Barbecuing Chicken Legs: How Long Until They're Done?

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Grilled chicken legs are a great option for feeding a crowd. They're cheap, easy to make, and kid-friendly. But how long do they take to cook?

The answer depends on a few factors, such as the size of your chicken legs and the temperature of your grill. In general, chicken legs will take between 30 and 60 minutes to cook through. You'll know they're done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

To get the best results, it's recommended that you use a two-zone grilling method, placing the chicken legs over direct heat first and then moving them to indirect heat to finish cooking. This will help ensure that your chicken legs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Characteristics Values
Preparation time 10-15 minutes
Cooking time 30-45 minutes
Total time 40-60 minutes
Internal temperature 165-195°F
Surface temperature 300-500°F

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How to prep chicken drumsticks for grilling

Grilled chicken drumsticks are a delicious and easy dish to make. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prep chicken drumsticks for grilling:

Prepare the Chicken Drumsticks:

Start by trimming any loose parts in the joint area and removing any excess skin. You can also remove loose bones or tissue, especially around the joint area.

Pat the Chicken Dry:

Use paper towels to pat the chicken drumsticks dry. This step is important as it helps the skin cook up nice and crispy. Make sure to dry all sides of the chicken.

Season the Chicken:

You can season the chicken to your taste. A simple seasoning mix of salt, pepper, and garlic powder works well. You can also add other spices like smoked paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper for extra flavour. Mix your chosen spices together and then rub them all over the chicken, making sure to get under the skin for optimal flavour.

Oil the Chicken:

Drizzle olive oil or avocado oil over the chicken drumsticks and coat all sides evenly. The oil will help prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill and will also promote crispy skin.

Let the Chicken Come to Room Temperature:

Allow the seasoned and oiled chicken drumsticks to rest at room temperature for 15-30 minutes while you set up the grill. This step helps ensure even cooking.

Preheat the Grill:

Preheat your grill to a surface temperature of around 400°F to 450°F. If using a charcoal grill, adjust the vent settings to control the heat.

Oil the Grill Grates:

Before placing the chicken on the grill, coat the grill grates with oil to prevent sticking. You can use a brush or an onion to apply the oil.

Now your chicken drumsticks are prepped and ready for grilling! Place them on the preheated grill and follow your chosen recipe for cooking instructions. Enjoy!

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How to grill chicken drumsticks on a gas grill

Grilled chicken drumsticks are a delicious and easy meal to make on a gas grill. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the perfect grilled chicken drumsticks:

Preparation:

Before you start grilling, there are a few preparation steps to ensure your chicken drumsticks turn out tasty and juicy. Firstly, pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This step is important as it helps the seasonings stick to the chicken and promotes even browning. Next, you can trim off any excess skin and loose bones/tissue, especially around the joint area. This will ensure that your drumsticks cook evenly and have a neat appearance.

Seasoning:

Now it's time to season your chicken! You can use a variety of seasonings like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Simply mix your chosen seasonings in a small dish and then drizzle the spice blend over the chicken drumsticks, ensuring they are evenly coated. You can also add oil to the drumsticks at this stage, as it will help the seasonings stick and promote crispier skin. However, this step is optional, as some people prefer to omit the oil for crispier skin.

Grilling:

Preheat your gas grill to a medium-high heat of around 400°F to 450°F. Place the seasoned chicken drumsticks on the grill grates and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, until the skin is browned and crispy. It is recommended to keep the grill lid closed during this step to maintain a consistent temperature and ensure even cooking.

Lower the Heat:

After achieving a nice sear on the drumsticks, it's time to lower the heat to around 300°F to 350°F. This step is crucial to ensure the chicken cooks through without burning the exterior. Keep the grill closed and cook the drumsticks for about 25 minutes, flipping them once halfway through.

Final Steps:

To finish your grilled chicken drumsticks, brush them with BBQ sauce during the last few minutes of cooking. This will give them a delicious sticky glaze. Make sure the internal temperature of the drumsticks reaches at least 165°F, but ideally 180°F to 185°F for the most tender meat. Remove the drumsticks from the grill and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Tips:

  • Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is cooked through.
  • Avoid pressing down on the chicken with your grilling tools, as this can dry out the meat.
  • You can prepare the chicken drumsticks with the spice rub up to 18 hours in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to grill.
  • If you're using a charcoal grill, create two heat zones by placing the charcoal on one side of the grill, allowing you to start the drumsticks over high heat and then move them to medium heat to finish cooking.

Enjoy your juicy and flavorful grilled chicken drumsticks!

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How to grill chicken drumsticks on a charcoal grill

Grilling chicken drumsticks on a charcoal grill can be tricky if you're new to grilling, but this guide will help you get that perfectly charred, fully cooked, tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken.

