• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Winding Creek Ranch
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Main Dishes
  • About Me
    • CONTACT ME
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Super Bowl
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Super Bowl
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Pellet Grill/Smoker

    Smoked Chicken Legs

    Published: Jul 18, 2021 · Modified: Jun 19, 2022 by Jeri Walker · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    Sharing is Caring!

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe
    Smoked chicken legs on a platter.
    Smoked chicken legs on a platter.

    These Smoked Chicken Legs are perfect for summer! The chicken is coated with a homemade dry rub on the outside and then cooked in flavorful smoke until you have juicy, tender chicken on the inside. The crispy, crackly skin is full of fantastic flavor that will have everyone coming back for seconds. So fire up the smoker and enjoy some delicious smoked chicken legs!

    PIN the recipe to try it later!

    Smoked chicken legs served on a white plate. this …

    One of the best things about summer is cooking outside on electric smokers. Some of our favorite delicious recipes are Smoked Burgers, Smoked Salmon, and Smoked Chuck Roast.

    More favorites are Smoked Corn on the Cob, Chili Lime Chicken, and Smoked Turkey.

    One of the best ways to cook chicken legs is on the electric pellet smoker. This is a simple recipe that anyone can make.

    I based this recipe on Smoked Pork Loin Roast. It has a fantastic dry rub that adds a unique flavor to the meat. After all, we love a sweet and savory rub with a bit of heat!

    I also used the same method to make Smoked Chicken Thighs and Smoked Chicken Wings, and they both turned out so good!

    Looking for another easy chicken recipe? Try Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs.

    More delicious dinners

    • Bacon-Wrapped Boneless Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
    • Easy Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
    • How To Make Smoked Stuffed Peppers
    • Instant Pot Pork Ribs - From Frozen
    Jump to:
    • More delicious dinners
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to smoke chicken legs
    • Equipment
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • What can I serve with Smoked Chicken Legs?
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you will love this recipe

    Economical: Do you know what is fantastic about chicken legs? They are relatively inexpensive! I buy them when they go on sale, and I can feed my family without breaking the bank. Also, they are economical when having a group of friends over for a barbecue, and everyone loves them!

    Juicy meat: Chicken legs are all dark meat that stays super moist and juicy at the end of the smoking process.

    Scalable: This recipe is easily scalable, so you can make as many or as few smoked chicken drumsticks as you need.

    Quick and Easy: This is another set it and forget it recipe. All that is required is 5 minutes of prep time, and the pellet smoker does the rest of the work.

    Perfect party food: Everyone loves chicken legs! They are full of great smoky flavor and feed a lot of people!

    Good source of protein: Chicken legs are a great source of protein, and they're low in fat.

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious smoked chicken legs.

    Raw chicken legs on a black plate.
    • Whole chicken legs (otherwise known as chicken drumsticks). If they are frozen, ensure that you defrost them first before smoking.
    • Olive oil. The olive oil helps the dry rub stick to the chicken legs.
    • Dry chicken rub. I use what I think is the best dry rub, and you can make it yourself using my Dry Rub for Chicken. It combines eight everyday ingredients (brown sugar, garlic powder, Roasted Garlic and Peppers seasoning, paprika, chili powder, seasoning salt, onion powder, and black pepper). This rub is sweet, savory, and spicy. The rub leaves a beautifully caramelized crusty and crispy skin. Of course, you can also use your favorite spice rub for chicken.

    How to smoke chicken legs

    Chicken legs are so easy to cook on the smoker. These are perfect for a weeknight dinner or on the weekend with your favorite summer side dishes.

    First, preheat the smoker. Our smoker is the Pit Boss 8-in-1 grill and smoker. Set the temperature to 250 degrees F. Top it up with wood pellets. Our favorites are the Competition Blend and Hickory Blend.

    Next, pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Apply olive oil to the chicken legs with a brush or your fingers. I like to place them on a sheet pan for ease of carrying them out to the grill. Parchment paper underneath makes cleanup a breeze. 😉

    Raw chicken legs on parchement paper with olive oil drizzled on them.

    In a small bowl, mix up the ingredients for the homemade spice rub. Apply the rub liberally to the chicken. You can either place a couple of teaspoons on a plate and roll the chicken leg in the rub, or apply with a spoon or an electric salt and pepper grinder filled with the spice rub. Ensure it covers all parts of the chicken leg; top, bottom, and sides. Use your fingers to push the rub into the meat.

