The smoked chicken leg quarters recipe is a Southern classic – smoked chicken is delicious, juicy, and full of flavor. This recipe is seasoned with salt and pepper before being covered with a dry rub made up of paprika, cayenne pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Using a smoker at low temperatures overnight gives the chicken that deep smoky flavor we love. The smoked chicken leg quarters recipe’s cool temperature makes them perfect for summer grilling or picnics.
What is the Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
This is a smoking recipe for chicken legs. It makes for moist, flavorful smoked chicken leg quarters. The smoked chicken leg quarters recipe gives the chicken a delicious smoky flavor and is perfect for summertime grilling.
The essential ingredient in this smoked chicken leg quarters recipe is the smoker. Make sure you have an excellent smoker if you try this out. It should be heavy gauge metal and preferably have at least three racks.
How To Long Will It Take To Prepare?
- Prepare time: 20 minutes
- Smoke time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Serving: 4 people
How to make Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup paprika, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1-gallon jar of barbecue sauce
- 1/2 Tablespoon ground oregano
Directions:
Step: 1
Mix all the ingredients listed under “How to make Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe” in a small bowl. The smoked chicken leg quarters recipe is ready to be used.
Step: 2
Combine half of the paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder: cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. To coat them evenly, place the dry rub under and around your chicken leg quarters.
Step: 3
Coat the chicken legs with olive oil. Sprinkle with half of the seasoning mixture on each side of each leg quarter. Place in the smoker on a rack and smoke for one hour at 250 degrees. Add wood chips to provide extra flavor if desired and if you are using charcoal.
Step: 4
Add the remaining seasoning mixture, barbecue sauce, and oregano to the smoker. Turn off the smoker and cook for one hour longer at 250 degrees. Remove from the smoker and serve on a bun or heated tortillas.
Additional Tips:
- You can add other herbs, such as thyme, oregano, or basil.
- The smoked chicken leg quarters recipe is excellent, with barbecue sauce and sour cream on the side for dipping.
- I love the combination of barbecue sauce and oregano. It provides a unique flavor perfect for these smoked chicken leg quarters.
- I used a smoker for this recipe. If you have a gas grill, you can use that as well. You need to control the temperature and time carefully. If using charcoal, use wood or hickory chips for extra flavor if desired.
Precautions For Recipes:
- Using a charcoal smoker, ensure enough space between the coals to keep the temperature consistent.
- We do not recommend using this recipe with gas grills because it requires low temperatures for an extended period.
- Always make sure that you have a good thermometer with your smoker. You do not want to overcook the meat if you leave it in the smoker for several hours.
- If you use wood chips, the wood chips will catch on fire and create a lot of smoke. This is perfectly normal so try not to freak out when this happens. The more smoke that is created, the more flavor you will get.
Nutrition facts of Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 242 kcal |
| Fat | 12 grams |
| Saturated fat | 2 grams |
| Trans fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 39 mg |
| Sodium | 333 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 5.7 grams |
| Protein | 26.8 grams |
5 Amazing serving ideas Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe-
- Pair the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe with some potatoes, corn on the cob, or cabbage. You can use regular potato or baked potato to go with this recipe.
- Serve the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe with a variety of side dishes such as coleslaw, pasta salad, and baked beans.
- Put out a couple of sliced tomatoes and some dressing to make a delicious Caprese salad with this dish.
- If you are in a hurry, serve the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe on some toasted buns or tortillas.
- You can also serve these legs on a bed of rice or with pasta and tomato sauce. You can make your tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes if possible.
How can I make smoked chicken leg quarters taste more delicious?
You can make the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe taste better by adding other herbs such as thyme, oregano, or basil. You can also add barbecue sauce and sour cream on the side for dipping.
Furthermore, I love the combination of barbecue sauce and oregano. It provides a unique flavor perfect for these smoked chicken leg quarters.
Which type of smoker will I use when I want to smoke this chicken leg quarters recipe?
