Smoked Chicken Legs are nothing but smoked thighs and drumsticks of chicken meat that make a dashing good meal with a rich and smoky flavor. Smoking chicken legs take longer than cooking chicken legs, giving them a rough and thick texture.

Smoking chicken legs takes around 90 minutes at 225 degrees F. This 90 minutes actually involves changing the temperature once and searing the meat until it turns thick brown.

There are times you want the chicken legs to be crispier and sharp. You may want to increase the temperature or opt for a longer time.

The duration of smoking the chicken leg is definitely an important factor, but it is very volatile. The values are susceptible as they keep changing according to the choice of the consumers.

Let us now go over all the details of smoking chicken legs while also contemplating the duration of the smoking time.

How Long Does It Take To Smoke Chicken Legs?

As mentioned earlier, smoking chicken legs is a tentative process regarding duration. There is no fixed timeline as to how long smoking has to continue. However, an approximation of the value throws some insight.

Smoking chicken legs take about 90 minutes at 225 degrees F. this also entails increasing the temperature once to sear the chicken legs. If you are smoking at 225 degrees F, then ideally, it should take around 70 minutes. 

After this process is over, there is a temperature check to evaluate if the inner layers of the meat are cooked at the right temperature. The temperature has to show a value of 165 degrees F and not any less than that.

This will ensure that the chicken legs are completely smoked.

What Are The Tips To Be Followed To Smoke Chicken Legs?

The below tips will ensure that the chicken legs are smoked perfectly and make a delicious dish to satiate our temptation. 

1. Baste It With Seasoning

A separate spice rub for the chicken is ideal for enhancing the flavor of the meat. Sometimes you can also go with a traditional paprika, pepper, and salt mixture that is quite conventional and extremely convenient.

However, basting the meat before the end of its cooking stint makes it too delicious and attractive. The juice moistens the surface, making them crispier as they get heated in full flow.

2. Use A Smelly Wood

The wood in the smoker can be modified according to the fragrance you want the meat to emanate. There is applewood, pecan wood, or even cherry wood which would make the meat smellier.

3. Searing The Chicken Legs Post Cooking

Chicken legs are seared after the initial smoking is complete. The chicken, after being smoked, is taken out of the oven and checked for temperature.

If it shows above 165 degrees F, sear the chicken back in the oven at 500 degrees F for just a minute. This will add a crispy brown coating that makes it hard and thick.

4. Let The Meat Rest

The meat is rested after being smoked to suck in all the juices that have been dabbed on the surface. This also makes the chicken leg tepid convent for consumption or carving.

Step-By-Step Instructions To Smoke Chicken Legs

The below list of instructions will detail the set of actions to be performed.

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Use wood chips or pellets to smoke the chicken legs to give some fragrance.
2. Use a paper towel and dab out the chicken leg dry before transferring them to a large bowl.
3. Take a small bowl and mix together brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
4. Toss the meat with olive oil or butter and baste it.
5. Apply the dry rub to the chicken. Use the finger to rub on the layers.
6. Place the chicken legs on the smoker grates and heat them by closing the lid.
7. Keep smoking it for 90 minutes straight until the temperature reaches 175 degrees F.
8. Check it with a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is reached.
9. Allow the chicken to rest before serving.

How Do You Get The Smoked Chicken Crispy?

Smoke the chicken for 60 minutes straight at 225 degrees F. check if the internal temperature reaches up to 160 degrees F. Then notch up the heat to 500 to 600 degrees F, and sear them for another few minutes until it is thick brown and crispy.

Storing And Reheating The Chicken Legs

Leftover chicken legs are preserved in an airtight container for at least 3 to 5 days. They look pretty and delicious, cold with sauce for dipping.

The chicken legs can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months or more than that without any hassles. 

What To Serve With Smoked Chicken Legs?

There are lots of side dishes that complement the taste of the chicken legs. Some of the most prominent side dishes that seem to be people’s choices are favorite sauces and dips like blue cheese dip and honey barbecue sauce.

If you are going to eat them as the main item, then they can be sided with mac and cheese, some fantastic creamed corn, or even grilled green beans on the side. 

Conclusion

Chicken legs, or drumsticks as they are called, can entice people with flavor and texture. They are quite filling as separate meals and also go as a snack item to be binged in the evening.

Cooking them rightly for the correct duration and temperature makes them a rich food to be enjoyed. In this article, all tips that elucidate cooking methods are retailed. Kindly have a look and make a smart move.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)