Brined Air Fryer Turkey Legs Recipe

Does Brining Turkey Legs Really Make a Difference?

From personal experience, I find that brining my turkey legs before cooking gives me the best results. Brining is letting the turkey meat sit in salty water (1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 cups of water) for at least 2 hours, or overnight. 

This simple sugar and salt brine with a bit of lemon juice is the secret to ensuring turkey legs cook up tender. After brining, rinse turkey legs slightly, pat them dry with paper towels, coat them with the mixture of oil, herbs, and spices, and roast them in the Air fryer until crispy skin and the interior cooked through.

How long should I brine the turkey legs?

I suggest a minimum of 2 hours. Best overnight (10-12 hours). The next morning rub your turkey with oil, seasoning, and herbs, and let absorb for at least an hour.

Ingredients

• 2 Turley legs
• 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dry rosemary

Turkey Brine

• 6 cups water
• 2 Tablespoon Kosher salt
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon. Plus dump the squeezed lemon into the brine
• ½  raw onion
• 2 Bay leaf
• 1 spring fresh rosemary
• 4 springs of fresh thyme

How to Make the Juiciest Air Fryer Turkey Legs

• In a large pot, add water, salt, sugar, and stir until completely dissolved. Add lemon juice, plus dump the lemon. Add onion, bay leaf, rosemary and thyme. Add turkey legs, ensuring they are completely submerged in water. Cover and put in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or best overnight.
• Preheat the air fryer to 380F/195C.
• Drain and discard the brine.
• Pat turkey legs dry with paper towels.
• In a small bowl combine oil and seasoning blend for the turkey rub.
  Using your hands or a food-basting brush, brush the oil and seasoning mix all over the turkey legs, rubbing under the skin, if possible.
• Place seasoned legs directly onto an air fryer basket or tray.
• Cook for 30 minutes, flipping halfway. That is 15 minutes per side.
• Note: If your turkey legs are extra large, they may require more cooking time. After 30 minutes cover them with foil (to prevent skin burning) and cook for an extra 10-15 minutes. Until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Tips for the Juciest Air Fryer Turkey Legs

• Make sure your turkey legs are thawed completely before air frying. This will help ensure that they cook evenly.
• Season the turkey legs generously with salt, pepper, and other herbs or spices of your choice. This will help to give them flavor.
• Cook the turkey legs on a wire rack inside the air fryer so that they brown evenly. This will also help to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer.
• Monitor the turkey legs closely as they cook, as air fryers can vary in how quickly they cook food. Check them frequently so that they don't overcook.
• Use the meat thermometer and check when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.