Grilled Smoked Turkey Legs with Spiced BBQ Glaze
Juicy smoked turkey legs finished on the grill and glazed with a warm spiced BBQ sauce for a flavorful outdoor feast. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 205 minutes, pairs turkey legs, olive oil, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4, about 1.5 lbs each turkey legs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to create a dry rub.
- Step 2: Rub 4 turkey legs generously with 2 tbsp olive oil, then coat evenly with the dry rub mixture.
- Step 3: Preheat your smoker or grill to 275°F and smoke the turkey legs for 2 to 2.5 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 4: Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tsp smoked paprika in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes until thickened into a glaze.
- Step 5: Transfer the smoked turkey legs to a preheated grill set to medium-high heat. Brush the spiced BBQ glaze over the legs and grill for 5 minutes per side, basting frequently until caramelized.
- Step 6: Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving with extra glaze on the side.









