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Grilled Chicken legs stacked on a plate with a small bowl of BBQ sauce
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Best Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe

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.
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Keyword BBQ Chicken Legs, Grilled Chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 346kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
    2-photo collage showing how to make BBQ spice rub for BBQ chicken legs.
  • 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.
    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.
  • Stir together the bbq sauce and water until combined.
    A small clear bowl with BBQ sauce and a spoon in it.
  • Preheat the grill to medium heat 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.
  • 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.
    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.
  • 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.
    A hand uses a brush to coat Best BBQ Chicken Legs with sauce on a barbecue, while a text box above shares cooking instructions.
  • Once they hit your desired temperature, remove from the grill, let rest for about 5 minutes and then serve.
    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.

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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