Smoky, succulent, and finger-licking good, you’re going to love these juicy, flavorful smoked chicken legs! Perfectly seasoned, you don’t even need any sauces to enjoy them!
In my opinion, chicken legs are by far the least hyped chicken part.
At least in our house – Abe and I are never really moved by them unless they’re wing drummettes.
But when they come off the smoker looking like this with their crispy skin and juicy insides? How can you resist?
You don’t even need barbecue sauce for these chicken drumsticks – but why would you skip it?!
This page includes step by step instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. There is also a “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page if you’d rather not exercise your scrolling finger!
I think the key to making chicken flavorful is all in the preparation.
All poultry needs a little bit of help to make it to the top of your list of favorite foods.
Turkey needs to be brined. Wings need to be sauced. Chicken drums need to be seasoned…and smoked, in this case. I’ve got you covered with this recipe!
In a world where everything is constantly getting more expensive, chicken legs seem to always be on sale, don’t they? Especially in the summer when everyone is on a grilling kick.
(You know what’s even cheaper? Chicken leg quarters, and the answer is yes, you can smoke them instead of drumstick following this recipe if you want to!)
Ingredients
- Chicken drumsticks – also known as chicken legs. They’re super cheap and abundant!
- A great chicken rub.
- Apple cider vinegar – put it in a spray bottle, and spritz the chicken with it while it smokes. This is optional, but it helps keep the chicken extra moist.
- Your favorite sauce – totally optional, but a nice BBQ sauce or a spicy honey sriracha sauce would be amazing on smoked chicken like this.
What pellets or wood chips are best for smoking chicken drumsticks?
Fruitwoods like apple or cherry, as well as lighter woods such as hickory or pecan, work best for smoked chicken legs. They give the chicken a delicately sweet smoky flavor that compliments the meat.
How to make smoked chicken legs
- Pat the chicken legs dry, then cover them with a chicken rub of your choice. Allow them to sit and marinate for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours. (You can also do this the night before and refrigerate the chicken if you’d like, just bring the drumsticks to room temperature while the smoker heats up.)
- Preheat your smoker or pellet grill to 225 degrees F. Make sure the pellets or chips are full!
- Place the chicken legs in the center of the grill grates and smoke for 1 1/2 hours, spraying them with apple cider vinegar 2-3 times during the smoking process to keep them moist.
- Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F. Continue smoking for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 to 175 degrees F.
- Brush on barbecue sauce, if desired, and allow them to smoke an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until they reach 180 to 185 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken legs from the smoker and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
FAQ
Should I brine chicken legs before smoking them?
Up to you! Smoking is a slow cooking process, so brining isn’t necessary, but it can enhance the juiciness and flavor of the chicken.
Can I smoke drumsticks without a smoker?
If you don’t have a smoker, you can always make them a grill with indirect heat. Use a smoker box! Or you can create a two-zone fire by placing the charcoal or burners on one side and the chicken legs on the other, allowing them to cook indirectly.
What temperature should the chicken legs reach when smoking?
The chicken legs should reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat. I find dark meat chicken, especially drumsticks, have the best flavor and tenderness at 180-185 degrees F.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
- Allow the chicken legs to cool completely, then place them in airtight containers or plastic zipper bags within two hours of cooking. They can typically be refrigerated for up to three to four days.
- If you want to store them for an extended period, wrap them tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place them in freezer-safe containers or bags. Properly stored, you can freeze smoked chicken legs for up to three months.
- When you’re ready to enjoy the leftovers, thaw the frozen chicken in the refrigerator overnight. To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at around 325 degrees F until heated through. You can also reheat them on a grill or in a skillet with a little oil to crisp up the skin.
Looking for perfect sides for these chicken legs?
No matter what time of year it is, meals like this are bound to bring back memories of summer barbecues! Pair this chicken with a filling starch like this skillet mac & cheese, macaroni salad, or a baked potato. As for veggies, smoked corn on the cob and pineapple coleslaw are classic sides that everyone will love. Balance the savory with a bit of sweet with smoked pineapple, a refreshing fruit salad or watermelon feta salad And what’s chicken without carbs? These sourdough discard biscuits are perfect served alongside this summertime spread!
More delicious chicken recipes perfect for any barbecue!
If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a 5 STAR RATING! If you really love it, leave us a comment and let us know – we appreciate all forms of feedback!
LET’S CONNECT!
Join in on the fun in our Facebook group! Feel free to share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, help out your fellow home cooks, and see what’s new with The Crumby Kitchen (so that you never miss a new recipe)! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.
ORDER OUR #1 BEST SELLER COOKBOOK!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and tag #crumbykitchen so we can see all the wonderful recipes YOU recreate from this site!
You can also enjoy exclusive content before anyone else by subscribing to our weekly newsletter – and you’ll never miss a delicious recipe again!
Smoked Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 8-10 chicken drumsticks
- ¼ cup chicken rub
- 1 cup BBQ sauce optional
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker or pellet grill to 225 degrees F.
- Pat chicken legs dry and cover them with a chicken rub of your choice. Allow them to sit and marinate for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours. You can also do this the night before and refrigerate the chicken if you’d like, just bring the drumsticks to room temperature while the smoker heats up.
- Place the chicken legs in the center of the grill grates and smoke for 1 1/2 hours, spraying them with apple cider vinegar 2-3 times during the smoking process to keep them moist.
- Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F and continue smoking for about 30 minutes, until they reach an internal temperature of 165-175 degrees F.
- Brush on BBQ sauce, if desired, and allow them to smoke an additional 5-10 minutes, until they reach 180-185 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken legs from the smoker and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Sue says
Delicious and perfectly cooked chicken legs! I ate mine without barbecue sauce and I really didn’t miss it at all!
Lousie says
AMAZING!!!
I got a little smoker for my birthday as I wanted to see if I liked it before I invested in a large one.
I am hooked!
I made these with chicken quarters as they were on special and the recipe was so good.
I used some homemade BBQ sauce that my sister-in-law made for me (she is so good at cooking!)
The chicken was so tender. Can’t wait to make it again when my brother and sister-in-law visit next week.
THANK YOU
Angela Pagliarello says
These chicken thighs were a hit, juicy, flavorsome smoked!
Dormamu says
Smoked chicken legs are such a flavorful and budget-friendly option for grilling, especially in summer. The key is in the prep—brining, seasoning, and, of course, smoking! And if you’re up for something different, try out how to cook beef sweetbreads too. Chicken legs, though, always seem to be a hit and are usually on sale!