My Theme Park Style Turkey Legs Recipes

FESTIVAL AND THEME PARK TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• Combine soda, sugar, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, black pepper and onion slices in a large pot.
• Bring to a low boil and add turkey legs.
• Boil over a medium heat for about 30 minutes or until the turkey legs register an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, preheat grill.
• Place onion slices on the heated grill and put the turkey legs on top of the onion slices.
• Brush with honey and sprinkle with steak seasoning and pepper.
• Grill over a medium heat for about 15 minutes watching carefully to avoid burning.
• Turn as needed.
• The skin should be crispy brown when the turkey legs are done.

MY THEME PARK STYLE TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• This is my version that worked well for us. I brine for 24 hours. Heat your smoker to 220 degrees with real charcoal chunks. Add your favorite wood chips if you like. We then smoke the legs until done, it's about 4 hours for nice sized legs. The turkey comes out with a nice "hammy" texture. They may not be exactly like the theme park turkey legs but sure comes close enough for us.
• Heat 1/2 gallon of water or stock to a boil to dissolve the salt, brown sugar and base if using.
• Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Add to your brine pot along with 1 gallon of ice water and brine for 24 hours.
• ***Note: Apple wood or Cherry wood chips are a sweeter milder smoke than Hickory wood.

BARBECUED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• The day before, make a dry brine: Put 2 wire racks on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Mix together the sugar, chili powder, mustard powder, garlic powder, cayenne and 1/2 cup salt. Pat the turkey drumsticks dry. Put 2 drumsticks in a large shallow bowl and sprinkle generously with the dry brine, rubbing it into every nook and cranny. Transfer to one of the wire racks. Working in batches, sprinkle and rub the remaining drumsticks with the dry brine and transfer to the wire racks. Sprinkle the drumsticks on the racks with any remaining dry brine. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours and preferably up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the drumsticks, rotating the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through cooking, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer measures at least 200 degrees F, about 2 hours. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer the drumsticks to large re-sealable plastic bags. (The turkey can be made ahead up to this point and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.)
• Preheat a gas grill to medium-low or prepare a charcoal for medium-low indirect heat: bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results).
• Brush the grill grates with oil. Put the drumsticks on the grill (or indirect side if using charcoal) and cook, turning and basting with the barbecue sauce every 5 minutes, until the drumsticks are deep amber on the outside and heated through, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool for 5 minutes, then wrap the exposed bone-end of each drumstick with foil and serve while warm.

GRILLED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
• In a large pot, mix the lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage, sugar, hot sauce, red pepper, pepper, and onion. Place the turkey legs in the mixture, and bring to a boil. Cook 30 to 45 minutes, until the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).
• Remove onion slices from the mixture, and arrange on the prepared grill. Place turkey legs over the onions. Drizzle with honey, and season with steak seasoning. Cook, tuning once, 20 minutes, or until a crisp browned crust has formed on the turkey legs.