    Raw chicken legs covered with dry spice rub.

    Once the smoker comes up to temperature, place drumsticks directly on the grill grate of the preheated grill. Feel free to add a little more rub. Next, put your thermometer probes into the thickest part of the drumstick, horizontally through each side into the thickest part of the meat. Make sure the tip of the probe is not touching the bone.

    Seasoned chicken drumsticks on the grill rack of the pellet grill.

    Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature of the chicken legs is 175°F. This will take about 2 hours. If desired, brush with your favorite BBQ sauce the last few minutes of smoking.

    If you want extra crispy chicken skin, turn up the smoker to a high temperature for a couple of minutes at the end of the cooking time.

    Smoked chicken legs, ready to eat.

    Remove the smoked chicken legs from the grill and place them on a serving tray. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to reincorporate into the meat. Serve along with your favorite side dishes.

    Enjoy!

    HINT: Clean the smoker rack after cooking so it is clean and ready to use the next time.

    Smoked chicken legs on a platter, ready to eat.

    Equipment

    Smoker: Our pellet grill is the Pit Boss smoker 8-1. It uses 100% wood pellets as fuel instead of gas and propane. There is nothing better than food cooked on the smoker; we love the smoke flavor!

    High-quality temperature probe: This is a must-have item if you own a smoker. We use the ThermoPro Wireless Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer with Dual Probes; we love it!

    Variations

    You can make this chicken leg recipe with a variety of different flavors. Some fun ones to try are:

    • Spicy: Add chili pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sweet rub to add heat to the chicken legs.
    • Saucy: Add your favorite barbecue sauce during the last few moments of smoking.
    • Sweet: Add extra brown sugar to the spice rub for a sweeter taste.
    • Less sweet: Reduce the sugar in the spice rub to make it less sweet.
    • More seasoning: Feel free to add different spices to the dry rub to make it your own.

    Storage

    Fridge: Leftover chicken legs will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Freezer: Take the meat off the bone, and place it in a Ziploc bag. Place it in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 2 months. It's great for meal prep!

    Tips & Tricks

    • Anytime you smoke meat on the smoker, cook by temperature, not by time. We use a thermometer meat probe to keep a close watch on the temperature of the meat to ensure it is always cooked to the proper temperature. If the chicken sits on the smoker too long it will be dry and rubbery.
    • Check and make sure your wood pellets are topped up before you begin. Then, check periodically while smoking to ensure you don't run out and top up if necessary.
    • Make extras! The leftovers are nice to have, and you can use them for quick meals throughout the week.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    How long does it take to smoke drumsticks?

    It takes about 2 hours at 250 degrees F to smoke drumsticks, or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F.

    Can you overcook chicken in a smoker?

    Yes, you can. The chicken will end up dry and rubbery. However, if cooked until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F, the chicken will be juicy and tender.

    What are the best wood pellets for smoking chicken?

    Wood pellets that complement chicken are mesquite, cherry wood, and apple wood. Hickory is one of our favorites as it has a sweet taste that reminds me of bacon. The competition blend has a mixture of maple, cherry, and hickory.

    Smoked chicken legs sprinkled with parsley.

    What can I serve with Smoked Chicken Legs?

    These smoked chicken legs go perfect with summer sides. Here are some of our favorites:

    • Easy Miracle Whip Coleslaw Recipe
    • Easy Baked Beans Recipe With Brown Sugar
    • Raw Shredded Carrot Salad With Lemon
    • Easy Smoked Corn on the Cob in Foil

    If you've tried Smoked Chicken Legs or any other recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!

    You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Would you please tag me in your photos @windingcreek_ranch? I would love to see your pictures!

    📋 Recipe

    Smoked chicken legs served on a white plate.

