During the week, evenings are always a race against time. It can seem hard to find time to cook a healthy, filling meal between work, school, and recreational activities. Don’t worry, though, fellow busy bees—How to Grill Chicken Legs has a quick and tasty answer!
Grill Chicken Legs: Why?
Chicken legs, which are also called drumsticks, are great for weeknight dinners for many reasons:
- Affordable: They are usually less expensive than other cuts of chicken, so they are a good choice for people on a budget.
- Quick to cook: Chicken legs cook pretty quickly compared to other protein choices, especially when cooked on the grill. This means you’ll have to slave over the stove less.
- Rich in flavor: Chicken legs naturally have a lot of flavor that goes well with a lot of different marinades and rubs. This lets you try new things and make interesting taste combinations without putting in a lot of work.
- Versatile: Grilled chicken legs are versatile because you can eat them by themselves, add them to salads, burgers, and tacos, or serve them with your favorite sides.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Grill Chicken Legs
Glad you agree that cooking chicken legs for dinner next week sounds like a good idea. Let’s get started:
1. Getting the chicken ready
Thawing: If your chicken legs are frozen, put them in the fridge for at least 24 hours to fully thaw. Do not let food thaw at room temperature, as this can help bacteria grow.
Patting Dry: To dry the chicken legs, pat them dry with paper towels. Too much water on the surface can stop crispy skin from forming.
Trimming: Cut off any extra fat or loose skin on the chicken legs to make the cooking process smoother and more even.
2. Adding flavor or marinating
This step makes your chicken parts more interesting. You can do things in two ways:
Marinating: Marinades give chicken a richer taste and can help make the meat more soft. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but a few hours is better for getting the most taste out of the food. You can use garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, and your favorite herbs and spices to make an easy dressing.
Seasoning: If you don’t have much time, just sprinkle the chicken legs with a lot of salt, pepper, and any other spices you like. Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper are all popular choices.
3. Getting the grill ready
Gas Grill: If you’re using a gas grill, heat it to about 400 to 450°F (204 to 232°C).
Charcoal Grill: Light the charcoal and let it burn until most of the coals are white and hot. A fire spark can help speed up this process.
4. Putting the chicken legs on the grill
The direct heat method is faster: Put the chicken legs’ skin side down right over the heat source. This way of cooking chicken makes the skin crispy and cooks it fast. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until the meat hits 170°F (77°C) on the inside. Make sure to flip the chicken legs a lot so that they cook evenly.
Indirect Heat Method (Slower, Crispier Skin): Put the chicken legs on the grill away from the direct heat source for this method. While this makes the chicken cook more slowly, it also lets the skin get extra crispy. Make two fires. Put the chicken legs on one side and the heat source on the other. Grill for 20 to 25 minutes on each side, or until the meat hits 170°F (77°C) on the inside.
5. Taking a Break and Serving
Resting: After the chicken legs are fully cooked, take them off the pan and put them on a plate to rest. Put some foil over the plate to make a tent, and let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This lets the juices move around, which makes the meat more juicy and delicious.
Serving: Chicken legs that have been roasted can be eaten on their own, with your favorite dipping sauces, or as part of a recipe of your choice.
How to Make the Best Grilled Chicken Legs:
Use an Instant-Read Thermometer; don’t just look at it to tell if it’s done. An instant-read thermometer is the safest and most effective way to check if your chicken is fully cooked. The safest temperature for chicken to be eaten is 165°F (74°C), but going for 170°F (77°C) will make it more juicy.
Clean the Grill: Before you heat your grill, brush off any food bits that are still on it from the last time you used it. This keeps things from sticking and makes sure your How to Grill Chicken Legs cooks clean and tasty.
Three simple marinades that will make your grilled chicken legs taste great
- Lemon Herb: To make lemon herb, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Honey Garlic: Put together honey, soy sauce, black pepper, chopped garlic, and olive oil. Let it sit for at least an hour.
- Spicy Smoky: Add chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, and brown sugar to olive oil. This makes a spicy and smokey sauce. Let it sit for at least two hours.
Ideas for Side Dishes to Go with Grilled Chicken Legs
- To make grilled veggies, mix different kinds of vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper. For example, mix zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and asparagus. Put the vegetables on the grill with the chicken legs for a full and healthy meal.
- Potato salad is a standard side dish that tastes great. Choose one that is lighter by using mayonnaise or a sauce made from yogurt.
- Quinoa salad is a tasty and healthy choice. Add chopped veggies, spices, and a light dressing to the rice.
- Coleslaw is a crunchy and cool side dish. You could buy coleslaw mix already made, or you could shred cabbage, carrots, and make your own with a creamy or vinegar-based sauce.
More Than the Basics: In your How to Grill Chicken Legs journey, try out different methods and flavors.
- Smoking: If you have a smoker, you could use it to give your chicken legs a smoked flavor. For crispy skin, smoke them for one to two hours before putting them on the grill to finish.
- Brining: Soaking the chicken legs in a saltwater mixture before cooking is what brining is. This helps the meat get softer and tastes better. For the best How to Grill Chicken Legs experience, brine the chicken for 30 minutes to two hours.
- Spicy Rub: If you like your food hot, mix chili powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and ground cumin to make a spicy sauce. Put a lot of the rub on the chicken legs before cooking them to make your How to Grill Chicken Legs skills stand out.
- Glazing: For extra taste, brush the chicken legs with a sweet and spicy sauce in the last few minutes of cooking on the grill. Honey mustard glaze, teriyaki glaze, and BBQ sauce are all popular choices. This is a tasty way to finish off your knowledge of How to Grill Chicken Legs.
In conclusion
For hectic weekend dinners, grilling chicken legs is a quick, easy, and delicious option. You can learn how to do it with this guide and some practice. Then you can make meals that your family will love that are both tasty and filling. Get your favorite marinades and spices ready, turn on the grill, and get ready to enjoy the taste of chicken legs that have been cooked just right! Remember that practice makes perfect, and as you learn How to Grill Chicken Legs, you will find many tasty things.