey Legs


Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Close up photo of smoked turkey legs on a wooden cutting board.

These Smoked Turkey Legs marinate in and get injected with an easy homemade marinade that packs this juicy, tender meat full of tasty flavor! Prep these delicious turkey legs in just 15 minutes!

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup beef stock divided into ½ cups
  • 1 cup Frank's RedHot sauce
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 6 sprigs thyme
  • 6 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¼ cup red pepper jelly
  • ½ cup whiskey use your favorite whiskey or bourbon, or replace with beef stock
  • 4 turkey legs

Instructions

  • Combine ½ cup beef stock, and all ingredients but the turkey legs into a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir well as the butter melts. Once the mixture starts to boil, remove it from heat. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  • Then, pour into a deep casserole dish and place turkey legs inside. Cover and allow to marinate overnight, or at least 5 hours.
  • Remove turkey legs from the casserole dish and set them aside. Pour the marinade into a large mixing bowl with a pour spout. Set aside ½ cup, and pour remaining marinade into a saucepan.
  • Bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and place into a bowl for basting.
  • Set smoker to 250°F and preheat for 15 minutes with the lid closed. Fill auger ½ full with cherry wood pellets.
  • In a small mixing bowl combine the ½ cup of marinade set aside in step 2 with ½ cup beef stock.
  • Use a meat injector to inject marinade into the meatiest parts of the turkey legs.
  • Place turkey legs directly onto the grill grates. Cook for 3 hours. Baste or brush with the boiled marinade every 30 minutes.
  • Remove from heat once the internal temp has reached 165°F.

Notes

  • How To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy them within four days!
  • How Can I Reheat These Turkey Legs? Place them in a casserole dish with a tablespoon or two of water and cover the dish with tinfoil. Reheat them slowly in the oven at 250 degrees F. Placing water in the dish and heating them slowly will help the reheated turkey legs to not dry out.
  • Can I Make This Recipe Without Alcohol? Yes, you can! To do so just swap out the bourbon for chicken stock.
  • What Other Types Of Pellets Can I Use In My Smoker? I chose to use cherry wood pellets for this recipe but you could also use apple or even maple. For a stronger flavor try using hickory!
  • Are Wood Pellets and Wood Chips The Same Thing? They’re actually not. Wood pellets tend to burn hotter and last longer. Whereas wood chips don’t seem to smoke the meats evenly and burn up a lot faster than the pellets.

Nutrition

Calories: 784kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 1325mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 1096IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg

Find it online: www.sugarandsoul.co/smoked-turkey-legs/