Smoked Chicken Legs

Having a go-to smoked chicken legs recipe is a must have for summer. These smoked chicken legs use very few staple ingredients and is gluten free and dairy free. It’s the perfect choice for a gathering, or for meal prep because it is super easy and fast. Smoked chicken drumsticks are a favorite for kids and adults alike and will be a versatile addition to your summer smoking.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Family friendly: Everyone loves a good chicken drumstick from childhood onward so they’re sure to be a hit! Plus this is low carb and keto, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and Whole30 so everyone in the family no matter their dietary preference can enjoy!
• Quick: It takes chicken legs less time to smoke than larger cuts of meat so you can get them on the table faster.
• Simple: The chicken legs are easy to work with and with only a few ingredients the prep and cooking is a snap.
• Portioned: When you’re using drumsticks you can customize the portion to the occasion. Whether its a gathering or a smaller dinner or meal prep you can easily get the right amount.
• Versatility: Smoked chicken legs can go with just about anything and you can easily make them as crispy as you desire. Plus the leftovers can be cut up for small portions of chicken for other recipes.

Ingredients for Smoked Chicken Legs

For this recipe you’ll start with 12 chicken legs and one or two tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil. The seasonings you will need are paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Lastly you require oregano, black pepper, celery seed, cumin, and mustard powder. Super simple right?

How to Smoke Chicken Legs

Equipment needed:

1. Pellet grill, such as a Traeger, Green Egg, Camp Chef or Pit Boss
2. Wood pellets in your preferred wood/flavor. For this recipe I recommend hickory, mesquite or signature
3. Meat thermometer

Step 1

First of all you’ll want to preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F and make sure you have the grates cleaned. Second, gather your chicken legs and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 2

Next is to mix all the spices in a small bowl and use your avocado oil or olive oil to lightly coat the chicken legs. You can do this with your hands or a basting brush depending on what you have around and your preference.

Step 3

Cover the chicken legs in the dry rub mix. Make sure to pat or rub it in and make sure it gets into any crevices and sticks to the legs well.

How to Smoke Chicken Legs

Now place your seasoned chicken legs onto the smoker grates and close the lid. Smoke them for about an hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Depending on the size of the chicken drumsticks you may need to add time so make sure to check with your meat thermometer on one of the bigger chicken legs.

If you want crispier skin for your chicken, remove the legs from the smoker and turn it up to 450 degrees. Place the chicken legs back onto the smoker and sear each side for 2-3 minutes. You can keep rotating them until the skin is as crispy as you like.

Lastly, remove the smoked chicken legs from the smoker and let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Serving Instructions

Of course smoked chicken legs can be served buffet style at a huge group gathering or event but in a smaller group setting the side combinations are endless. Anything you want to serve alongside the drumsticks will work from fries or mashed potatoes so a fresh summer salad. Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair with these smoked drumsticks:

Side dish ideas to serve with smoked chicken legs:

• Mustard potato salad
• Black bean couscous salad
• Instant pot corn on the cob
• Air fryer butternut squash
• Macaroni pasta salad
• Lime juice (limeade)
• Southwest potato salad

Storing instructions

To store this recipe simply let the chicken cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container our individual meal prep containers and refrigerate. If you served your smoked chicken legs with a hot side such as mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or air fried butternut squash, portion out some meal prep containers to reheat it all at once and have a delicious round two meal at the ready.

Another option is to cut the meat off the leftover chicken legs and use it in a salad or another recipe later that requires a bit of chicken. A salad made with this smoked chicken drumsticks recipe is a good, easy meal, too! You can use the shredded chicken in recipes such as a classic chicken salad with grapes and celery, shredded chicken salad, blueberry chicken salad or taco chicken salad.

FAQ:

How long to smoke chicken legs?

You will smoke chicken legs until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F for food safety. The length of time depends on the cut of chicken and how big the cut is. Make sure when checking internal temp that your meat thermometer is at the center of the thickest part of the meat.

What temperature are chicken legs done at?

Chicken legs are done once the internal temperature reaches 165-170 degrees F.

Do you need to flip chicken legs while smoking? 

You do not need to flip the chicken legs when smoking. You may want to towards the end if you’re searing them for a crispier crust but it is not essential for cooking.

How do you get crispy skin on chicken when smoking?

You get a crispier skin while smoking chicken at a higher temperature.  It cooks the chicken faster and the skin crisps more with the higher heat. It’s also important to let the chicken rest for a few minutes after smoking to let it continue to crisp slightly. If you want to smoke it low and slow, you can crank up the heat in the last 10 to 15 minutes of smoking to crisp the skin that way.

Do you smoke chicken skin side up or down?

You smoke chicken with the skin side up. For a crispier skin you can flip to skin side down at the end at a higher temperature.

Smoked chicken has a pink hue to it just as you’d get while smoking other meats such as brisket and pork shoulders. The myoglobin doesn’t fully break down while you smoke meat being it’s cooked on lower temperatures for longer periods of time. The “smoke ring” doesn’t mean its undercooked, just that it’s been smoked instead of cooked over high heat!

Other Smoker Recipes You’ll Love!

• Smoked Shrimp
• Smoked Chicken Quarters
• Smoked Lamb Roast
• Smoked Spatchcock Chicken
• Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast

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