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BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe

Tender, marinated chicken legs baked and finished with BBQ sauce for a simple weeknight favorite.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 chicken legs
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons onion, chopped
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Place the 12 chicken legs into a large zip-top plastic bag or a shallow dish.
  • In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2 chopped garlic cloves, and 3 tablespoons chopped onion.
  • Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag (removing excess air) or cover the dish, and move the chicken around to coat evenly.
  • Refrigerate the chicken to marinate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet or oven-safe skillet.
  • Arrange the marinated chicken legs on the prepared baking sheet or skillet and bake until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (about 30–35 minutes).
  • Remove the chicken from the oven and brush each piece with 1 cup BBQ sauce, then return to the oven and continue baking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Take the chicken out of the oven and let rest about 3 minutes before serving.

Equipment

  • large zip-top bag or shallow dish
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • rimmed baking sheet or oven-safe skillet
  • Instant-read thermometer
  • small bowl or liquid measuring cup

Notes

  • To speed things up, skip marinating and coat chicken just before baking.
  • Use any bottled BBQ sauce if you prefer.