I would never claim to be a professional chef, but I can say that I’m not about to waste good meat just because it needs a different cooking approach. After some trial and error, and lots of internet advice, it’s pretty clear to me that turkey legs aren’t to be overlooked as excellent table fare. The best way that I’ve found to cook legs and thighs quickly (even from frozen) and maintain a good texture and moisture level is to throw them in an Instant Pot. It’s not a quick or labor-free method, but the end result pays off.
The primary dishes that I make with turkey thighs and legs are tacos, nachos, BBQ sandwiches, and various soups. With all of those dishes, my cooking method remains pretty similar.
First, if you have fresh or thawed meat, you’re going to want to consider a brine. Brining your meat helps to increase moisture and create a tender texture. Just put the meat in with water, salt, and any aromatic spices that compliment what your final product is going to be. Let the legs brine overnight, then rinse before cooking. If you don’t have time to brine, you can still follow the rest of this method with frozen meat. You’re just going to increase your cooking time by 30 minutes or so.
Next, you’ll want to throw the legs into the Instant Pot and cover them in bone broth or chicken stock. Then you’ll cook the legs for 90 minutes, or 2 hours if they’re frozen. When you release the steam and open the lid, the meat should fall or pull easily from the bone. If it does not, you actually need to increase your cook time. You will need to meticulously remove the bones and tendons at this point. You can then shred or chop the meat and drain the broth. I’ll set aside the broth for soup if that’s the dish I’m planning.
From here, I usually add olive oil with appropriate seasoning for my final product. If I’m making nachos, I’m going to add chilli powder, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, oregano, and red pepper flakes at this step.
I’ve had many friends and family surprised at how delicious these wild turkey leg meals are. I now we seem to have a list of friends that bring us their legs after they harvest a bird, which is not a bad problem to have. Next time you clean your bird, keep these cooking methods in mind.