Smoked Chicken Leg Quarters
Smoked chicken leg quarters are packed with flavor, are very easy to make, and super tender and juicy every time.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Heat smoker to 275°F.
- Rinse chicken leg quarters and pat dry.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken leg quarters and rub into all of the crevices.
- Combine paprika, garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl to make a spice rub. Sprinkle the rub over the tops and backs of the chicken pieces and rub into the skin to coat completely.
- Place the chicken on the smoker and close the lid. Use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature of the chicken and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 1 hour.
- When the chicken is to temperature, increase the temperature of the smoker to 450°F.
- Use a basting brush to apply a generous layer of barbecue sauce to the chicken. Sear on each side for 1-2 minutes to create some char and crisp up the skin (this step is optional, but it makes the chicken taste oh so delicious.)
- Remove the chicken from the smoker/grill and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
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Notes
Storage:
Keep leftover smoked chicken in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
NOTES:
To make the chicken taste smokier, cook it at 225°F. It will need around 2 hours to get to 165°F inside. After that, you can use the same steps to sear the cooked chicken.
If you don't want barbecue sauce, you can still make the chicken crispy by turning the heat up to 450°F. This will make the skin crispy and give it a dry rub flavor.
We really like Sweet Baby Ray BBQ sauce, and it goes well with the dry rub in this recipe. We also use G Hughes hickory-flavored, sugar-free BBQ sauce with this recipe.
You can also cook the chicken on the smoker, then take it out. Brush it with barbecue sauce and put it in the oven to broil for a few minutes.
We prefer milder woods like: pecan, apple, cherry, and maple for smoking poultry.
Nutrition
Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 1353mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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