Turkey legs wrapped in bacon are an epic feast any night of the week! This recipe is easy to make in under an hour with only a few key steps: Simply season, wrap bacon around the turkey leg, and bake in the oven until tender and juicy. Enjoy as an effortless but impressive main with your favorite sides!

cooked final dish on the parchment paper on the baking tray

If you have ever been to a Renaissance festival or state fair, chances are at some point you have enjoyed a turkey leg. The impressively large leg is usually roasted or smoked, and served as-is with bone-in for handy munching. It is the perfect balance between regal and rustic!

But smoky, savory turkey legs are not just for festivals and fairs... These turkey legs wrapped in bacon are easy to make right at home by roasting in the oven. Generously season with garlic and a simple spice blend, then wrap the uncooked bacon right around the leg, place in a baking dish with fresh rosemary, and bake for less than an hour.

Serve with nearly any comfort food home cooking side dishes for a fun and oh-so-flavorful meal!

Recipe ingredients

Turkey drumsticks. Large, fresh or previously frozen and thawed.

Spices. Sea salt, cracked black pepper, smoked paprika, and dried thyme.

Garlic cloves. A classic ingredient to add savory, earthy flavor to nearly any dish.

Bacon. Smoked bacon is best to give the turkey legs a deeply smoky, deliciously fatty flavor.

Rosemary. Fresh sprigs to add right before the legs go in the oven. This herb-y freshness is great to balance the heaviness of the dark meat turkey and bacon.

How to make turkey legs wrapped in bacon

Defrost turkey leg if it was previously frozen. Preferably thaw overnight in the fridge, it will help to keep all the juices in.

raw turkey leg covered in spices and minced garlic — season turkey leg with spices and minced garlic

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mince garlic and prepare all the seasonings. Cover turkey leg in spices and garlic and get the pork bacon ready.

Lay all the bacon slices you are planning to use on top of turkey leg, slightly overlapping each other. Than wrap bacon under the leg to cover it completely.

Move it to the baking dish, lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with maple syrup if you want. Place the dish in the oven.

wrapping turkey in bacon — wrap turkey leg in bacon

Baste turkey with juices during cooking. Cook for about 50 minutes, checking every 10 minutes after to make sure it reaches 165 degrees internal temperature.

Cooking time depend on the thickness of turkey leg you are using. Stick the instant thermometer in to the thickest part of the leg but away from the bone.

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Does turkey taste like chicken

The dark meat textures of turkey and chicken are similar. However, turkey is far more flavorful than chicken. It is thick, meaty, with just the right amount of fattiness that becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender when you roast it in the oven.

final dish before baking in the oven — place turkey leg in the baking dish

maple drizzle on turkey leg wrapped in bacon — drizzle with maple syrup

Where to buy

During the fall around Thanksgiving season, from about late October to early December, it is usually pretty easy to find all cuts of turkey at most grocery stores. Otherwise you might need to buy the legs from a local butcher or online meat retailer that ships to your door.

Is turkey leg healthy

Turkey has a terrific amount of protein and minerals, but is relatively low fat and has fewer calories than chicken. Therefore yes, turkey legs are considered a lean and healthy meat choice.

close picture of the turkey wrapped in bacon

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to wrap turkey in foil?

No, it is not necessary to wrap the legs in aluminum foil before baking. They roast at a lower temperature for almost an hour, which helps to ensure that the meat stays moist. It also helps to baste regularly for the most juicy turkey.

How do you make fall off the bone turkey legs?

Wrapping the legs in strips of smoked bacon and roasting low and (slightly) slow are key to make sure your turkey is moist and tender every time!

What temperature should turkey legs be cooked?

For this easy recipe we set the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Then roast for approximately 50 minutes, until the internal temperature of the turkey is a minimum of 165 degrees. The internal temperature should not get higher than 180 degrees, or you run the risk of dry meat.

Why are my turkey legs tough?

Typically turkey meat will become tough if it is overcooked. Be sure that your oven is properly calibrated and that it is set to 350 degrees. Roast the turkey legs wrapped in bacon for 40-50 minutes while basting frequently. Then check the internal temperature and remove from the oven as soon as they hit an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Are turkey legs keto friendly?

Yes, bacon wrapped turkey legs are keto! The bacon and aromatics are all keto-approved... and the dish also happens to be low carb, low calorie, gluten free, and paleo.

Substitutions and variations

Substitute pork bacon with turkey bacon to reduce amount of calories.
Don't have turkey leg? Don't worry, you can make this recipe using turkey thighs or turkey wings. Even turkey breast will work, just watch the cooking time closely.
Rosemary is great but try to add fresh thyme leaves or sage.
For a crispy bacon, broil it for 2-3 minutes in the end of cooking time.

Storage

Leftovers. Store leftovers in the fridge in the air tight container or ziplock bag for up to 5 days.

Freezer. You can freeze cooked turkey legs as well, in the freezer safe bag or container. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure there is no air in the bag, it will help prevent freezer burn.

Reheat. Reheat in the microwave until nice and hot. To get bacon crispy you can try to use air fryer or broiler when reheating.

Other turkey recipes

Turkey Leg Wrapped in Bacon

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 turkey drumsticks
½ teaspoon salt
black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 garlic cloves, minced
6-8 stripes of smoked bacon
1 teaspoon thyme
couple springs of rosemary
maple syrup, optionally for glaze

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover turkey with minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and thyme. Wrap legs in bacon, about 3 strips per drumstick. Brush with maple syrup if using. Place rosemary on top.
Place wrapped turkey legs in the baking dish and roast in the oven for 60 minutes. Baste with juices couple times.

Notes

Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit

I recommend to start checking the internal temperature every 10 minutes after 50 minutes of cooking. Large legs will take longer time to cook. Watch that temperature! Do not overcook or it will become dry and chewy.

Leftovers. Store leftovers in the fridge in the air tight container or ziplock bag for up to 5 days.

Reheat. Reheat in the microwave until nice and hot. To get bacon crispy you can try to use air fryer or broiler when reheating.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 637Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 347mgSodium: 1129mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 84g