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close up of roasted turkey drumsticks

Juicy Roasted Turkey Drumsticks, Easy Nut Free Recipe

Course: main dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: thanksgiving, turkey drumsticks
Prep Time: 1 day
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 1 day 2 hours
Servings: 4
Calories: 280kcal
Author: Sharon Wong @ Nut Free Wok
This recipe is easy to double or triple by brining 4 drumsticks per 1 gallon plastic bag. Or you could brine them in one large container if you can easily fit the whole thing in your refrigerator.
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Turkey Brine approximately 1.67 ounce
  • 4 turkey drumsticks 4-5 pounds total (try to buy evenly sized drumsticks)
  • 1-2 stalks of celery cut into 3 inch sticks about the thickness of chopsticks
  • Salt & pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted

Instructions

  • Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a small (2 qt) sauce pan and add turkey brine, stir to dissolve, remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 5-10 minutes.
  • Add 2 cups of cold water and allow the brine solution to cool to room temperature (wait or cold water bath in the sink).
  • Rinse turkey drumsticks (check for blood clots and feathers) and drain in a colander in the sink.
  • Place a 1 gallon sized resealable bag in a large bowl and fold down the sides, arrange the turkey drumsticks in the bag.
  • When the brine solution is at room temperature, add the brine solution to the drumsticks, and partially seal up the plastic bag.
  • Check that the turkey meat is submerged in the brine solution and add 1-2 cups of water as needed, seal up the bag while squeezing the air out of the bag at the same time, refrigerate overnight in a large bowl in case the bag gets punctured.
  • About 2 hours before you want to eat, preheat your oven 350ºF, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up, rinse the turkey legs, pat them dry with paper towels, and place them on the baking sheet.
  • Lay the drum stick on its side and insert a sharp knife in through the top to cut a slit and insert a celery stick, repeat with 2-3 celery sticks per drumstick.
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, brush with 1 tablespoon of melted butter, and turn them over and brush again.
  • Bake for 30 more minutes and brush with the rest of the butter.
  • Bake for another 30 minutes and check for doneness; drumsticks which are about 1 pound each will be ready after about 90 minutes total, the skin should look golden and crispy and the meat should be pulling away from the bone slightly; larger drumsticks will need additional time, approximately 4-5 minutes per ounce (a 1.25 pound drumstick will need another 15-20 minutes).

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal