- Marinate the chicken:
Set the chicken legs in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides with salt. If you’re using liquid smoke, mix it into the barbecue sauce. Brush the legs all over with 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce, reserving the rest.
Cover, and set in fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes or as long as 8 hours.
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Prepare the chicken for cooking:
Set the broiler to high with a rack positioned a few inches below. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a metal cooling rack (like the ones used for baking) inside (or use a broiler pan).
Arrange the marinated chicken legs on the wire rack with a little space between each leg.
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Sear the chicken:
Slide the pan under broiler, and broil chicken on one side until you begin to see dark brown charred spots, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip, and sear the second side until also browned, another 3 to 5 minutes or so.
- Preheat the oven and adjust the rack:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and reposition the rack in the middle of the oven.
- Finish cooking the chicken:
Brush chicken all over with all but a tablespoon of the remaining sauce. Slide into the oven and bake 15 minutes. Flip chicken, and brush with the remaining sauce anywhere it’s needed.
Continue baking until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F when testing with a meat thermometer, another 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve:
Serve the chicken right away while hot with extra barbecue sauce on the side.
Nutrition
How to Store Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
Store leftover drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven until warmed through — or eat them cold!
How to Freeze Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
Freeze cooked chicken legs in a zip-top freezer bag labeled with the date for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
KEY STEPS for the BEST BBQ Chicken in the OVEN
- Line that baking sheet with foil! Don’t nobody want a big mess to clean up. This one gets sticky and you will be glad you don’t have to scrub this pan.
- Season the chicken and roast it first. By getting those spices in first you add so much more flavor to the chicken. It gets all roasted and delicious. This spice rub is a perfect compliment to the BBQ sauce.
- Crank the heat up at the end! This will allow the sauce to get nice and sticky and caramelized. This means extra flavor too!