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–+ servings
Chicken legs on a charcoal grill.

Easy Grilled Chicken Legs

Samantha Erb
My grilled chicken legs are tender, smoky, and brushed with BBQ sauce for the perfect balance of sweet and savory. A crowd-pleasing recipe that’s easy to make and always a hit!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Dinner Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 295 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8–10 chicken drumsticks/chicken legs brought to room temperature before grilling
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2–3 tablespoons Slap Ya Mama Seasoning OR for homemade spice rub, see below

Homemade Spice Rub

  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then place them on a plate or baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil, and coat them evenly with the dry rub. Let them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Be sure to clean the grill grate thoroughly before adding the drumsticks.
  • Place the drumsticks on the indirect side of the grill, cover and cook them for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally.
  • At the 15-20 minute mark, brush them with BBQ sauce. Grill until their final internal temperature reaches 165°F (safe internal temperature). Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
  • Move the drumsticks in batches to the high heat zone for 5-7 minutes, turning them frequently for crispy chicken skin.

Notes

  • For Gas Grill: Preheat one side to medium heat (400–450°F / 200–230°C) and leave the other on low heat.
  • For Charcoal Grill: Light the coals and pour them onto one side of the grill only. That side becomes your direct heat zone. The other side, with no coals underneath, is your indirect heat zone.
  • Bringing the legs to room temperature makes it easier to evenly cook chicken drumsticks on the grill.
  • Starting the chicken legs over indirect heat keeps the meat juicy without burning the skin.
  • Brush the BBQ sauce onto the chicken halfway through so it caramelizes without burning.
  • Sear the BBQ chicken legs on the grill over direct heat at the very end to get that crispy skin and grill marks that make these grilled drumsticks so irresistible!
  • Reheat leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Reheat leftovers in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or on the grill for 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 19gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 792mgPotassium: 372mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 353IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

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