Smoked Chicken Legs with a quick dry rub are full of flavor and can feed a crowd. Smoking doesn't get easier than this. Whether you are new to smoking or a seasoned veteran, Smoked Chicken Drumsticks are easy to make.
Chicken legs are a grocery store staple because they are flavorful and one of the cheapest cuts of meat you can buy. It is hard to overcook poultry with dark meat so you can really concentrate on the delicious smoky flavor.
Smoking chicken is the easiest way to prepare juicy and flavorful chicken. Discover the easiest way to prepare smoked chicken on your Traeger pellet grill.
The beauty with smoked chicken legs is they stay moist and produce extremely juicy meat. Contrast that with the smoky seasoned bark of the chicken and this chicken leg recipe is a home run every time.
Make our Traeger Beer Can Chicken next!
Ingredients
Chicken Legs - Look for medium-sized meaty drumsticks.
Dry Rub - You only need five simple ingredients to make the best dry rub. Combine two parts of each of these spice ingredients in a small bowl: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Add in one part of kosher salt. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
This rub is great on a whole chicken, chicken breast, or chicken quarters as well.
How to Make Smoked Chicken Legs
Step One: Take the chicken legs out of the packaging and remove any extra moisture by patting them with a paper towel. Place chicken legs either in a large bowl or on a large cooking sheet.
Step Two: Sprinkle the spice dry rub all over the legs. Using your hands or a pair of tongs, roll them around to ensure they all get evenly coated with the spice mixture.
Step Three: Once your smoker is preheated to 225°F place the seasoned drumsticks directly on the grill grate or smoker rack. Insert a leave-in meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and close the smoker.
Step Four: Cook them on the smoker for about 90 minutes or once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Top tip
For crispy chicken skin you can grill them at a higher temperature for a couple of minutes on each side when they hit 160.
Variations
These taste great the way they are with the crispy skin, the smoky flavor, and the spice rub.
BBQ Sauce - If you want to add some variety serve them with your favorite BBQ sauce. We all have a different favorite barbecue sauce in our house. From classic red sauce to Mississippi white sauce and yellow mustard-based sauces.
Spices - Swapping out the spices in the simple dry rub is a great way to keep this dish new every time. Add some ground chipotle pepper, chili powder, or cayenne pepper for heat or try a different variety of pepper such as ground white pepper.
Sweetness - If you would like a sweet rub mix in some brown sugar. Or rub honey on the chicken legs before adding the rub.
Wood - The flavor of the smoke varies with the type of wood you choose. We used a combination of cherry wood, apple wood, and oak wood for chicken recipes.
Common Questions
What Type of Wood Should I Use to Smoke Chicken?
For this smoke, I used a mix of hickory and pecan. I cooked these on the Traeger pellet grill and mixed the pellets about a pound of each. If you don't have a pellet smoker, and you are using charcoal or a propane smoker, pick your favorite wood chips. I wanted to have a nice strong smoke flavor.
How to Serve Smoked Drumsticks
Serve with a simple side dish for an easy meal. We served these with a summer favorite garden salad that we dressed with a generous drizzle of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
Other great side options are:
Smoked Scalloped Potatoes - The scalloped potatoes are packed with cheese sauce and bacon. They are so rich and creamy and pair perfectly with chicken.
Grilled Delicata Squash - Grilled delicata squash with a dash of salt is a classic dish for the fall season.
Smoked Cauliflower - The smoky, charred cauliflower is the perfect accompaniment to anything from smoked drumsticks to a good old-fashioned steak.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
More Recipes for the Smoker
These smoker recipes are easy to make and require minimal preparation. They are a great addition to your weekly meal plan and will be loved by everyone in your family. If you agree these are the best smoked chicken legs make sure to check out some of our other delicious recipes:
- Traeger Chicken Thighs - Tender and succulent, these chicken thighs are another economical main entree choice.
- Smoked Duck Breast - This smoked duck has a delicious maple glaze.
- Smoked Rack of Lamb - When you want to impress your dinner company this is the simple recipe you need.
- Traeger Chicken Wings - Having a party? Try our smoked chicken wings.
Recipe
Smoked Chicken Legs
Equipment
- Traeger Grill or other smoker
Ingredients
- 3 lb chicken legs
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225.
- Combine the ingredients for the dry rub in a small bowl.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with a paper towel. Coat them thoroughly with the dry rub.
- Place the seasoned chicken legs directly on the grill grate or smoker rack of the preheated smoker.
- Cook them for about 90 minutes or once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Nutrition
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Originally Published January 28, 2022. Revised and Republished February 19, 2025.
Shadi says
Bet the paprika adds a lot of flavor! Can’t wait to try these smoked chicken legs!
Allison says
Delicious! Love that rub. Thanks for sharing.