Roasted Turkey Legs (Easy, Juicy, Crispy!)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe rack on top. (You can also roast turkey legs directly on the baking sheet, but the rack setup has better air flow for more even cooking. This set comes with a rack that fits perfectly into the sheet pan.)

Pat the turkey drumsticks dry with paper towels, which will help them get crispy. Arrange them on the rack.

Brush the turkey with olive oil on all sides. Season all sides with smoked paprika, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper.

Roast turkey legs in the oven for 45-50 minutes, checking on them at 30 and 40 minutes – if they get too dark, tent the top with foil and continue roasting. The final internal temperature measured with a meat thermometer should reach at least 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). (For juicier meat, aim for over 170 degrees F rather than 165, as this makes the collagen in dark meat break down for a more tender result, but anything over 165 degrees F is safe.) Roasting time is based on 12-ounce drumsticks, so may take more or less time if yours are much larger or smaller – a meat thermometer works best.

Remove from the oven (do not remove the foil) and let the turkey drumsticks rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.