Hengshan goat meat produced exclusively in Shaanxi province of China is the product of national geographical indication. In current study, nutritional and safety indexes of Hengshan goat leg meat were investigated and the quality changes induced by seven commonly used processing methods were systematically evaluated. Comparing with control, meats treated with thermal processing demonstrated decreased redness, enhanced texture properties, increased protein, fat and mineral contents, as well as sharply raised fatty acids. Amino acid contents in pan-fried, deep-fried, and roasted samples were reduced with the most obvious valine scores declined 15%, 13%, and 21%, respectively. Also, thermal treatments conducted in smoke exposure circumstances caused mass formation of nitrite and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), evidenced by the 5.8-fold, 3.3-fold, and 3.8-fold increments of nitrite contents in pan-fried, deep-fried, and roasted meats, respectively, and the appearance of six extra PAHs. Steaming, boiling, and braising were proved to be suitable processing methods for preserving better nutritional values while delivering less carcinogenic hazard. Our results established nutritional database for Hengshan goat leg meat and provide reference for choosing its reasonable thermal processing pattern. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Processed meats showed decreased redness, enhanced texture properties, increased protein, fat and mineral contents, as well as sharply raised fatty acids compared with those of raw meat. Steaming, boiling, and braising delivered more balanced nutrition and less carcinogens in contrast to meats processed with other methods. Frying and roasting caused low amino acid levels and formed mass nitrite and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in meats. Our results established nutritional database for Hengshan goat leg meat and provide reference for its reasonable thermal processing.