This BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe offers tender and juicy chicken with crispy skin and a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and savory flavors.
This dish will surely be a hit at your next backyard barbecue or for your family’s perfect summer dinner.
Learn the secrets to juicy chicken, crispy skin, and those envy-inducing grill marks. This recipe will elevate your chicken game to new heights!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These BBQ Chicken Legs
- Irresistible Flavor – Our BBQ chicken legs boast a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and savory flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Juicy and Tender – Say goodbye to dry, flavorless chicken! Our recipe ensures each bite is succulent and juicy, delivering a burst of flavor with every mouthful.
- Crispy Skin – Experience the delight of biting into perfectly crispy chicken skin, adding a satisfying crunch to every bite.
- Easy to Make – Even if you’re new to grilling, our recipe is incredibly easy to follow, guaranteeing delicious results every time.
- Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a backyard barbecue with friends and family, our BBQ chicken legs are a surefire crowd-pleaser.
What You’ll Need
Equipment
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- Gas Grill or Charcoal Grill
- Meat Thermometer (Instant-Read thermometer)
- Baking Sheet
- Paper Towels
- Small Bowl
- Grill brush
- Tongs
- Basting brush
- Aluminum foil (optional for easy cleanup)
Ingredient Notes
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
Chicken
- Chicken Legs (sometimes called Chicken Drumsticks) – You can also use chicken leg quarters. Ensure the chicken legs are fresh and have plenty of meat on the bones.
BBQ Spice Rub
- Brown Sugar—The brown sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness to offset the spicy, smoky flavor of the other ingredients.
- Black Pepper
- Dry Mustard
- Garlic Powder – If you use garlic salt instead of garlic powder, I recommend leaving out the salt. Otherwise, it might make the chicken too salty.
- Smoked Paprika
- Onion Powder
- Salt
BBQ Sauce
- Your Favorite Barbecue Sauce – (I used Sweet Baby Ray’s) – You can use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or make your own homemade BBQ sauce.
- Water – This is optional if you need to thin out a thick barbecue sauce.
How To Grill BBQ Chicken Legs
In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and toss with all of the spices. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours to marinate, or use immediately.
Stir together the bbq sauce and water until combined.
Preheat the grill to medium high heat and oil the grates.
Place the chicken legs on to the grill and allow them cook, turning every few minutes until an internal temperature reaches 130-140°F.
Time will depend on the size of the legs, but this should take 15-20 minutes.
Baste the legs on both sides with the sauce, and continue to cook until an internal temperature reaches at least 165°F about another 10 minutes or until your desired doneness (180-190°F results in fall-off-the-bone meat).
I like to rotate the legs every minute or so and baste with the bbq sauce each time so the sauce will caramelize.
Once they hit your desired temperature, take them off the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes and then serve.
Recipe Tips
- Preheat Grill – Make sure to preheat your grill before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Measure Correctly – Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
- The Chicken Rests – Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
Variations
- Kick It Up – Add a kick of heat with some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the spice rub.
- Get Saucy – Experiment with different flavors of BBQ sauce, such as honey mustard or smoky chipotle.
- Get Smoky – Try grilling the chicken over indirect heat for a slower, smokier cook.
What To Serve With BBQ Chicken
- Corn on the Cob, Creamed Corn, or Elote (Mexican Grilled Street Corn)
- Coleslaw or Spicy Cilantro Lime Summer Slaw
- Potato Salad
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Broccoli Salad
FAQs
It typically takes about 20-25 minutes on a gas grill or 30-40 minutes on a charcoal grill, flipping halfway through.
Yes, you can use chicken thighs if you prefer. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Place the chicken inside an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 – 4 days.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes
- Sweet Tea BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Barbecue Chicken Kabobs
- Dr Pepper Maple Mustard Chipotle BBQ Chicken
- Firemen’s Field Day BBQ Chicken – by Honey B’s Kitchen
If you loved this recipe, please leave a comment about your experience making the recipe and a 5-star rating.
Recipe
Best Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar packed 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 pounds chicken legs
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
- Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and toss with all of the spices. Cover and place inthe fridge for 2 hours to marinate, or use immediately.
- Stir together the bbq sauce and water until combined.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat and oil the grates.
- Place the chicken legs onto the grill and allow them cook, turning every few minutes until an internal temperature reaches 130-140°F. Time will depend on the size of the legs, but this should take 15-20 minutes.
- Baste the legs on both sides with the sauce, and continue to cook until an internal temperature reaches at least 165°F about another 10 minutes or until your desired doneness (180-190°F results in fall-off-the-bone meat). I like to rotate the legs every minute or so and baste with the bbq sauce each time so the sauce will caramelize.
- Once they hit your desired temperature, remove from the grill, let rest for about 5 minutes and then serve.
Notes
Recipe Tips
- Preheat Grill – Make sure to preheat your grill before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Measure Correctly – Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
- The Chicken Rests – Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
Variations
- Kick It Up – Add a kick of heat with some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the spice rub.
- Get Saucy – Experiment with different flavors of BBQ sauce, such as honey mustard or smoky chipotle.
- Get Smoky – Try grilling the chicken over indirect heat for a slower, smokier cook.
Storage
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Cooked chicken last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- I like to reheat in a foil packet in the oven with a splash of water.
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