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Crispy air fryer Cajun turkey legs on a serving platter

Air Fryer Cajun Turkey Legs

5 from 1 vote
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Brine Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Pickle-brined turkey legs with a smoky Cajun rub, air fried until the skin is crispy and the dark meat is juicy. A small-batch Thanksgiving main or a fair-style treat any night.

Ingredients 

  • 4 turkey legs, about 1 to 1.5 lb each
  • 1 cup dill pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Place turkey legs in a zip-top bag or dish, add pickle juice and refrigerate 3 to 8 hours, turning once.
  • Remove from brine and pat very dry. Discard the brine.
  • Mix brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, black pepper, cayenne and salt.
  • Rub legs with olive oil, then coat all sides with the spice mix.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (188°C) for 5 minutes.
  • Add legs in a single layer, not touching; cook in batches if needed.
  • Air fry 20 minutes, flip, then air fry 15 to 20 minutes more, until 165°F minimum (175 to 180°F for the most tender meat) in the thickest part.
  • Rest 10 minutes and serve.

Equipment

Notes

Using store-bought Cajun seasoning, replace the spices and salt with 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning plus the brown sugar. Recalculate nutrition after updating the ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 1044kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 133gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 481mgSodium: 1682mgPotassium: 1904mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 581IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 12mg