Smoked Turkey Legs Recipe - Disneyland Smoked Turkey Legs

This smoked turkey legs recipe is a favorite snack at Disneyland, so I decided to make my own version at home! Today I'm going to show you how to make smoked turkey legs using a simple brine and delicious dry rub. If you want the style of Disneyland's smoked turkey legs, be sure to ask your butcher for Tom turkey legs. The ones used at the park are 1 1/2 pound legs from 40-50 pound turkeys! The park sells over a million and a half of their Disneyland smoked turkey legs every year!

Here's our recipe for smoked turkey legs:

4-6 turkey legs (ask your butcher for the largest size he can get)

Brine:
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup (scant) seasoned meat tenderizer
2 tablespoons liquid smoke
1/2 tablespoon red Hawaiian clay sea salt (or regular kosher or sea salt)
1/4 cup soft brown sugar
4 bay leaves
Peppercorns, as desired
8 cups cold water

Mix together all of the brine ingredients, add the 8 cups of cold water last. Put two turkey legs each in a large Ziploc bag and cover with the brine. You will have enough brine to make about 6 turkey legs.

Zip tight and place in a large casserole dish and let sit overnight in the refrigerator, up to 12 hours or so. Be sure the brine is touching the legs, and you can turn them around once in a while during the brining stage to ensure complete coverage.

The next day, set your smoker to about 220 F. Drain the legs from the brine, rinse the legs lightly under cool running water, and pat dry.

Smoke for about 4 hours at 225 F. Bring it down to 180F for the last hour, or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 F. When you remove the turkey legs, it will continue to cook up to the proper 165 F.

#smokedturkeylegs #Disneylandturkeylegs #Disneylandturkeylegsrecipe

STAY IN TOUCH!

[andyyang]

Thank you so much for the video. I have cooked the Turkey legs every Thanksgiving for the last four years now. Everyone loves it. I am cooking it today because tomorrow is 2022 Thanksgiving.

[MsNashawn]

I think I found the recipe I want to use this year at Christmas. Best one ever!

[emilyencinias]

My family justs love these drumsticks. The smell from the grill just adds to the anticipation.

[JC-YT]

Superb recipe, it is as good as the one at Disneyland, thanks a ton Jason!

[tsuisei]

Finished product looks absolutely yum! But if you're going to smoke them in your grill you can lose the liquid smoke, and if you're going to brine them for 24 hrs with a sugar/salt solution and cook them low and slow for 4 hours you can lose the tenderizer. Try it :) You might enjoy them more without the off-tasting chemicals from those 2 ingredients. And loosening the skin isn't necessary either with a long brine period - the brine will go right through the skin. And, the skin left secure to the muscle will retain moisture better ensuring that extra napkins will definitely be needed at chomping time.

[brandonm]

Chef Hill, thanks for the recipe! We did your smoked legs (and thighs) with your rub in addition to our traditional roasted turkey this week for thanksgiving and they were phenomenal! Luckily I stashed a leg aside for leftovers the next day because all ten of them were gone!!
The only thing I would have done in addition to your preparation would be to remove the four tendons in the leg before I smoked them for easier consumption. I’m glad Christmas is just around the corner, giving me a good reason to do it again!

[antoniobaskerville]

Great Video ! I wasn't, sure how to smoke turkey Parts . Now I feel very confident about smoking turkey parts. Thanks for the video. The drum sticks turned out great !

[queencard]

Oven @ 220-250 4 hours, turning it regularly 6:16

[philliplopez]

I'm gonna try your recipe for the superbowl. 😁

[rbu]

Thanks for tip on loosening skin for more brine penetration. I will try that. I do wonder if it matters. But why not! Extra love.

[miltonjasso]

Thank you for your time Mr.
Got your self a new subscriber.

[MADGUNSMONSTER]

In all actuality there is a use for the 'after brine'. It can be used as the liquid in the drip pan underneath the turkey / turkey parts when outdoor smoking / grilling.

[gvc]

I'm going to give those a try...looks

[HerbieGrillt]

Hey my Friend this Drumsticks looks very Delicious
Greetings from Vienna
Herbie

[Funkafella]

Damn those look good, and I’m starving to too!

[wonderseeker]

Silicone spatulas are great for parting the skin from the meat without tearing the skin.

[theconceptsofwilliam]

Nice video! Yes, I will be using your recipe and video for smoke turkey legs. Thank you for sharing.

[jasonjjj]

Thank you for the video, I'm going to make these this Thanksgiving.

[johnf]

Nice video sir! Got a GMG myself really starting to love it. Took the granddaughter to a Ren faire and she had a turkey leg and loved it. Had to find the way to do it. You have another subscriber ! 👍👍

[k.s.k.]

I'm going to try this method for Thanksgiving turkey legs - thanks for the oven option.