Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs

Submitted by lookjustin

"I've adapted this recipe from many other recipes, taking things that i've liked and things I didn't like as much out. I love this simple recipe as it brings simple BBQing to another level. It all starts off with the brine/marinade. I find that a few hours of brining is usually enough, but for this recipe longer really is better. I usually at least brine my legs for at least 12 hours (Meaning, I usually end up start the brining process at night and let it brine until lunch or dinner the next day)."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 30 Chicken legs
• Serves: 7-10

ingredients

• 30 chicken legs (Costco sells a package of 30 for about $10)
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 3 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup salt (Kosher Salt is best) or 1/4 cup seasoning salt (Lawry's is a good option)
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄3 cup mccormick's steak seasoning
• 2 tablespoons pepper
• 5 -6 fresh garlic cloves
• 3 -4 sprigs rosemary, stripped from stem
• barbecue sauce (I love Sweet Baby Ray's)

directions

1. Mix all brine/marinade ingredients in a large bowl and then separate into zip lock bags and add chicken.
2. Chill and marinade for at least 4 hours or more (I usually brine mine for 12 hours).
3. Grill chicken on a well oiled grill until browned on all sides, turning only once, about 15 to 20 mins each side. (A good indicator that legs are being cooked well in the inside is by observing blood seeping out from the top of the legs).
4. Since all grills run at different temperatures, (if possible) make sure that grill is covered first and allowed to raise to 400 degrees before uncovering the grill, oiling the racks, and placing the legs onto the grill. This will help your grilling off to a great start.
5. Depending on your environment, grill your chicken without the cover as the sudden increase in heat can turn your legs to charcoal.
6. Towards the end of your grilling(5-10 mins) liberally spread a bbq of your choice (I like "Sweet Baby Ray's") on to one side of the chicken. Then (if possible) place chicken legs on a top rack for indirect heat with the bbq side of the leg down and the none bbq'd side up.
7. Spread the other side with bbq now and let the bbq really caramelize onto the legs for 5-10mins on indirect heat.(if you dont have a top rack, just reduce this time to 3 to 5mins).
8. Now take the legs off the grill and Wah-Lah! You've just made some amazing BBQ'd legs. Bon Appetite!
9. *All grills have hot spots so be mindful of these spots and switch your chicken around the grill as not to completely char them.

Reviews

[QuarterSwede]

I only had enough time to marinade them for 2 hours so the flavor wasn't all the way through but I'll definitely do it longer next time as these legs are the best I've ever had. Bar none! Kudos sir.<br/><br/>My only recommendation, when grilling chicken, is to always boil it first to ensure the core is cooked. This is especially true when grilling in a high altitude arid climate (ie. Denver, CO) as it's hard to cook anything with the lid open.

 

[Jonathan Melendez]

Great chicken legs! I love chicken legs so much, and so I'm always looking for new ways to make them. This brine was great. It made them so juicy!

 

[Peter V.]

Great recipe! Chicken + Brine-prep + Grilling = AMAZING!!! In general, I have used your marinade recipe in many other types grilled chicken; from Chicken thighs to a whole Chicken!

 

[Jason E.]

Great recipe. I used Korean BBQ sauce to finish and they were delicious.

 

[Eric R.]

Baby Ray's now makes a honey BBQ wings sauce that is the perfect consistency to baste chicken as you are grilling. I tried it for the first time yesterday and my kids tore it up!