Step 1: Prepare the charcoal grill

Using a charcoal grill may seem like more work, but the flavour is 100% better. The best way to heat up your grill is with a chimney starter. Remove the grates, place the chimney starter with paper in the bottom, light it, and put the charcoal on top. Close the grill hood and wait until the flame turns the charcoal a white smouldering colour. This should take about 20 minutes. Then, carefully use metal tongs to move the charcoal into an even layer on one side of the grill and put the grates back on.

Step 2: Prepare the chicken drumsticks

Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and season to your taste. You can use a dry rub, or put them on plain and add BBQ sauce or teriyaki later. Allow the chicken legs to rest at room temperature for 15-30 minutes while you're setting up the grill. This will help get the final internal temperature without burning the skin.

Step 3: Grill the chicken drumsticks

Preheat your grill to a surface temperature of about 400-450°F. Place the chicken drumsticks on the grate over the hot charcoal. Smaller drumsticks can be placed over indirect heat. Start by rotating the chicken drumsticks every 5 minutes, moving any that char too quickly off of the direct heat so they can cook through without drying out or burning. You can add BBQ or teriyaki sauce to your drumsticks for the last 10 minutes of grilling.

Step 4: Check the internal temperature

Make sure the internal temperature is 180-185°F, which should take about 30-40 minutes in total at 400°F. Once you're there, you're ready to eat!

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How to avoid chicken drumsticks sticking to the grill

Grilled chicken legs are a delicious, easy-to-make meal, but it can be frustrating when the meat sticks to the grill. Here are some tips to avoid that:

Clean and Oil Your Grill

Before placing the chicken on the grill, ensure it is clean and well-oiled. Use a nylon brush to clean the grill grates and coat them with oil. This will help prevent the chicken from sticking and make it easier to flip the drumsticks over during cooking.

Pat the Chicken Dry

Before applying any oil or seasoning to the chicken, use paper towels to pat each drumstick dry. This will help ensure that the skin cooks up nice and crispy, rather than mushy.

Oil the Chicken

In addition to oiling the grill, you can also lightly coat the chicken drumsticks with oil. This will further help to prevent sticking and will also make the chicken skin crispier. You can use a brush to apply the oil evenly over all sides of the chicken.

Allow Chicken to Come to Room Temperature

Letting the chicken come to room temperature before grilling will help ensure even cooking. This step is optional but can help improve the texture of the cooked meat.

Don't Force the Turn Too Early

Each drumstick should easily release from the grill when it is ready to be turned. Don't try to force the chicken to turn too early, as this can cause it to stick to the grill. Wait until the chicken releases easily before attempting to flip it.

Use a Meat Thermometer

To ensure that your chicken is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The thickest part of the meat should reach at least 165°F, but for optimal texture, aim for 185°F.

By following these simple tips, you can avoid the frustration of chicken drumsticks sticking to your grill and enjoy perfectly cooked, juicy, and crispy grilled chicken.

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How to store leftover chicken drumsticks

Grilled chicken drumsticks are a delicious meal, but what should you do with any leftovers? Here are some tips on how to store leftover chicken drumsticks and some ideas for what to do with them.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover chicken should be refrigerated as soon as possible and no later than two hours after cooking. Place the chicken in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. Consume leftover chicken within three to four days.

You can also freeze leftover chicken drumsticks, although this may affect the texture of the skin. Freeze the chicken within two hours of cooking and store it in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. Frozen chicken will keep for up to four months.

Using Leftovers

There are plenty of ways to use up leftover chicken drumsticks, and it's a great way to save time and reduce food waste. Here are some ideas for dishes you can make with leftover chicken drumsticks:

  • Chicken Salad: Shred the chicken and serve it on homemade rolls, sandwich bread, or crackers.
  • Chicken Nachos: Get creative and make some nachos with or without barbecue sauce.
  • Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wraps: Combine your leftover chicken with some spicy buffalo sauce and wrap it up.
  • Chicken Quesadillas: Shred the chicken and combine it with cheese, sour cream or cream cheese, and spices.
  • Chicken Soup: Use the leftover chicken to make a hearty and comforting chicken and rice or noodle soup.
  • BBQ Chicken Pizza: Get creative and make your own pizza using a homemade or store-bought dough and top it with BBQ sauce, chicken, and your favourite toppings.
  • Stir Fry: Chop up the chicken and add it to a stir fry for a quick and easy meal.

So, there you have it! Some tips on how to store leftover chicken drumsticks and some delicious ways to use them up. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

Grill chicken legs for 30-35 minutes, flipping them every 5 minutes or so. The internal temperature should be 165°F.

Oil the grill and the chicken legs before cooking to prevent sticking. Use a two-zone grilling method, with one side at high heat and the other at medium heat. Start grilling with high heat to get crispy skin, then finish over medium heat.

Aim for a grill temperature of between 300-450°F.

Yes, you can prepare chicken legs up to 24 hours in advance and store them in the fridge until you're ready to grill them.

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