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Discover the perfect grilling times and tips for juicy chicken drumsticks. Learn how long to grill them for a delicious outdoor feast!
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How to Grill Chicken Legs: Delicious and Juicy Every Time Grilling chicken legs is a fantastic way to enjoy juicy, flavorful chicken with minimal effort. Whether you're a cooking beginner or a seasoned pro, learning the art of how to grill chicken legs will surely impress your friends and family. In this thorough guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know how to grill chicken legs to perfection every time. Why Choose Chicken Legs? Chicken legs, often referred to as drumsticks, are a popular choice for cooking due to their rich taste and juicy meat. They are also relatively cheap, making them a budget-friendly choice for feeding a crowd. Additionally, chicken legs are flexible cuts of meat, meaning they are less likely to dry out or become tough when cooked, making them an excellent choice for newbies. Choosing the Right Chicken Legs When choosing chicken legs for cooking, opt for fresh, high-quality chicken from a trusted source. Look for how to grill chicken legs that are plump and moist with smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid chicken legs that appear dry or browned, as this may indicate that the meat is past its prime. Preparing Chicken Legs for Grilling Before cooking, it's important to properly prepare the chicken wings to ensure they cook evenly and develop a delicious, crispy skin. Follow these steps to prepare your chicken legs for grilling: ● Trim Excess Fat: Trim any excess fat from the chicken legs using a sharp knife. On the grill, keeping too much fat on the chicken legs can make them catch fire. ● Remove the Skin (Optional): The skin gives the food a taste and helps it stay wet, but you can get rid of it if you'd rather. Use your fingers or a knife to peel the skin off the chicken legs. ● Brine: If you want to add more taste and wetness, you could brine the chicken legs. To pickle, put water, salt, sugar, and any herbs or spices you want in a big bowl or bag that can be closed again. Put the chicken legs on top and put it in the fridge for at least an hour or up to 24 hours. ● Sauce: Use a lot of your favorite dry sauce or brine to season the chicken legs. For the flavors to get into the meat, let the chicken legs sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Setting up the grill To make sure food cooks evenly and doesn't stick, it's important to properly prepare your grill before using it. Prepare your grill for cooking chicken legs by doing these things: 1. Clean the Grill: Set your grill to medium-high heat (about 350–400°F/175–200°C) and use a wire grill brush to clean the plates of any food that was cooked on them before. 2. Oil the Grates: Once the grill is clean and hot, lightly oil the sides to keep food from sticking. Spread vegetable oil on the grates using tongs and a folded paper towel. Setting up a grill for chicken legs We are ready to start cooking now that the chicken legs are ready and the grill is ready. If you do these things, your chicken legs will always be cooked just right: 1. Direct Heat vs. Indirect Heat: To get the best results, cook the outside of the chicken legs over direct heat on the grill to seal in the juices. When the chicken pieces are browned, move them to a different area of the grill to finish cooking. 2. Grill: Place the chicken legs directly on a fire surface. Grill the chicken legs for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until they are nicely browned and have grill marks. 3. Move to Indirect Heat: Later, move the chicken legs to the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat) after they are browned. Keep cooking for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken legs hit 165°F (74°C) on the inside. 4. Baste: If you want to add more flavor, baste the chicken legs with your favorite barbecue sauce or marinate for the last 10 minutes of cooking. 5. Rest and Serve: After taking the chicken legs off the grill, let them sit for a few minutes. So the juices can move around, making sure the chicken legs are soft and juicy. Tips for Serving Griddled chicken legs are very flexible and can be served in many ways. You might want to try these serving ideas: 1. BBQ Chicken Legs: For a basic and tasty meal, serve the grilled chicken legs with your favorite barbecue sauce. 2. Side Dishes: For a full meal, serve the grilled chicken wings with potato salad, coleslaw, grilled veggies, or corn on the cob. 3. Salads: For a light and delicious meal, serve the sliced grilled chicken legs on top of a bed of mixed greens. 4. Sandwiches: For a tasty sandwich, shred the grilled chicken and put it on buns with barbecue sauce and salad.
How to Be Successful Using a Meat Thermometer: To make sure the chicken legs are fully cooked, check the temperature inside with a meat thermometer. When they're done, the chicken legs should read 165°F (74°C). ● Flare-Ups: To stop flare-ups, don't drip extra fat or sauce onto the fire. Move the chicken legs to a cooler part of the grill if the flames start to flare up. ● Let the grilled chicken legs rest for a few minutes before serving so that the juices can spread. This will make the meat more juicy. ● Try Out Different Flavors: To make your grilled chicken legs taste the way you want them to, don't be afraid to try out different dry rubs, marinades, and BBQ sauces. To sum up It's easy and tasty to enjoy soft, juicy chicken with little work by grilling chicken legs. By using these tips and tricks, you'll always be able to grill chicken legs to perfection, which will wow your family and friends with your cooking skills. Now that the grill is hot, grab some chicken legs, and get ready for a delicious meal that everyone will love! To learn more, go to How to Grill Chicken Legs .