Smoked Chicken Legs

Finger lickin’ good Smoked Chicken Legs that are so juicy and tender! They start with a homemade BBQ rub, are smoked and then slathered with BBQ sauce for that sticky sweet finish. They are so delicious for an easy dinner on the smoker. You won’t be able to stop with one of these!

It’s summer and your meal needs chicken legs! Make them on the pellet smoker to bring them to the next level. These amazing Smoked Chicken Legs are so delicious and easy to make.

They start with a drizzle of olive oil and homemade BBQ rub then are smoked for a delicious flavor. You could stop right there with great results, but if you want that sticky sweet flavor slather them in your favorite BBQ sauce, smoke 10 minutes more and they will be finger lickin’ delicious. Perfect for digging in with your hands and enjoying! Smoking chicken drumsticks is sure to become a regular thing in your house.

Make these easy Smoked Chicken Drumsticks for a summer dinner, picnic or party!

Why You’ll Love This Smoked Chicken Legs Recipe!

• They are an easy family friendly dinner the kids will love. There’s just something about picking up a leg and diving in.
• Easy! That’s right – so easy to make with only four ingredients.
• Inexpensive! Chicken legs are usually fairly inexpensive so it’s a quick and easy meal for summer that doesn’t break the bank. Something we can all appreciate.

Ingredients for Smoked Chicken Legs

• Chicken legs – keep the skin on so you can enjoy a nice crispy chicken skin
• Olive oil – Or any type of cooking oil can be substituted.
• BBQ Chicken Rub – You can use your favorite seasoning/rub or make our homemade version with brown sugar, salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and ground oregano.
• BBQ sauce – Homemade or store bought, whichever you prefer.

Let’s Talk About the Chicken Leg Seasoning

We use our favorite BBQ Chicken Rub. It’s slightly sweet with a deep flavor profile and is perfect for smoking and grilling chicken. The main flavor in this dry rub comes from brown sugar and smoked paprika.

You can mix the rub together yourself using this easy recipe. Another option is to buy a bottle that we sell so you always have it on hand.

Make sure you rub olive oil on the chicken drumsticks before you put the rub on them. This will help keep the skin moist instead of becoming leathery from smoking them. It will also help your rub adhere to the chicken skin. This is an essential step.

How to Smoke Chicken Legs

1. Prep Smoker – Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit according to manufacturer’s directions.
2. Prep Chicken Legs – Drizzle the chicken legs with olive oil and then sprinkle BBQ Chicken rub on top. Work the rub into the chicken legs so they are completely covered.
3. Smoke – Place drumsticks on preheated smoker, close lid and smoke for 1 hour – 1 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature of the chicken legs is 175 degrees Fahrenheit. This will vary depending on how big your drumstick is and how much meat is on it.
4. Baste – Use a basting brush to coat chicken legs with barbecue sauce. Close lid and smoke an additional ten minutes. You can skip the barbecue sauce if you’d like. We like our chicken legs about 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit. This will prevent you from having any bloody meat around the bone.
5. Rest – Remove from smoker, let rest 5-10 minute and then enjoy!

What wood pellets or chips should I use to smoke chicken?

If you want to achieve a heavy smoke flavor, a Mesquite Hardwood would be great. If your goal is a lighter flavor, then an Apple Hardwood would be your best option. Our go-to when in doubt is a competition blend wood chip.

Why do I need to put the oil on before the rub?

The oil will help the rub stick to the chicken as well as lock in moisture so the drumsticks don’t dry out while smoking.

What does the internal temperature of a chicken thigh need to be?

You want to cook this to 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the drumstick. Make sure you have a digital meat thermometer or your smoker has a probe with built in thermometer to monitor this. We actually cook them to 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit. They are still super tender and juicy, but they don’t have some of those bloody spots around the bone that way. When the meat rests, the temperature will continue to rise, so take that into consideration, too.

Do I need to put BBQ sauce on them?

No, you don’t need the BBQ sauce. The spice rub will give them enough flavor, but we love that sticky, sweet finish on them.

How long does it take to smoke chicken legs?

This will vary depending on how big of a chicken leg you have and how thick it is. It will take from one hour to one hour and 30 minutes.

How should I store leftover Chicken Legs?

Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How do I reheat chicken legs?

You can microwave them to reheat them, but the skin will be rubbery and they might dry out.

Another option is to preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place chicken legs on a wire rack with baking sheet under it. Bake for about 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Air frying is also a great option. First, preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit then bake the chicken legs for around 5 minutes or until heated through.

Serving Suggestions!

• It’s not summer without this easy Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elotes, made right on your grill! Perfectly charred corn on the cob topped with creamy sauce, Cotija cheese and a dusting of chili powder.
• Mix up your vegetables with Roasted or Grilled Cauliflower Steak! They are perfectly seasoned to make these cauliflower steaks burst with flavor. A healthy side dish on the grill or in the oven that doesn’t lack flavor!
• Crispy creamer potatoes that are seasoned with garlic, oregano, thyme and parsley and smoked on a pellet grill. These Seasoned Smoked Potatoes are an easy smoked side dish recipe that quick, easy and full of flavor!

These smoked chicken legs are perfect for feeding a game day crowd! Perfectly seasoned with dry rub and finished with BBQ sauce, everyone is going to love these sticky-sweet drumsticks.

Other Smoked Chicken Recipes You Might Love!

• Add this Smoked Whole Chicken to your weekly meal prep!
• Smoked Chicken Thighs are always a great option for super juicy chicken.
• Need an easy game day appetizer? Smoked Chicken Wings are a crowd pleaser!
• There’s barely any prep for Smoked Chicken Breasts, perfect for anytime.