How Long do you Cook Chicken Legs on the Grill

A frequently asked question amongst home cooks and barbeque enthusiasts is: how long do you cook chicken legs on the grill?

It really isn’t possible to give an exact answer to this question as it really depends on the type of grill you are using, the grilling method and how big the chicken legs are.

It really is an excellent idea to invest in a good quality cooking thermometer. I personally own a voice alert electronic thermometer. It really is a fantastic little cooking gadget and I would be lost without it. It is extremely accurate and eliminates all guessing, and guessing is not an option when cooking meat, especially chicken.

Methods to Cook Chicken Legs on the Grill

Boil the Chicken Legs First

The goal with boiling the chicken first is so that it is cooked all the way through before it even goes on the grill. This eliminates the risk of food born illnesses and also cuts down the grilling time significantly. The downside to this method is a serious lack of flavor.  Since you will be cooking the meat on the grill for a much shorter period of time, the meat will not have a chance to pick up that delicious grilled flavor.

Marinate Then Grill:

Marinating your chicken legs first is always a good idea. Not only does it impart an excellent flavor, but it also keeps the meat moist during the cooking process. For the best results, marinate the chicken over night. Below is an excellent marinade that I use often and it is quite versatile. It works well with seafood also.

CITRUS HERB MARINADE

INGREDIENTS

4 Chicken Legs

1/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 1/2 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice

1 1/2 Tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice

1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Parsley

1/3 Cup Freshly Chopped Cilantro

2 Cloves of Garlic Minced

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chicken legs. Add chicken to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate for several hours, over night if possible.

Let’s Get Grilling

I have found that the best method for cooking chicken legs on the grill is to first sear the meat and then finish the cooking process over indirect heat.  The result is a nice moist chicken leg with a delightfully crispy skin.

Step 1: Remove chicken from marinade and rinse. This will remove any ingredients from the marinade that are stuck to the chicken. If left on, this can burn. Coat the chicken with some oil to prevent it from sticking to the grill.

Step 2: Clean the grill. The best method for cleaning a grill is to turn the grill up high and allow the heat to burn off any grease and grime. Use your grill brush to scrape the grates clean. For charcoal grills, just light up the charcoal and allow the fire to heat up the grates and scrape the grates clean.

Step 3: Heat the Grill. We are going to set up our grill for a  searing/indirect cooking method. For gas grills, this is pretty easy. All you do is turn one burner up high and leave the other off. For charcoal grills, it is a little more involved, but not rocket science. All you do once your charcoal is ready, is push all of your charcoal over to one side leaving half of the grill without charcoal. The side with charcoal is for searing and the other side is for the indirect cooking.

Step 4: Begin Cooking. Once your grill is good and hot, go ahead and put your chicken legs on the hot part of the grill and sear on all sides. Only sear your legs for a few minutes per side. You are looking for a nice sear, so avoid burning the skin. After you sear them, go ahead and move them on over to the cool side of the grill and cover.

Let them cook for a good 20 minutes and then get out your basting sauce. If you  used the citrus herb marinade from above, try and find a thick basting sauce that compliments the citrus flavors . Baste the legs on all sides and then cover. After another 20 minutes or so, using your thermometer, go ahead and check for doneness. You are looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the legs are done, If they aren’t as crispy as you like, go ahead and put them on the hot side of the grill again for a few minutes before removing them from the grill.

Enjoy!

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed and be updated anytime a new post is made on my blog. Thanks for visiting!

Related posts:

1. The Many Ways to Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Boneless skinless chicken breast is the most popular cut of...
2. How to Grill the Perfect Filet Mignon Cooking filet mignon can be a nerve wracking experience...
3. How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill? Cooking...
4. Steak Grilling Instructions - How to Grill the Perfect Steak Steak grilling enthusiasts all over the world have searched long...
5. What is the Best Way to Cook Frozen Shrimp? Shrimp is without a doubt one of the most popular...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.