July 26, 2023
Chicken

Smoked Chicken Legs

Get ready to savor the incredible flavors of smoked chicken legs. This recipe will guide you through the process of creating tender, juicy chicken legs with a delightful smoky essence. With a perfect balance of spices and a slow smoke, these chicken legs are sure to satisfy your taste buds.

Why This Recipe Works:

Packed with Flavor: Every step in the preparation of smoked chicken legs adds flavor to create perfectly tender and absolutely delicious chicken legs! It starts with a pickle juice brine that tenderizes the chicken and starts the seasoning process. Then, the chicken legs are smoked to perfection and seared on high heat to get perfectly crispy skin! Use your favorite BBQ dry rub and sauce for maximum flavor, too!

Simple Preparation: Smoked chicken legs take some time to make, but the smoker is going to do all of the work. Simply plan ahead to be able to brine the chicken, and then put onto the smoker! You can pair these with a simple side salad or potato salad. They are perfect to share at your next get together!

What Are Chicken Legs?

Chicken legs are simply the leg of the chicken! They are also called drumsticks, but don’t get them confused with the drumstick portion of the wing! Chicken legs can be sold as chicken quarters which include both the chicken leg and the chicken thigh, or you can buy each part separately. In this recipe, we use just the chicken leg or the drumstick.

How Does Pickle Juice Brine Chicken?

Pickle juice is acidic and well-seasoned, so it will break down the tough proteins of the meat while also leaving it with a slightly tangy and savory flavor! This results in extra tender chicken that has the perfect texture. And since we are cooking these for a pretty long time on the smoker, it is important to brine them so that they don’t dry out!

Supplies Needed:

Smoker
Mixing Bowls

Ingredients:

Pickle Juice: This is definitely optional but I love to brine chicken in pickle juice for maximum flavor! The acid from the vinegar makes the chicken tender and the salt will keep it moist and flavorful. If you don’t want to use pickle juice, you can make a brine out of water and salt.
Chicken Legs: You can get just chicken legs at the store for this recipe! You can also smoke other parts of the chicken like thighs if you prefer. Just make sure they have the bones and skin and they will smoke up just as good as chicken legs!
Olive Oil: Coat them in olive oil prior to coating them in the dry rub!
Dry Rub: You can use your favorite BBQ Dry Rub or make a homemade one like my All-Purpose BBQ Rub!
BBQ Sauce: If you have a favorite store-bought BBQ sauce, use it! Or make one homemade like my Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce or this Carolina gold BBQ sauce. Not into BBQ sauce? Eat them without or try making this flavor-packed beau monde dip to dunk them in instead.

How To Smoke Chicken Legs:

Preheat the Smoker: Preheat the smoker to 250 F and set it for two zone cooking.
Prep & Brine Chicken: Remove the chicken legs from the packaging and pat them dry with paper towels. Place them into a container or bowl and cover them in pickle juice to brine. Place the chicken legs into the fridge to brine for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Remove & Season: Remove the chicken legs from the brine and discard the brine. Pat the chicken legs dry again and then place them into a bowl. Season them with olive oil and coat them entirely. Add in the dry rub and mix until they are fully coated as well.
Cook: When the grill is full preheated, place the chicken legs onto the grill grates on the smoker on the indirect side. Close the lid and let them smoke for about 90-120 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 155 F.
Increase Heat to Sear: Increase the heat to 425 F on the direct side of the grill to finish cooking the chicken legs (this will also help get them crispy). Sear the chicken legs over direct heat until they reach a minimum temperature of 165 F (I recommend actually cooking them to 180-185 F for a better texture).
Remove & Enjoy: Remove them from the smoker and eat them as is or add BBQ sauce and enjoy!

What To Serve With Smoked Chicken Legs

Smoked chicken legs pair well with a variety of side dishes to create a balanced and flavorful meal. Consider serving them with:

Coleslaw & Salads: A tangy, creamy coleslaw adds a refreshing crunch that complements the smoky chicken. I also love this healthy creamy pea salad too.
Baked Beans: Sweet and savory baked beans provide a hearty and comforting side. You can make this traditionally in the oven or try my smoked baked beans recipe.
Cornbread: Moist and slightly sweet smoked cornbread is a classic accompaniment that pairs perfectly with smoked meats.
Grilled Vegetables: A mix of grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and onions adds a healthy, colorful component to the meal.
Potato Salad: A creamy deli style potato salad with a hint of mustard offers a cool, satisfying contrast to the smoky chicken.
Mac and Cheese: Rich and cheesy macaroni and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser alongside smoked chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What should I serve with smoked chicken legs?

You can serve these smoked chicken legs with any sides you would usually go for with BBQ! Some of my personal favorites are corn on the cob, baked beans, and a fresh panzanella salad! You could also serve these with roasted potatoes or homemade biscuits!

How to store leftover chicken legs?

Store any leftover chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days! Reheat in the microwave until heated through or you can reheat in an air fryer or oven to keep the skin crispy!

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