These barbecue turkey leg recipe ideas will make you want to give up on regular turkey for all time.

Why? Because nothing compares to the combination of sticky, sweet, spicy bbq sauce and the rich, intense flavor of turkey. Mmm. Sorry, Roasted Turkey. Time to go home, chicken. You've been beaten.

Whether you want to skip the big bird this Thanksgiving or Christmas to make something special, fun, and festive, or you want an alternative to the barbecued chicken you're used to making, our barbecue turkey leg recipe ideas are probably just what the doctor ordered.

And the doc probably would order them, too, because these recipes are healthy as well as delicious. Guilt-free turkey, baby.

This recipe is spicy and savory without any of the sweetness you get with your usual barbecue turkey leg recipe. The thyme --not a common ingredient in BBQ sauce-- pairs perfectly with the flavor of the turkey.

• Print this Recipe

Ingredients:
4 turkey drumsticks, about 1 lb each
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 C. chili sauce
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1/3 C. apple cider vinegar
1/4 C. onion, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried thyme

Instructions: In a small saucepan, combine garlic, chili sauce, oil, vinegar, onion, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and thyme. Simmer on low heat, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes. Place drumsticks in roasting pan. Pour prepared sauce over. Cover and marinate for at least two hours in refrigerator. (If the roasting pan won't fit in your fridge, simply toss turkey with sauce in non-reactive bowl or plate, and pour into roasting pan when ready to start cooking.) Turn pieces occasionally in sauce while marinating.

Grill: Spray rack with nonstick spray (don't do this while rack is over fire). Grill turkey legs approx 7 minutes per side, til browned. Turning and basting often with sauce, continue to grill about 1 hour, or until tender.

Oven: Cover drumsticks loosely in foil. Bake in 325 degree F oven for 1 and 1/2 hours, basting frequently. Uncover, then continue baking approx. 30 minutes, or until barbecued turkey drumsticks are browned and tender.

If you're looking for a super smokey barbecue turkey leg recipe, you might want to take a look at our Smoked Turkey Legs Recipes and Instructions.

This sweet and spicy barbecue turkey leg recipe is easy to make -- no grill required -- economical, and tasty as could be. If you're looking to make a healthier version, I've reduced and even eliminated the butter from this recipe with great success. In a huge hurry? Skip the homemade sauce and simply use your favorite bottled sauce.

• Print this Recipe

Ingredients:
4 turkey drumsticks, about 1 lb. each
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 C. water
1/4 C. butter
1/2 C. ketchup
1/3 C. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange turkey legs in large casserole dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 cup water into dish. Cover dish tightly, bake at 350 for 2- 2 1/2 hours.

Turn oven to 425 degrees F. Place slices of butter in the hot casserole dish. Carefully turn turkey drumsticks in melted butter til lightly coated. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

In separate bowl, combine ketchup, sugar, dry mustard, and nutmeg. Pour over drumsticks.

Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F and bake uncovered 15 additional minutes.

Want to know how to bbq turkey drumsticks --perfectly-- in the oven? Simply use this recipe. The optional liquid smoke gives these baked barbecued turkey legs a rich, dark, outdoor-grilled flavor. It's worth a trip to go out and buy some if you don't have any on hand. If you feel like grilling, instructions for cooking turkey legs on the grill are also included.

• Print this Recipe

Ingredients
4 turkey legs, about 1 lb. each
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/4 C. molasses
1/4 C. apple cider vinegar
1/4 C. ketchup
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke (optional)

Instructions: Rinse and dry turkey legs. Remove any quills (spiny feathers). Sprinkle drumsticks with salt and pepper, to taste.

In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over drumsticks. Bake, covered, in a casserole pan at 325 degrees F for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours, til tender. Uncover during last 30 minutes of cooking.

For the grill, spray rack with nonstick spray and grill drumsticks about 7 minutes per side, til browned all over. Continue to grill about 1 hour, or until tender, turning and basting often with sauce.

Go from Barbecue Turkey Leg Recipe back to our Ultimate Holiday Turkey Guide