Over the years, I’ve shared many ways that our family saves money on meats without sacrificing taste or my sons’ need to feed their carnivore selves, but one thing I have never implemented outside Thanksgiving week was to purchase turkey legs.
That is completely changing. Turkey Legs have been overlooked for too long.
My new Turkey Leg crock pot recipe addiction began when my favorite grocer’s meat man eyed me as he was closing down his department for the night. He asked if I wanted these packages. Yes, he knows my money saving nature too well, and already knew my answer. Even though I had no idea what he was holding, I said, “Of course,” and he slashed each package to only $1.
Since that evening, I’ve noticed that turkey legs are often marked down. I think it’s probably because typical consumers wonder what in the world to do with turkey legs?
Now believe me when I say you are going to want to search out inexpensive turkey legs and put them in your crock pot. What will occur is the most moist meat, and “fall off the bone” culinary delight which took you only minutes to prepare.
This is a perfect C.O.S.T (cook, once, serve twice or three times) Cooking meal.
I made it for the first time during my Pantry Challenge and I literally was rushing out the door in the morning and had two minutes to throw it together.
I sprinkled the turkey legs with seasoning salt, filled the slow cooker with my two packages of turkey legs, poured one cup of water in the crock pot, dumped in a can of cream of mushroom soup, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and cooked on low all day.
I came home to delicious turkey that literally was falling off the bone it was so good. It was a bit tedious to separate all the meat from the bones, but I wanted to make soup the next day, so I just dumped it all through a colander and that was a snap to do.
What I realize with this recipe is that you can experiment how ever you want. You are always guaranteed very moist meat each time, with various flavors based on what seasonings you choose.
Enjoy this incredibly inexpensive, 5 Minute Meal.
Recipe: Crock Pot Turkey Legs
Summary: Enjoy this incredibly inexpensive Crock Pot Turkey Leg Recipe. Prepared in only five minutes, it results in moist turkey legs every time.
Ingredients
- 4 Turkey Legs (or more. I filled my crock pot)
- Oil or butter (optional – I use olive oil)
- 3 tablespoons fresh (or dried) herbs. I use Rosemary, Basil, Oregano.
- 2 teaspoons seasoning salt or mixture of Paprika, Garlic Salt, Onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup water (or white wine). I use more water and wine if making soup the next day.
- Crushed garlic (2-3) cloves
- Chopped onion, carrots, celery (optional)
Instructions
This is one of those recipes where anything goes. Remember, this recipe can be as simple as just sprinkling dry onion soup mix onto the turkey legs with a bit of water at the bottom, or making the flavors far more complex. Hold loosely the measurements stated, and have fun experimenting. For a Mexican flare, change up the seasonings used.You really don’t need to measure the ingredients. If I only have less than five minutes to throw dinner in the crock pot. I just dump all the above ingredients in, and let the slow cooker do its magic. If afforded additional time, then follow the following recommendation.
- Place meat rack on the bottom of the crock pot ( optional)
- Brush turkey legs lightly with oil.
- In a large skillet, add oil or butter and slightly brown the turkey legs before transferring to crock pot’s meat rack.
- Add chopped vegetables to skillet, and saute until slightly softened.
- Add cooking wine and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then add herbs and cook for less than a minute.
- Transfer skillet contents to crock pot (remember to de-glaze the pan), and add seasonings.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for approximately Crock pot temperatures vary, so it may be done sooner.
- use extra broth to make gravy and serve with rice or risotto.
C.O.S.T. Meal Ideas? Hot Turkey Sandwiches, Turkey Noodle Soup, Turkey & Cheese Tortilla Wraps
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 6
I was just curious what store and where in the meat department you found the turkey legs. I’d love to be able to grab some for a change. We used to love getting the turkey breasts and cooking them in the rotisserie. We could get so many meals off of it but they don’t have them at a good price anymore.
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Jen Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I got them at Harris Teeter in the meat department, not the deli section. They are often marked down there, but you could talk to the meat manager and see if they have certain time frames when they are marked down more or go on sale.
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Amanda Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Jen, Thanks! I will check next time I’m at Harris Teeter.
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Patti Reply:
October 10th, 2013 at 8:08 pm
@Amanda, WalMart has turkey legs.
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linda Reply:
May 14th, 2016 at 7:13 am
@Amanda, Morrisons have them most of the time but I would guess most of the big supermarkets do. A “whole” turkey leg comes in two massive parts for about £3!. Slow cooking makes all the difference. They’re not so good cooked in a traditional oven.
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I’ve heard lots of good things about turkey legs recently. I have a leftover turkey leg in my freezer (cooked, as it’s from the christmas turkey) and I was thinking about using it for turkey noodle casserole. If it ends up being that cheap, I will definitely have to check out my local HT for their deals! Thanks for the tip Jen!
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this’d be good with turkey wings also! When halved, already single serving sized!!!
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I love dark meat so I’m loving this recipe. Looking for turkey legs next time I hit the store! thanks for sharing.
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Was curious if you could use chicken legs as a substitute.
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Jen Reply:
May 1st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Yes, I am sure that would work really well as well. 🙂 The meat falls off the bone. So moist.
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I have had some turkey legs that i got for a little over a dollar on sale in my freezer wondering what to do with it, thank you.
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Your recipe looks delicious. I am, however, searching desperately for a wonderful recipe for turkey drumsticks done in the slow cooker. Some of the ingredients I recall are Worcestershire Sauce, liquid smoke and I believe honey but not sure about the honey. There are other ingredients also. It’s been years since I’ve made them but they are wonderful. I’ve spent hours searching the internet and my house with no luck. Anyone out there able to save me? I’m going to keep everything crossed and believe someone has it for me.
Thanks to everyone reading this and HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.
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If you were going to place the crockpot on low, would you cook them for 4-6 hours? I just wanted to ask seeing as the time was omitted from the original recipe.
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Jen Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
I’m sorry, since I did it on high, I left that out. I would guess it would be on low for 6 hours. You could check after 4 to see how they are doing. Longer for turkey legs would not hurt it if you were gone for the day though. It would just probably fall right off the bone. 🙂
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I came across this recipe when serving the web for crock pot turkey leg recipes. I decided this was the one that sounded the best. I am so glad I did. The meat was so delicious and of course it fell right off the bone. I cut up some carrots, celery, and onion I added the garlic a minute before adding the wine. I used oregano, sage, basil, thyme and a little rosemary. I used garlic powder instead of garlic salt but added salt to the paprika mixture. I used 1/2 cup of white wine to the veggies and about that much to de-glaze the pan. before putting the legs in the crock pot I sprinkled them all over with the paprika mixture. I through it all in the crock pot along with the bits in the pan and cooked it on high for 4 1/2 hours. It was all the rave at the family dinner table. I will definitely be making this next year and most likely from here on out. No more dry turkey legs! YAY! Thanks for posting this recipe.
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Jen Reply:
November 29th, 2013 at 12:16 am
Oh Gwyn – that makes me happy to hear. Glad that it was enjoyed by all. Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving.
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