Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs
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Delicious BBQ Chicken Legs on the grill are the perfect main dish for your cookouts, barbecues and backyard parties. They are easy, flavorful and inexpensive. Simply mix together an easy BBQ Marinade, marinade them and then grill them up. This easy recipe will be an instant hit and a favorite you’ll come back to these sweet, sticky chicken drumsticks all summer long.
I have fallen in love with the simplicity of grilling chicken legs! They are the perfect finger food for cookouts, picnics, and backyard barbecues. The kids love them and there’s something fun about grabbing a drumstick and digging in when you are an adult. These BBQ Chicken Drumsticks on the grill are the ultimate cookout dish for all of your summer parties!
Why this recipe works:
- Chicken legs is that they are so inexpensive to make for a crowd! Typically you can score them for under $1 a pound.
- Kid-friendly and really easy to grill!
- Quick and easy sweet, sticky BBQ marinade!
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Legs
- BBQ Sauce
- Grape Jelly
- Garlic Cloves
- Black Pepper
Steps to Prepare
- First thing you want to do is whip up your BBQ Marinade. It’s only four ingredients so it won’t take long!
- Next you will put your chicken legs in a Ziploc bag. Pour half of the marinade over the top. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can and seal it shut. Throw it in the refrigerate for at least a hour or up to overnight. Store the remaining marinade in a airtight container in the refrigerator.
- When you want to grill the chicken legs preheat the grill to 350 degrees F. Place chicken legs on the grill. You will want the meaty end towards your heat source to cook them through. Baste them with remaining marinade. You will need to cook these for 30-35 minutes or until the internal temperature is 185 – 190 degrees F. Basting the legs as you rotate them, usually every ten minutes.
Expert Tips
- Grill your chicken drumsticks to an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees F to make sure there are no “bloody spots” around the bone. They won’t be overdone. You’ll still have a juicy, tender, fall-off the bone delicious chicken leg.
- Mix things up by using bone-in chicken thighs in this marinade.
- These can also be made in your oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with non-stick cooking oil. Place chicken legs on baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Store any leftovers in a airtight container.
- To reheat we recommend using the oven at 325 degrees F for about 25 minutes to get a crisp skin. You can reheat in the microwave but the skin won’t be crispy.
MORE GRILLED CHICKEN RECIPES:
- Bacon Ranch Chicken Kabobs
- Caesar Grilled Chicken Breasts
- How to Grill the Juiciest Chicken Breasts
- Grilled Chicken Legs
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BBQ Chicken Legs on the Grill
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken legs
BBQ Marinade
- 1/2 c. bbq sauce
- 1/4 c. grape jelly
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk the BBQ sauce, grape jelly, garlic and black pepper.
- Place chicken legs in gallon resealable plastic bag. Pour half of BBQ marinade over chicken legs. Remove air from bag. Marinated for at least one hour up to overnight.
- Store remaining marinade in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Preheat grill to 350 degrees. Place chicken legs on grill and bast with some of the reserved BBQ marinade. Grill for 30 minutes, rotating every 10 minutes and basting or until they reach an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees F.
Tips
- Grill your chicken drumsticks to an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees F to make sure there are no “bloody spots” around the bone. They won’t be overdone. You’ll still have a juicy, tender, fall-off the bone delicious chicken leg.
- Mix things up by using bone-in chicken thighs in this marinade.
- These can also be made in your oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with non-stick cooking oil. Place chicken legs on baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Store any leftovers in a airtight container.
- To reheat we recommend using the oven at 325 degrees F for about 25 minutes to get a crisp skin. You can reheat in the microwave but the skin won’t be crispy.
Malinda says
My family really enjoyed these drumsticks! I made them over the weekend and served with some simple sides. Thanks!!
Megan Mitzel says
Perfect! I’m so glad they were a hit!
Alison LaFortune says
Genius to add grape jelly! Such a delicious, tangy flavor.
Megan Mitzel says
Yes! We love it!
Danielle says
These were so delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Megan Mitzel says
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Jo says
Could I do this with franks hot sauce and some other things? I don’t see why I couldn’t(not mixing marinades)
Megan Mitzel says
Using the same grill method, you could switch up the marinade any way you like!
Zach says
Recipe is absolutely useless. Doesn’t tell any ingredients for the marinade. Reading all this rambling was a total waste of my time.
Eric says
Read it again Zach, you missed quite a bit…
Megan Mitzel says
The full recipe is near the bottom of the page but there is also a “Jump to Recipe” option at the top of the page that will jump right to the recipe card. I’m sorry you missed it!
George says
Guess u cant read, it’s spelled out in black and white lmao
Derek Smith says
Have you tried smoking these instead of grilling them? Like maybe low temprature for more smoke and then crank the temprature up to 350 to finish?
Julie Evink says
I haven’t but that’s the method I would try! I would guess the lower temperature for around 1-1.5 hours
Cindy says
you might want to proofread your instructions. Last I knew chicken legs were not pork “Pour half of BBQ marinade over pork.
Otherwise this sounds yummy
Julie Evink says
Thanks I’ll update it!