Chicken legs are a classic choice for grilling and barbecuing. Juicy, flavorful, and easy to cook, chicken legs are a summertime staple. But grilling chicken legs to tender, juicy perfection requires knowing how long to bbq them. Undercook them, and they’ll be dry and tough. Overcook them, and they’ll be too done. Follow this guide to learn exactly how long to barbecue chicken legs for optimal results.
Factors That Affect Chicken Leg Cooking Times
Several key factors impact how long it takes to barbecue chicken legs:
Size of the Chicken Legs
Larger chicken legs and drumsticks take longer to cook than smaller ones. Whole chicken legs are thicker than just drumsticks alone, so they require more time on the grill.
Bone-In vs Boneless
Bone-in chicken legs cook more slowly than boneless. The bones help insulate and conduct heat, slowing the cooking process. Boneless legs will grill faster.
Temperature of the Grill
The hotter the grill, the less time needed to cook chicken legs. Chicken legs cook faster at higher heat like 400°F vs lower heat like 300°F.
Direct vs Indirect Heat
Chicken legs cook faster over direct heat rather than indirect heat. Direct heat exposes the meat to the fire, so it grills quicker. Indirect heat requires longer cooking.
Brining
Soaking chicken legs in a saltwater brine before grilling helps season the meat and keeps it juicy. However, brined chicken legs can take a little longer to cook than unbrined.
Degree of Doneness
Fully cooking chicken legs until the juices run clear requires more time on the grill compared to cooking them just until lightly pink inside. Cook time varies depending on your desired doneness.
How Long to Grill Bone-In Chicken Legs
For bone-in chicken legs, follow these average grilling times for great results:
At 400°F Direct Heat
Whole chicken legs: 35-40 minutes
Chicken drumsticks alone: 25-30 minutes
At 350°F Direct Heat
Whole chicken legs: 40-45 minutes
Chicken drumsticks: 30-35 minutes
At 300°F Indirect Heat
Whole chicken legs: 55-60 minutes
Chicken drumsticks: 45-50 minutes
These times are based on chicken legs being completely thawed and about 1 1⁄4 lbs each. Brined chicken legs may take about 5 minutes longer. Increase or decrease cook times by a few minutes per side for larger or smaller legs.
Use an instant read thermometer to confirm chicken is fully cooked, reaching 165°F internally. If concerned about undercooking, go up to 10 minutes longer. Legs should be nicely browned outside with no pink in the juices.
How Long to Grill Boneless Chicken Legs
For boneless, skinless chicken legs, the grill times are shorter:
At 400°F Direct Heat
Boneless chicken legs: 8-12 minutes total
Flip the legs halfway through. Grill until juices run clear and chicken is 165°F internally.
At 350°F Direct Heat
Boneless chicken legs: 14-18 minutes total
Flip halfway through, until fully cooked.
At 300°F Indirect Heat
Boneless chicken legs: 22-28 minutes total
Flip legs every 5-7 minutes until done.
Monitor carefully to avoid over drying. Brush with sauce during last few minutes if desired.
Tips for Grilling Juicy, Flavorful Chicken Legs
- Pat chicken legs dry before seasoning and grilling to help browning.
- Coat legs lightly with olive oil or cooking spray before seasoning to boost flavor.
- Season well with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, etc.
- Let legs sit at room temperature 20-30 minutes before grilling.
- Sear chicken over direct high heat before finishing over indirect heat.
- Brush with barbecue sauce or other glazes during the last 10-15 minutes of grilling.
- Allow chicken legs to rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
How to Tell When Chicken Legs Are Done Grilling
It can be tricky to determine when chicken legs are fully cooked without overdoing them. Here are some ways to test for doneness:
- Use an instant read thermometer to check internal temperature, looking for 165°F. Insert into thickest part without hitting bone.
- Cut into the chicken to inspect visually – meat should be white throughout with no pink, and juices should run clear.
- The chicken skin should be nicely browned and crisp.
- Chicken should feel firm when pressed with tongs or a spatula rather than soft.
- Bones should wiggle loose in their joints when moved.
- Meat near bones may still look slightly pink when fully cooked. Focus on the all-white meat in the thickest areas.
If concerned the chicken isn’t fully cooked, continue grilling another 5 minutes until 165°F. Checking doneness early and often prevents overcooking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Grilling chicken legs perfectly does take some technique. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Under seasoning – chicken needs ample seasoning to shine. Don’t be shy with salt, pepper, spices, etc.
- Flipping too often – only flip once or twice so the skin gets crispy.
- Overcrowding the grill – leave space between chicken legs for even cooking.
- Grilling over too high heat – have patience and use moderately high heat for best results.
- Not preheating grill – let it fully heat before adding chicken for proper searing.
- Saucing too early – only add sticky sauces in the last 10-15 minutes or it will burn.
- Overcooking – use a meat thermometer and don’t go solely by time.
- Not resting before serving – resting allows juices to redistribute for juicier meat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to barbecue chicken legs?
Sear chicken legs over direct medium-high heat to crisp the skin and lock in juices. Then transfer to indirect heat, flipping once halfway through, until fully cooked all the way through. Aim for an internal temperature of 165°F.
Should you cook chicken legs directly over the flame or indirectly?
It’s best to sear chicken legs directly over the flames at higher heat for 5-10 minutes per side to get that nice char. Then move them to indirect heat to finish cooking through without burning.
How can you tell when chicken legs are done on a gas grill?
On a gas grill, chicken legs are fully cooked when they reach 165°F internally. The juices should run clear with no pink when pierced, and meat near bones may be lightly pink. The legs will feel firm, not squishy.
How do you keep chicken legs from drying out on the grill?
Patting legs dry before grilling, oiling them, brining, and not overcooking will all help keep chicken legs juicy. Also, searing them first and then cooking indirectly prevents drying out.
Should you wrap chicken legs in foil on the grill?
Wrapping legs in foil while grilling essentially steams them, which can make the skin less crisp. Reserve foil tenting only for the very end if chicken is drying out before reaching doneness.
Can you grill frozen chicken legs?
It’s unsafe to cook frozen chicken legs directly – they must be fully thawed first. The exterior would burn before the interior thaws. Defrost legs overnight in the fridge before grilling.
What temperature should you grill chicken legs at?
Aim for medium-high heat between 350-450°F for the best juicy, crispy results. Sear at 400°F over direct heat before cooking indirectly at 325-350°F until done.
Cooking Times for Other Chicken Parts
Now that you know how long to barbecue chicken legs, here is a quick reference guide for grilling times of other chicken pieces using direct heat:
- Bone-in chicken breasts: 18-25 minutes
- Boneless chicken breasts: 10-15 minutes
- Chicken wings: 22-28 minutes
- Chicken drumsticks: 35-40 minutes
- Whole chicken, spatchcocked: 45-60 minutes
The temperature and thickness of the chicken will affect exact cooking times. Use an instant read meat thermometer to confirm poultry has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
For even more details on grilling times for all types of chicken, see this guide.
Get Perfectly Grilled Chicken Legs Every Time
Learning how long to barbecue chicken legs eliminates the guesswork and makes it easy to achieve perfectly cooked chicken on the grill. Now that you know approximate grill times for bone-in and boneless chicken legs at varying heats and setups, you can confidently cook this summertime staple to juicy, savory perfection.
Use an instant read thermometer and check for doneness early and often. While appearance and texture are useful indicators, temperature ensures safety and optimal results. Chicken legs cooked properly on the grill deliver finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth satisfaction. So fire up that barbecue and enjoy your next cookout with delicious grilled chicken legs!