    Simple Smoked Chicken Legs Recipe

    These Smoked Chicken Legs are perfect for summer! The chicken is coated with a homemade dry rub on the outside and then cooked in flavorful smoke until you have juicy, tender chicken on the inside. The crispy, crackly skin is full of fantastic flavor that will have everyone coming back for seconds. So fire up the smoker and enjoy some delicious smoked chicken legs!
    4.93 from 39 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: All Recipes, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 310kcal
    Author: Jeri Walker
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • ThermPro Wireless Remote Digital Thermometer
    • Electric Pellet Grill

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds chicken legs
    • 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1-2 tablespoon Dry Rub for Chicken

    Instructions

    • Preheat the smoker to 250°F. Make sure it is topped up with wood pellets.
    • Drizzle the chicken legs on all sides with the olive oil.
    • Apply the dry rub over the chicken legs and ensure it covers all parts; top, bottom, and sides.
    • Once the smoker comes up to temperature, place the chicken legs directly on the preheated grill and put your thermometer probe in, horizontally through each side, into the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone.
    • Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature of the chicken legs is 175°F. This will take about 2 hours.
    • If you like BBQ sauce, apply your favorite sauce the last few minutes of cooking time.
    • Remove the smoked chicken legs from the grill and place them on a serving tray. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to reincorporate into the meat.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutritional information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only.
     
    Storage: Leftover smoked chicken legs can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.  
    If you have lots of leftovers, remove the meat from the bone, place it in a Ziploc bag, and pop it in the freezer for meal prep, school, or work lunches. It will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.1g | Protein: 43.8g | Fat: 13.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.6g | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg
    L❤️VE this recipe? PIN it for later! 😊Mention @windingcreek_ranch or tag #windingcreek_ranch on IG!

    More Easy & Delicious Pellet Grill/Smoker Recipes

    • Smoked Sausage Recipe on Pellet Grill
    • Best Traeger Pork Tenderloin Recipe
    • Easy Smoked Shotgun Shells on Pellet Smoker
    • Smoked Beef Tenderloin Recipe on Pellet Grill

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lara M

      September 08, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      These turned out so juicy & tasty! The timing was perfect. I didn’t add bbq sauce, but they honestly didn’t even need it. Next time I’ll try it with BBQ sauce, but only because I have some from a friend that makes his own. I highly recommend this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Jeri

        September 13, 2022 at 1:17 pm

        Thank you for trying out my recipe for Smoked Chicken Legs, Lara! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed them and found the timing perfect! They do turn out juicy and tasty without any sauce, but BBQ sauce is a delicious addition, especially if it is homemade sauce. Yum! Thanks again for giving this recipe a go, and thanks for taking the time to come back and comment! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kay

      July 22, 2021 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      That's a great dry rub for smoked chicken legs, the whole family approved!

      Reply
      • Jeri

        July 22, 2021 at 9:44 am

        I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    3. Linda

      July 21, 2021 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      We've been using our smoker grill a lot lately and this chicken legs recipe would be perfect!

      Reply
    4. Erin Gierhart

      July 21, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Smoking gives these chicken legs the best flavor! And they are so juicy too!

      Reply
    5. Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/

      July 21, 2021 at 3:49 am

      5 stars
      I loved your smoked salmon, and the chicken legs look just as amazing. It seems we need to think seriously about buying a pellet grill.

      Reply
      • Jeri

        July 22, 2021 at 9:47 am

        You won't regret getting one; you would love it!

        Reply
    6. Freya

      July 20, 2021 at 11:57 pm

      5 stars
      These were so good and much easier than I thought to smoke!

      Reply
    7. Jessica Formicola

      July 20, 2021 at 12:37 pm

      5 stars
      That crispy skin is everything! When I made this for dinner last night, everyone loved it and they're already asking when I'm going to make it again!

      Reply
    8. Raquel

      July 19, 2021 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      We love using our smoker, especially during the summer. Going to try this soon!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A profile pic of Jeri in her kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Jeri!

    I'm a passionate home cook who loves creating easy and delicious recipes for busy families! My goal is to help you make tasty meals quickly so you can spend more time on what matters most-- family!

    More about me →

    Super Bowl Recipes

    • Easy Smoked Shotgun Shells on Pellet Smoker
    • Easy Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs
    • The Best Smoked Queso Recipe (Pellet Grill)
    • Best Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
    • Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Baking Powder
    • Best Smoked Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon

    Trending Recipes

    • Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe
    • Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • Thin Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
    • How To Make Delicious Iced Coffee At Home
    • Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill
    • How To Smoke a Turkey on a Pellet Grill

    As seen in

    A collection of sites where my recipes have been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Web stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Winding Creek Ranch