You are going to use a smoker for this recipe. If you have a gas grill, you can use that as well. You need to control the temperature and time carefully.
If using charcoal, use wood or hickory chips for extra flavor if desired. You can also make your smoker home by using an airtight box and a rack.
How do you make a quick, easy, delicious Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
You should be careful when preparing this recipe because the chicken may burn if you ignore it. You want to make sure that there is minimal smoke so that you can achieve the best results.
Also, make sure not to overcook the chicken when using a smoker. Do not go for an hour, or you will ruin the meat. Also, make sure that you have a thermometer in your smoker to ensure its effectiveness and accuracy.
What are some herbs used in the Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
You can use oregano, basil, thyme, or any fresh herbs at home. It would help if you also tried chili powder for some extra heat. Furthermore, you can use barbecue sauce and dried oregano instead of regular oregano if you want a more robust flavor.
Is there anything in the recipe that can be substituted for this smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
You can use other herbs if you do not have oregano. You can also substitute barbecue sauce and sour cream for plain barbecue sauce.
Does the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe have any side effects?
Smoked chicken leg quarter recipes are low in calories, fat, and cholesterol. You can, therefore, enjoy this recipe without worrying about these things. Furthermore, it is rich in protein and carbohydrates and has no trans fat or sodium.
What is the reason for using dry rub?
A dry rub is a mixture of herbs, spices, and seasonings applied to meat before cooking. The purpose of a dry rub is to give your food a different flavor than if cooked without the rub. You can add as little or as much seasoning as you want to make your dish just right for your taste buds.
What are the health benefits of the Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
Smoked chicken leg quarters are low in calories, fat, and cholesterol. You can, therefore, enjoy this recipe without worrying about these things. Furthermore, it is rich in protein and carbohydrates and has no trans fat or sodium.
What are some excellent side dishes with the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
You can serve this recipe with a salad or some steamed vegetables if you are on a diet. You can also make a potato or baked potato to go with this recipe and some bread to go along with it.
You can also prepare potatoes, corn on the cob, or cabbage for side dishes and serve them at the same time as this recipe.
How to make Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe for my kids?
You can make smoked chicken leg quarters recipes for your kids by limiting the spice and herbs you use. It would help if you also prepared this dish with an appropriate amount of seasonings, so it does not burn the meat.
How Do I Make This Recipe Gluten-Free As Well?
If you are making the smoked chicken leg quarters recipe gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free barbecue sauce or a gluten-free BBQ rub.
Can I substitute these smoked chicken leg quarters with other recipes?
You can substitute smoked chicken leg quarters with another dish, such as roasted chicken breast.
You can also serve it with a salad, some broccoli, and pasta if you want to make this recipe more elaborate. You can also combine this recipe with Carne aside to make it more interesting.
What are some other uses of smoked chicken leg quarters?
You can use smoked chicken leg quarters in different recipes, such as slow cooker white barbecue chicken recipes or smoked BBQ wings, or you can use it in curries, stews, or salads.
How many hours should I leave my smoked chicken legs before they get juicy and tender?
You should leave the chicken legs for at least one hour in the smoker to get the best results. If possible, leave it overnight, so it gets more tender.
Can I store smoked chicken leg quarters in the freezer?
You can store smoked chicken leg quarters in the freezer for up to three months. It would help if you let it thaw at room temperature before cooking, so it does not have a mushy texture.
How To Reheat The Smoked chicken leg quarters recipe?
You can reheat the smoked chicken leg quarters by steaming them. You can also reheat it in a pan with some oil. Remember that you must avoid overcooking the meat; otherwise, it will become tough.
Conclusion
Smoked chicken leg quarters are great for a party or just an evening snack. Make sure you do not overcook the meat, or it will become tough and challenging.
It would help if you used a smoker to obtain the best results. You can create a delicious meal in your home with this recipe that you are sure to enjoy.
The smoker will add more flavor to this unique and fresh dish. You can also cook different types of smoked food with your smoker.
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