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How To Grill Amazing BBQ Chicken Legs

By on | Updated on
5 from 1 vote
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Savor the ultimate summer flavor with these juicy, smoky, perfectly caramelized grilled BBQ chicken legs!

This easy recipe uses a flavorful dry rub and a slather of barbecue sauce to create tender, mouthwatering chicken with crispy skin and bold BBQ flavor.

Close up of a Grilled BBQ chicken leg sitting on top of other BBQ chicken legs on a plate with a small bowl of BBQ sauce behind it.

Chicken legs are one of the easiest and most affordable cuts to grill, making them perfect for beginners and backyard pros alike.

Table of Contents

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

🔥 Smoky, Saucy Perfection - Sweet and smoky dry rub + sticky BBQ glaze = unforgettable flavor.

🌚 Tender & Juicy - Cooked low and slow, then finished with saucy, high-heat caramelization.

🤝 BBQ Crowd Favorite - Perfect for backyard cookouts, picnics, or casual weeknight dinners.

💸 Budget Friendly - Chicken legs are affordable and packed with flavor.

🧂 Ingredients & Substitutions

Overhead view of labeled ingredients for Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs.
  • Chicken Legs: Use bone-in, skin-on drumsticks for best flavor. About 6-8 legs for 2 pounds.
  • Dry Rub Spices: A simple mix of brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and mustard powder. You can swap in cayenne or chipotle for added heat.
  • BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand-honey, smoky, spicy, or sweet.
  • Water: Just a splash to thin the BBQ sauce slightly for easier basting.

The full ingredient list with quantities is in the recipe card below at the bottom of the post.

🔧 Equipment

  • Grill (gas or charcoal)
  • Tongs
  • Mixing bowls
  • Meat thermometer
  • Basting brush

🌿 Instructions (Step-by-Step)

Mix the dry rub. In a small bowl, combine all the dry rub spices.

A 2-photo collage with he first photo showing each ingredient separately in a white bowl. The 2nd photo shows the dry rub mixed together. This is prep to season the chicken legs that will become Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs.

Season the chicken. In a large bowl, toss the chicken legs with the dry rub until evenly coated. For best flavor, refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. You can grill immediately if short on time.

Raw chicken legs in a clear bowl covered in a dry rub as part of the preparation to become Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs.

Prepare the BBQ sauce. If the BBQ sauce is too thick, mix the store-bought BBQ sauce with water in a small bowl and set aside. (Optional)

A close up of a clear small bowl with BBQ sauce with a spoon in it.

Preheat the grill. Set your gas grill to medium (350-375°F), or set up a charcoal grill for indirect medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grates.

Close-up of a grill grate over ashy charcoal briquettes, ready for barbecuing. Perfect for grilling the best BBQ chicken legs, the metal bars run horizontally across the image above glowing coals.

Grill the chicken. Place chicken over direct medium heat (for gas grills) or indirect heat (for charcoal grills). Turn every 3-5 minutes until internal temp reaches 130-140°F, about 15-20 minutes. Watch for flare-ups.

5 raw chicken legs covered in a dry rub on a grill to be grilled to become Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs.

Baste and finish. Move chicken to indirect heat (if not already there). Brush with BBQ sauce every 1-2 minutes, turning frequently, until nicely glazed and internal temp reaches 165°F or up to 180-190°F for fall-off-the-bone tenderness.

A hand brushing BBQ sauce on 5 grilled BBQ chicken legs on a grill.

Rest and serve. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

A side view of a white plate with 4 grilled BBQ chicken legs with a small bowl of BBQ sauce and potato salad behind the chicken.

🤔 Recipe Tips

  • Preheat the Grill - Hot, clean grates prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
  • Use a Thermometer - Chicken legs are safe at 165°F, but best at 180-190°F.
  • Let It Rest - Always rest meat before serving to lock in juices.
  • Don’t Crowd the Grill - Leave space between the legs to ensure proper air circulation.
  • Watch for Flare-Ups - Move legs to a cooler part of the grill if fat drips cause flare-ups.
  • Crispy Skin Secret - Pat chicken legs dry with paper towels before seasoning to help the skin crisp up.

⚛️ Variations

  • Kick It Up - Add cayenne or hot sauce to the dry rub for a spicy twist.
  • Get Saucy - Swap in your favorite BBQ sauce flavor: honey mustard, smoky chipotle, or sweet heat.
  • Add Smoke - Use indirect heat with wood chips or a smoker box for extra smoky flavor.

🍽️ What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Legs

These BBQ chicken legs are perfect with classic summer sides like:

Overhead view of a white picnic plate with 4 chicken legs, a small bowl of BBQ sauce, a small bowl of coleslaw, and 2 scoops of potato salad with a BBQ brush with the tip covered in BBQ sauce with a bottle of beer next to the plate and a red salt shaker on the other side.

💬 Join The Conversation

Do you like your BBQ sauce sweet, spicy, smoky, or tangy? Let me know in the comments or tag your grill pics @flavormosaic!

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and review to help others find it!

🔗 More Grilling Recipes

Hand holding a Grilled BBQ Chicken Leg above a plate with more BBQ Chicken Legs with Cole slaw and mashed potatoes.

💳 Nutritional Info

See nutrition information in the recipe card below. Nutrition values are estimates and will vary based on ingredients used.

📌 Save + Share

Loved it? Save this recipe on Pinterest and share it with your grilling crew!

Recipe

Best Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe

By Michele @ Flavor Mosaic
5 from 1 vote
Savor the ultimate summer flavor with our Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs recipe! Discover the secrets to juicy, tender chicken with a perfect blend of smoky char and mouthwatering BBQ sauce.
Grilled Chicken legs stacked on a plate with a small bowl of BBQ sauce
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 346

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • 2-photo collage showing how to make BBQ spice rub for BBQ chicken legs.
    In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
  • Raw chicken legs coated with BBQ spice rub sit in a clear glass bowl on a white surface. Blue text at the top provides instructions for making the Best BBQ Chicken Legs by tossing them thoroughly with the flavorful rub.
    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.
  • A small clear bowl with BBQ sauce and a spoon in it.
    Stir together the bbq sauce and water until combined.
  • Close-up of a grill grate over ashy charcoal briquettes, ready for barbecuing. Perfect for grilling the best BBQ chicken legs, the metal bars run horizontally across the image above glowing coals.
    Preheat the grill to medium heat and oil the grates.
  • Six seasoned raw chicken drumsticks are arranged on a dark grill grate, ready to be cooked. Coated with a reddish-orange spice blend, theyre set to become the Best BBQ Chicken Legs.
    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.
  • A hand uses a brush to coat Best BBQ Chicken Legs with sauce on a barbecue, while a text box above shares cooking instructions.
    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.
  • Close-up of the Best BBQ Chicken Legs, charred and glazed to perfection, on a plate with creamy mashed potatoes and a bowl of barbecue sauce in the background.
    Once they hit your desired temperature, remove from the grill, let rest for about 5 minutes and then serve.
Tried this recipe?Please Rate this Recipe!

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 769mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg | Phosphorus: 210mg

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