Grilling Chicken Legs: 8 Flavor Styles, Rubs, and Sauces to Try This Season
Chicken legs are one of the most flexible cuts you can put over a fire. They're inexpensive, they stay juicy, and they take on seasoning beautifully. Most guides focus on timing and temperature, but flavor is where grilling chicken legs gets fun. The same drumstick can taste smoky and sweet, bright and herby, or deeply spiced, depending on what you put on it. This guide covers the fundamentals that keep every flavor style working, followed by eight seasoning directions you can rotate through all summer. For a complete base recipe to build from, keep this guide to grilling chicken legs handy. The Foundation: Get These Right Before You Add Flavor No rub or sauce can rescue chicken that's cooked poorly. A few basics make every flavor variation work better. Dry the skin. Pat the legs thoroughly with paper towels. Moisture on the surface steams the skin instead of crisping it. Salt early. Salt the chicken at least 30 minutes ahead, or up to a day before, and leave it uncovere...