Grilled Chicken Legs

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These Grilled Chicken Legs are the perfect start to any backyard cookout! Tender, juicy and flavorful they are bound to be a hit with the entire family. Plus, they are easy to make!

Grilled chicken drumsticks on a platter garnished with chopped parsley. A hand is holding a cooked chicken leg.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Equipment
FAQ's
Deb's tips
Variations
Storage
Related recipes
Serve with
Grilled Chicken Legs

Why you'll love this recipe

✔️The drumsticks turn out crispy and golden on the outside, yet juicy inside

✔️ This recipe is so easy that even beginners can make it!

✔️The best part of this chicken legs recipe is that drumsticks are extremely budget-friendly so you don't have to worry about spending a lot of money at the grocery store to make this meal.

Ingredients

Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.

chicken drumsticks
olive oil
for the seasoning blend: garlic powder, onion powder, dried sage, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper

Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.

Combine all of the spice ingredients.
Pat the chicken legs with a paper towel.
Place the chicken in a large ziplock bag and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle the spice ingredients over the chicken. Massage it in well. You want the chicken completely coated with the amazing spice mix.
Preheat the grill to 350 degrees. Make sure your grill is clean! Lightly spray the grates with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the chicken, grill for about 25 minutes total, flipping the chicken every 3-5 minutes so it doesn't burn.

Equipment

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grill
gallon storage bag
tongs
instant-read thermometer

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FAQ's

Do you grill chicken legs with direct heat or an indirect heat source?

I recommend that you cook your drumsticks over indirect heat. This will prevent the outside skin from burning while the inside of the chicken cooks.

Do you grill drumsticks with the lid open or closed?

Keep the grill lid closed until it is time to flip the chicken legs. This will help the grill retain the heat and ensure that the chicken cooks all the way through.

How often do you turn drumsticks on the grill?

I recommend that you turn the chicken legs every 5-10 minutes. This will help you get even grill marks across the chicken legs.

Chicken drumsticks on a grill being bbq'd.

Deb's tips

The chicken is done when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees f in the thickest part of the meat. I recommend using a meat thermometer for the best results.
Depending on the type of grill that you are using the cooking time will vary. A Charcoal grill will take a little longer than a gas grill.
Make sure that you use well-oiled grill grates. You can use nonstick cooking spray or even grill spray to prevent these drumsticks from sticking to the grates.
When you place the drumsticks on the hot grill make sure that you leave a little space between each of the chicken legs so that the heat can move around freely and cook the chicken on all sides.
The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken legs so make sure that you test the chicken's internal temperature before you remove them from the grill.

Variations

If you want to make bbq chicken drumsticks once the chicken has reached the temperature brush the legs generously with your favorite barbecue sauce.
You can add more flavor to the spice rub by adding a dash or two of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to the chicken with the oil before you coat it in the seasonings.
You could also baste these chicken legs in buffalo sauce or teriyaki sauce if you are a fan of saucy chicken.
Dry mustard would make a great addition to the dry rub for this chicken leg recipe.

Storage

Refrigerate - Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Freezer - To freeze, place chicken in a freezer-safe container and store for up to three months.

Reheating - Reheat your cooked chicken legs in the oven at 350°F until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a microwave, using 30-second intervals until hot throughout.

Grilled chicken legs on a plate with rice and steamed green beans.

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Serve with

A side of Alabama White Sauce for dipping is perfect with the dummies!
This Deviled Egg Potato Salad is my go-to recipe to serve for cookouts with the family. I love that I can prep it ahead so that I don't have to worry about a side dish while grilling the meat.
These Grilled Potatoes and Vegetables in Foil are one of my favorite sides to make on the grill. You don't have to worry about dirtying more dishes when the foil and grill do the work.
I don't know about you but Steamed Corn on the Cob just screams cookout side dish to me! And, they pair so well with this simple meal! You can never go wrong with a fresh side dish like this one.

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