How long do you bbq chicken legs

There’s nothing quite like sweet, sticky homemade BBQ sauce slathered over juicy grilled chicken legs! This quick and easy-to-master recipe makes the best, most flavorful chicken you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs are the ultimate in summer cookout food and perfect for picnics, parties, and family gatherings.

How long do you bbq chicken legs
How long do you bbq chicken legs

This recipe has been in the Southern Soul recipe files for years. I originally came up with this homemade BBQ sauce recipe over 10 years ago and was actually kind of an afterthought when I put it on my site. Little did I know that it would become a fan favorite!

With all the love that folks have shared over these grill chicken legs, I decided it was time to give this post a makeover. After all, it deserves it!

Why You Should Make These Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs…

  • they are easy to make and don’t need any extra time to prepare since there’s no marinating required.
  • chicken legs are inexpensive so feeding your family or a crowd won’t break your budget.
  • the homemade BBQ sauce is made with just a few simple ingredients and produces an amped-up flavor that’s so crazy delicious.
  • they are juicy, smokey, sweet, and sticky. All you need is a stack of napkins!
How long do you bbq chicken legs

Ingredients For This Recipe

  • Chicken Legs
  • Ketchup
  • Lemons
  • Brown Sugar
  • Worchestershire Sauce
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Honey
  • Hot Sauce
  • Pepper
  • Southern Soul House Seasoning or your favorite rub

Helpful Tools To Make Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs

Using the right tools when cooking makes things easy, safe, and efficient. That goes for grilling, too. For this recipe, here are my tried and true grilling tools:

  • Instant Read Thermometer
  • Long Thongs
  • Silicone Basting Brush

How long do you bbq chicken legs

How To Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

Making homemade BBQ sauce is super simple! All of the ingredients are pantry and fridge staples and when simmered together make an incredible sauce that will become a family favorite.

All that’s needed to make BBQ Sauce is one pot and about 10 minutes of time. Add all the ingredients to the pot and whisk them together. Bring the sauce up to a boil then reduce and simmer for 15 minutes. Let the sauce cool and you are ready to serve.

These chicken legs are great with the classic BBQ sauce in this recipe but they are also amazing when grilled with Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce.

How long do you bbq chicken legs

How To Grill Chicken Legs

  • Preheat the grill, either gas or charcoal for 2-zone (direct and indirect) grilling. The grill should be around 400 degrees.
  • Season the chicken legs with my homemade House Seasoning. You can also use your favorite rub or salt and pepper. The key here is to make sure you season all sides of the chicken.
  • Place the chicken legs on the direct heat side of the grill. Cook them, turning about every 5 minutes for about 30 minutes until the internal temp reaches 160 degrees.
  • Move the chicken legs to the indirect heat side of the grill and slather on the BBQ sauce. Turn and baste the chicken until the sauce gets thick, sticky, and caramelized.

Cooking Times and Temperatures For Grilled Chicken Legs

These chicken legs take about 30 to 35 minutes to cook over direct heat and an additional 10 minutes over indirect while you are basing them with the BBQ Sauce. The chicken will be fully cooked when the internal temp reached 165 degrees.

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

How long do you bbq chicken legs

What To Serve With Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs

  • Caprese Pasta Salad
  • Pineapple Slaw
  • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Instant Pot Pepper Jack Macaroni & Cheese
  • Tomato Cucumber Salad

How long do you bbq chicken legs

4.67 from 3 votes

Homemade BBQ Sauce (Easy And Delicious)

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Author: Donya Mullins

Print Pin Rate

In just minutes, you can make rich, tangy homemade BBQ Sauce with just the right amount of sweetness and heat! This made-from-scratch sauce is great slathered on chicken, pork, or beef, plus it's great as a dip for fries, onion rings, and veggies.

How long does it take to BBQ chicken legs?

For perfectly succulent chicken drumsticks, a grilling time between 25-30 minutes is ideal for almost any recipe. Overcooking can char and dry your meat, but you want to make sure you don't undercook poultry either.

How long does it take to BBQ chicken legs on a gas grill?

Gas Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Add the chicken drumsticks and cook for about five minutes per side, until the skin is browned and crispy on all sides. Lower the heat to about 300°F, and close the grill. Cook for about 25 minutes, turning once halfway through.

How do you know when BBQ chicken legs are done?

If you're cooking chicken legs on the grill and want to check for doneness, just pierce to the bone with a knife. The meat is done when its juices run clear.

How long do you grill chicken legs for and at what temperature?

If you keep your grill between 375 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and place your chicken legs on the direct heat section of the grill, it should cook within 30 to 35 minutes. Top tip: Flip your chicken legs on the grill every 5 minutes to ensure that they do not burn and to encourage them to cook evenly on all sides.