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Roasted Turkey Legs With Ghee

5.0

(3)

Four pieces of turkey on a serving platter with glasses of wine on the side
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton

These crispy roasted turkey legs are easy to pop in the oven; serve with a super-moist sous vide turkey breast, or on their own for a smaller feast. Looking for the ultimate, over-the-top way to prepare every part of the Thanksgiving bird? Click here.Ā 

If you don't have time to prepare ghee from scratch, it can also be purchased online or in grocery stores. Here's our guide to the best ghee brands.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hour, 15 minutes

  • Yield

    Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

2 whole bone-in turkey legs (about 5 pounds total) from a 15-17-pound turkey, drumsticks and thighs separated
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup ghee, divided

Special equipment:

A large roasting pan with a rack

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Toss turkey drumsticks and thighs with salt and place in an airtight container. Chill, covered, 8–24 hours.

    Step 2

    Preheat oven to 500°F. Arrange onion in roasting pan and top with rack. Remove turkey from container, pat dry, and transfer to rack, skin side up. Drizzle with 3 Tbsp. ghee.

    Step 3

    Roast 15 minutes. Turn pieces and baste with 1 Tbsp. ghee. Roast 15 more minutes, then turn pieces and baste again with 1 Tbsp. ghee. Roast 5 more minutes, baste with 1 Tbsp. ghee, then continue cooking until the thickest part of meat registers 155°F on an instant-read thermometer, 5–10 minutes more. Let rest at least 10 minutes (the internal temperature will rise to 165°F).

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