Are those my favorite turkey legs?
This recipe is late.
This was supposed to be my Thanksgiving pressure cooker recipe - State Fair Turkey Drumsticks. But I got distracted the night I was cooking it, and only took pictures of the beginning of the recipe, up to locking the pressure cooker lid. 3 Everyone loved the big drumsticks, but I had other recipes ready, so I let it go, thinking “Maybe next Thanksgiving?”
Then I kept hearing from my wife. Multiple holiday turkeys were served, and with each one, she said: “These are good drumsticks - but not as good as the ones you made in the pressure cooker. When can we have those again?”
Here they are: my wife’s favorite turkey drumsticks. 4
Recipe: Pressure Cooker State Fair Turkey Drumsticks
Equipment
- 6 quart or larger pressure cooker (I use an Instant Pot Duo electric pressure cooker)
Pressure Cooker State Fair Turkey Drumsticks
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Pressure Cooker State Fair Turkey Drumsticks recipe - massive turkey legs, like you get at the amusement park.
Ingredients
- 6 turkey drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 2 packed teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup soy sauce
Instructions
- Season the drumsticks: Mix the salt, brown sugar, pepper, and garlic powder, breaking up any clumps of brown sugar. Sprinkle evenly over the turkey drumsticks.
- Everything in the pot: Pour the water and soy sauce into the pot, then add the drumsticks.
- Pressure cook the drumsticks: Lock the lid and cook at high pressure for 20 minutes stovetop/25 minutes electric PC, then let the pressure come down naturally for 15 minutes, and quick release any remaining pressure.
- Serve: Lift the drumsticks out of the pot with tongs - be careful, they are fall-apart tender. If you have the time, pour the pot liquid in a fat strainer, let the fat float to the top, and pass the de-fatted liquid at the table as a sauce.
Notes
If you want to crisp up the turkey skin, brush the drumsticks with the sauce from the pot, then run them under the broiler until browned. (I don't bother, and serve them as-is).
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
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Notes
- 6 drumsticks fit in my 6 quart Instant Pot…but it depends on the length of the bones. Shorter legs stack in there without any problem, but longer bones don’t fit in there flat, and I have to work them in like a jigsaw puzzle. Don’t worry about the max fill line; there is plenty of air in the pot. As long as the lid will lock, the drumsticks fit.
- The cooking liquid is delicious poured over baked potatoes. Just sayin’.
What do you think?
Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
Related Posts
Pressure Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup with Vegetables
Pressure Cooker Chicken Broth and Shredded Chicken
My pressure cooker recipe list
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Nancy Darby says
It was amazing. Everyone loved it
Mike Vrobel says
Thanks!
Kathleen M Smithson says
I made this with home smoked domestic goose and it was AMAZING! By far the best goose that I have ever eaten! It smelled so good when I was cooking it I hoped it would taste one tenth as goood as it smelled. Now I am anxious to try it with smoked rabbit. Goose can be really stringy and dry (we take the skin off when butchering) I made the decision to cut the meat off the bones and throw the neck and drumstick with a little meat into the pot and it was all spoon tender!
Monica says
Such an effortless and yet delicious recipe. Roasted quartered small potatoes and sliced carrots as a side dish. Will for sure do again, thank you!
Linda S says
I made this with turkey wing flats. Fantastic!!!!
And my husband hates turkey. Making them again. Thx.
I did reduce the time to 12 minutes. Worked great. Yum!!
Mike Vrobel says
Thanks for the wing info!
tex says
yes to this recipe
Joseph Crotinger says
IP is just now coming to pressure, We are turkey leg lovers. By the by! Ever in Bishop CA go into the big bakery. Lots of stuff but the turkey legs are legendary. Pressure is up and the aroma is wonderful. Looking forward to the supper. Thanks for a great new way to do turkey legs.
Mike Vrobel says
You're welcome!
Beth says
I’m very late to the party, but want to try this tonight with two turkey legs. I’m a newbie IP owner, have made 10 meals in two weeks, more cooking than I’d done in two months. Three. More.
Question: my husband isn’t a big soy sauce/Chinese food fan (though I am!). My sense is the soy sauce won’t be a prominent flavor, however, or this recipe would be named something else, not State Fair. Your take?
Thanks for the clear instructions and the explanation of why more legs does not = more time. Need to find your other recipes/blog/etc.
Mike Vrobel says
The soy sauce adds a hint of meaty flavor; you can skip it if you want, but I don't think anyone will think it tastes "soy saucy".
Susan says
Excellent! Tender turkey legs, with delicious spices!
Colleen Voiles says
I know it's an entirely different ingredient, but realized last second I have no brown sugar. I put turbinado sugar instead. I realize it doesnt quite melt like brown does but was worth a go. Turkeyegs are cheap! Will report back.
Julia says
I found turkey drumsticks on sale at the grocery store, not knowing how I was going to prepare them. I found this recipe, and was doubtful about it, but decided to try it out since I had all of the ingredients on hand.
OMG!
So good!
I used my instant pot. I didn't have enough soy sauce, so I added a little bit of teriyaki sauce as well.
Thanks so much for this recipe!
Teresa Sandel says
Hi Mike, do I use the cooking rack on the bottom for this recipe?
Mike Vrobel says
No, I don't. You can if you want, but it's not necessary.