When we were young, trips to Disney World were met with much fanfare:
The time off from school! (I’ll skip out on your multiplication times tables and coloring workbooks, thank you very much!)
The rides! (This is the year I ride Thunder Mountain and actually put my hands in the air!)*
The characters! Mickey Mouse! Goofy! (Mustn’t forget my autograph book!)
And. THE FOOD!!!
Okay, before you label us all, and me in particular, as gluttonous fools, it was really just one food item in particular: The Smoked Turkey Legs. (Because that definitely deserves some capitalization.)
Ahhh smoked turkey legs–those cases full of deliciously salty, slightly hammy turkey legs, smoked to a dark and glossy perfection. We’d pay the astronomical $8 to $10 for one and pass it around like a meaty peace pipe, tearing off hunks of turkey like the tacky ravenous tourists that we were so okay with being at that moment. A lot of the other food in Disney World, Universal, Epcot, etc. etc. is just alright in our eyes…This turkey leg, on the other hand, was one of THE main attractions for us.
So imagine our excitement when a couple of years ago, my aunt started making smoked turkey legs in a charcoal grill in her backyard! The taste is almost exactly the same, and you can make them in a big batch with relative ease. We headed over to their house in Western New York for the July 4th weekend and absolutely INSISTED that we eat these and document the process.
There are some tastes that make such an indelible mark on your memory that you become a tiny bit obsessed, and this is definitely one of those tastes. If you share my crazed ardor for this form of smoked poultry in particular, read on!
*Of course this never actually happened because when Sarah and I were young, we were weak-kneed pansies, and by the time we were old enough to not be weak-kneed pansies, Thunder Mountain was such a snooze that it felt like more of a scenic trolley ride than anything else.
Updated TIPs!
Before we get into the recipe, we have some updates and key points to ensure successful turkey legs!
The date is November 26, 2021. My aunt, the mastermind behind this recipe, is here for Thanksgiving, and I took the chance to pick her brain on this recipe—and some of y’all’s pressing questions!
- It’s too salty! Make sure you use kosher salt. Apologies, folks, I should have clarified that from day 1 (the recipe card is updated!). Table salt will be far too salty. If you only have table salt, reduce the salt. Some sources say to reduce by 1/2, others say to reduce a 1/4. It’s up to your preference, but smoked turkey legs should be salty and hammy! Another important consideration—turkey producers sometimes inject turkey with salt, water, and spices. They will be marked as “basted” or “self-basted.” My aunt avoids this turkey. Though, most often, the breast, rather than the legs, is typically what’s injected given their tendency to dry out.
- Do I need to rinse the turkey after brining? Generally, no. If you want to give it a quick rinse, you can.
- My grill can’t keep low enough of a heat! My aunt makes them in the oven almost exclusively these days out of ease. Put the turkey legs in a roasting pan with a cup of water–just enough to cover the bottom so the turkey legs don’t burn. Roast at 325F—if the legs are small, roast them for 1 hour. For larger legs, roast for 1.5 hours. Next, wrap each turkey leg in foil for another hour in the same roasting pan. Then when you’re ready to eat them, unwrap them, you can brown them over a charcoal grill. This way the turkey stays incredibly moist as they are essentially steamed, but it’s then browned over the hot coals. This is great for making it ahead or during the winter. If you’re doing this you absolutely need to make sure you include liquid smoke in the brine as there are no wood chips involved.
- Can I do this with a whole turkey? Honestly? We have never done it. :) My aunt’s sense is you can take a similar oven approach, with the turkey breast down (to avoid drying it out), and roast it slower. You can also do the turkey in parts. She has tried this recipe with a whole turkey breast in the past. Note that the hammy-ness of the legs doesn’t translate as well to turkey breast.
Smoked Turkey Legs Recipe Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients for the brine in a large pot and bring to a boil. Let cool. if you’re short on time, you can also start by boiling the brine with just 2 quarts of water and then adding ice to cool to 1 gallon of brine.
While that’s happening, rinse your turkey legs and set aside in a large container (one that will fit into your refrigerator). You may want to use two separate containers.
When the brine has cooled, pour the brine over the turkey legs, making sure they are totally submerged (our container in the photo is probably too small). Cover and refrigerate overnight.
If you want to expedite the process, use a marinade injector, injecting one syringe-full of brine into each turkey leg (1½ syringe-fulls for the larger turkey legs). Then, let brine as usual for 5-6 hours. This way, the turkey legs don’t need to brine overnight. Sounds gruesome, but it really expedites the process, and these marinade injectors are pretty inexpensive!
When the turkey legs are ready, heat your charcoal. Your key tools for this recipe are a charcoal grill, a chimney starter, natural hardwood lump charcoal, and wet wood chips, which provides the smoky flavor. Fill your chimney with charcoal and light the coals with a piece of newspaper.
Let heat for a solid 15-20 minutes or so–until the coals are slightly white hot.
Also, take 1-2 handfuls of wood chips and soak them in water while the coals are heating.
Pour the coals into the grill and scatter the wood chips around the coals. Lay your grill rack over the coals.
Place the turkey legs on the grill rack and close the grill. 1 chimney-full of coal is enough to start for an average-sized charcoal grill. Add another chimney of coal every 20-30 minutes, depending on the kind of charcoal you’re using. Periodically add additional wet wood chips to make more smoke as needed. More wood chips makes more smoke, increasing the “hammy” smoked flavor of the turkey legs. You can cater this to your personal preferences. I like my smoked turkey legs hammy with a good smoke ring; my aunt prefers more of a natural flavor. Take your pick!
The slow cooking method is key here. Periodically check the smoked turkey legs, turning every once in a while, and make sure the grill maintains a temperature of 300-325 degrees. There is some element of trial and error to this if you’re a first-timer; make observations and adjust amounts of charcoal, wood chips, and heat over the course of the cooking time.
Maintain the grill, charcoal, and wood chips, letting the turkey cook for 3 ½ to 4 hours–until the smoked turkey legs have a nice, dark smoky color that a young Chinese girl once thought only existed within the walls of Disney World.
Serve immediately and let your inner caveman / inner Disney World fanatic dig in!
Wrap your smoked turkey legs with a napkin or butcher paper and get medieval with it!
Smoked Turkey Legs (Disney Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
For the brine:
- 1 gallon water
- 1 cup kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons dried thyme
- 3 tablespoons dried sage
- 1 1/2 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
You’ll also need:
- 10 turkey legs
- Natural hardwood lump charcoal
- Smoking wood chips (e.g. apple wood or hickory)
- Charcoal grill
- Charcoal chimney starter
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the brine in a large pot and bring to a boil. Let cool. if you’re short on time, you can also start by boiling the brine with just 2 quarts of water and then adding ice to cool to 1 gallon of brine.
- While that’s happening, rinse your turkey legs and set aside in a large container (one that will fit into your refrigerator). You may want to use two separate containers. When the brine has cooled, pour the brine over the turkey legs, making sure they are totally submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- If you want to expedite the process, use a marinade injector, injecting one syringe-full of brine into each turkey leg (1½ syringe-fulls for the larger turkey legs). Then, let brine as usual for 5-6 hours. This way, the turkey legs don’t need to brine overnight. Sounds gruesome, but it really expedites the process, and these marinade injectors are pretty inexpensive!
- When the turkey legs are ready, heat your charcoal. Your key tools for this recipe are a charcoal grill, a chimney starter, charcoal, and wet wood chips, which provides the smoky flavor. Fill your chimney with charcoal and light the coals with a piece of newspaper. Let heat for a solid 15-20 minutes or so–until the coals are slightly white hot. Also, take 1-2 handfuls of wood chips and soak them in water while the coals are heating.
- Pour the coals into the grill and scatter the wood chips around the coals. Lay your grill rack over the coals. Place the turkey legs on the grill rack and close the grill.
- chimney-full of coal is enough to start for an average-sized charcoal grill. Add another chimney of coal every 20-30 minutes, depending on the kind of charcoal you’re using. Periodically add additional wet wood chips to make more smoke as needed. More wood chips makes more smoke, increasing the “hammy” smoked flavor of the turkey legs. You can cater this to your personal preferences. I like a very hammy smoked turkey leg; my aunt prefers more of a natural flavor. Take your pick!
- The slow cooking method is key here. Periodically check the turkey legs, turning every once in a while, and make sure the grill maintains a temperature of 300-325 degrees. There is some element of trial and error to this if you’re a first-timer; make observations and adjust amounts of charcoal, wood chips, and heat over the course of the cooking time.
- Maintain the grill, charcoal, and wood chips, letting the turkey cook for 3 ½ to 4 hours–until the turkey legs have a nice, dark smoky color that a young Chinese girl once thought only existed within the walls of Disney World.
- Serve immediately and let your inner caveman / inner Disney World fanatic dig in!
I have made this on multiple occasions now using all the whole Turkey but parted out into legs, thighs, wings, and whole breast plate. I follow the same brine instruction but cook in the electric smoker at 220F until the thigh hits 165F. If the breast isnt to 165F yet, I finish it in a 350F oven until it is. I like a mix of hickory and either apple or cherry wood. Usually the smoker may take 8hrs for the pieces and then the breast maybe needs 20min in oven to finish. Starting halfway through, baste with olive oil every hour until done. Comes out AMAZING! Not dry in the slightest. I plan to try injecting the breast with brine next time to get the flavor throughout rather than the outer layer. THANKS!!
Thanks, Ruben for these tips! They’re super helpful to everyone :) I’m so glad–and surprised–that the whole bird came out delicious! Perhaps we’ll try it one year, sounds absolutely delicious.
Hello. Were the turkey legs exposed to direct heat from the lump charcoal or indirect heat ? There’s a pan in the photos, did the legs go in the pan or was that just filled with water to keep moisture in the air ?
Exposing to the direct heat would grilling them. They need to get the ambiant heat and smoke. Would suggeat using a small pan or aluminum foil pan, there will be drippings in you grill if you don’t.
Hi Whitley, yes they sit in the pan.
Question: Any instruction or option for smoking the legs in a Traeger?
Hi Becca, not familiar with a Traeger, unfortunately! Perhaps a fellow reader will step in to answer your question.