These Roasted Turkey Drumsticks are coated in a seasoned butter and oil rub and baked to perfection in the oven. A fast, easy, and budget-friendly addition your Thanksgiving menu or a delicious option for any night of the week.
If you’re serving a great big group this Thanksgiving, adding some substantial turkey drumsticks to your menu is a great way to ensure you’ll have plenty. Drumsticks are very inexpensive, cook relatively quickly (when compared to a whole bird), and the kiddos (especially teenagers) love them!
As each year passes, I feel like I’ve roasted a whole turkey about a gazillion and one times. No joke. It’s usually my Dry Brine Turkey that is front and center on our Thanksgiving table each year.
In recent years I’ve branched out and experimented with different cuts and methods like my Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy and Oven Roasted Turkey Breast. But, if you have dark meat lovers in your house, adding these Roasted Turkey Drumsticks to your menu is an excellent choice for supplementing your menu.
Whether you have a group of 20 or it’s just the two of you, this Roasted Turkey Drumsticks recipe works!
Table of contents
Ingredient Notes
- Turkey drumsticks: Many stores start to carry turkey drumsticks in the early fall months and through the holidays. The recipe is written for 2 drumsticks but can easily be doubled or tripled if you need more.
- Butter and oil: Softened salted butter and olive oil.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt, granulated garlic or garlic powder, dried rubbed sage, dried thyme, and dried crushed rosemary. You’ll also need paprika – either regular smoked. If you’re not wanting a smoky flavor profile for Thanksgiving, regular paprika adds nice color and a very low intensity pepper flavor. Smoked paprika adds great smoky flavor that we love. If you’re undecided, you can go half and half for a milder smoky flavor.
Turkey Drumsticks vs. Turkey Legs
A turkey drumstick is the lower part of the turkey leg only. The turkey leg is comprised of two parts – the drumstick and the thigh.
This recipe was developed using turkey drumsticks but you could absolutely substititute whole turkey legs, if you’d like.
How to Make Roasted Turkey Drumsticks
- In a small bowl, combine the butter and oil with all the seasonings. Gently lift the skin as much as you can without tearing it (about half-way down the drumstick) and smear a little of the rub underneath.
- Pull the skin back over the drumsticks and press it into place then smear the outside of the skin with the remaining butter rub, coating the entire drumsticks, including the ends.
- Place the seasoned drumsticks on a wire rack on a baking sheet.
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F, flip the drumsticks, and continue to roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest portion reaches 175 degrees F.
Tips for the Best Roasted Turkey Drumsticks
Prepping Turkey Drumsticks: Remove the turkey drumsticks from the refrigerator and allow them it to rest at room temperature while the oven preheats. Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels so that the butter rub will stay put on the skin.
Use a Wire Rack: Roasting the drumsticks on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack allows the fat and juices to drip through to the baking sheet and will help the skin to crisp more easily. Line the baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
Optimal Internal Temperature: It’s better to err on the safe side and cook turkey drumsticks to an internal temperature of 175 degrees F. The typcial 165 degrees F that is recommended for most cuts of turkey or chicken may not be enough to make the juices run clear. Drumsticks are a very moist dark meat that does well cooking to a slightly higher temperature.
Crispy Skin: If you’d like crispy skin, at the end of the cooking time, set the oven to Broil and cook them long enough to brown the skin, then flip the drumsticks and crisp the other side.
Storage Tips
- Leftovers: Transfer leftover turkey drumsticks to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days. Leftovers can be served cold or wrap them in foil and reheat in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
- Storing Raw Turkey Drumsticks: Grab turkey drumsticks while they are available at the store and freeze them for an easy future meal. If you vacuum seal them, they can be frozen for up to 9 months. You can also wrap them tightly in aluminum foil and place them in a zippered freezer bag, but I would recommend using them within 4 to 6 months to prevent freezer burn if stored this way.
Serving Suggestions
Serving a Large Group: Serve them to bulk up a menu that includes Herb Roasted Turkey, Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Maple Glazed Spiral Ham, or Pork Loin Roast with Gravy.
Small Batch Thanksgiving Menu: For small Thanksgiving gatherings, Roasted Turkey Drumsticks can be the star of the show with a few simple side dishes. Make a batch of my Homemade Stovetop Stuffing, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Baked Acorn Squash or Roasted Delicata Squash, and Cheddar Dinner Rolls for a delicious small batch Thanksgiving meal.
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Roasted Turkey Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2 turkey drumsticks, approximately 1 pound each
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika, regular or smoked (or half and half)
- 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
Instructions
- Remove the turkey drumsticks from the refrigerator and allow them it to rest at room temperature while the oven preheats. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place a metal baking rack on a large rimmed sheet pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the butter and oil with all the seasonings. Set aside.
- Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels. Gently lift the skin as much as you can without tearing it (maybe half way down the drumstick) and smear a little of the rub underneath. Pull the skin back over the drumsticks and press it into place then smear the outside of the skin with the remaining butter rub, coating the entire drumsticks, including the ends. Place them on the baking rack on the sheet pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F, flip the drumsticks, and continue to roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest portion reaches 175 degrees F. (juices won’t run clear at 165 and it’s better to err on the safe side – turkey drumsticks are very moist dark meat and will do well cooking to a slightly higher temp).
- If you’d like crispy skin, set the oven to BROIL and cook just long enough to brown the skin to your liking. Flip the drumsticks and crisp the other side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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