How Long to Broil Chicken Legs for Juicy, Flavorful Results

Broiling chicken legs is a quick and easy way to make a delicious weeknight dinner. With just a few simple ingredients like chicken legs oil, and seasonings, you can have a tasty meal ready in 30 minutes or less. But knowing exactly how long to broil chicken legs is key for optimizing flavor and texture. Undercook them and the meat will be rubbery and raw. Overcook them and you’ll end up with dry, overdone chicken. So what’s the perfect broil time for juicy, flavorful chicken legs? Let’s take a closer look.

What are Chicken Legs?

Chicken legs are one of the most budget-friendly cuts of chicken you can buy. Comprised of both the drumstick and thigh still attached, chicken legs contain a good balance of white and dark meat.

The drumstick is the lower part of the chicken leg. It contains mostly dark meat and gets its name from its drumstick-like shape. Drumsticks take longer to cook than chicken breasts because dark meat contains more fat and connective tissue. But this extra fat keeps drumsticks moist and flavorful when cooked.

Chicken thighs make up the upper portion of the leg. Skin-on bone-in thighs offer the most flavor and juiciness. The bones add flavor as the chicken cooks and the skin becomes deliciously crispy. The dark meat also has a richer taste and stays tender even with longer cooking times.

Benefits of Broiling Chicken Legs

There are several advantages to broiling chicken legs versus other cooking methods:

• Quick cooking time – Broiling uses intense, direct radiant heat from above to cook food. This high heat quickly sears the outside of chicken legs, sealing in juices. Total broiling time is only about 25-30 minutes.

• Crispy skin – The hot, dry heat from broiling crisps up the skin nicely. Basting chicken legs while broiling keeps the skin from burning.

• Adds flavor – Broiling caramelizes the natural sugars and proteins on the chicken skin surface. This adds color and rich, complex flavors.

• Easy cleanup – With broiling, excess fat and juices drip down into the bottom of the pan instead of sitting in cooking liquid. This makes cleanup a breeze.

• Healthy – Broiling is a lower fat cooking method since you don’t need to use much, if any, added oil or butter.

How to Prepare Chicken Legs for Broiling

Proper prep ensures your chicken legs cook up juicy and tender:

• Use bone-in, skin-on chicken legs – The bones add moisture and flavor. Skin keeps the meat from drying out.

• Pat chicken dry – Blot legs with paper towels to remove excess moisture for better browning.

• Coat with oil – Lightly brush both sides with oil to promote browning and prevent sticking.

• Season generously – Flavor the chicken all over with salt, pepper and other spices/herbs.

• Arrange on a broiler pan – Place chicken on the pan so meat is at least 2-3 inches from heat source.

• Let sit at room temperature – Bringing chicken to room temp before broiling prevents overcooking outer areas before the inside cooks through.

How Long to Broil Chicken Legs

For the juiciest, most flavorful results, follow these simple broiling guidelines:

1. Preheat broiler on high – Give your oven plenty of time to fully preheat. Place oven rack about 6 inches from heating element.

2. Broil for 8-10 minutes on first side – This sears the skin and lets flavor develop. Using tongs, flip chicken and broil another 8-10 minutes on the second side.

3. Flip back over and broil 6 more minutes – This crisps up and lightly chars the skin. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

4. Tent loosely with foil and broil 4-8 more minutes – The foil tent traps heat for even cooking and prevents over-browning.

5. Check internal temperature – Chicken is fully cooked when internal temp in thickest part reaches 165°F. If needed, broil 1-2 minutes more.

6. Let rest 5 minutes before serving – Resting allows juices to redistribute for moist, tender meat.

The total broiling time is typically 26-30 minutes, but can vary based on your broiler’s intensity and the size of the chicken legs. Using an instant-read thermometer ensures chicken legs are fully cooked without overdoing it.

For extra flavor and moisture, baste chicken with melted butter, olive oil, or other sauce every time you flip the legs over. Just watch closely to avoid burning.

Broiling Tips for Perfectly Cooked Chicken Legs

Follow these simple tips for broiling success:

• Keep an eye on chicken legs the entire time to prevent burning or undercooking. Broilers heat quickly and chicken can go from done to burnt fast.

• For even cooking, choose chicken legs that are similar in size. Larger pieces may need extra time.

• Baste chicken with pan juices every time you flip to add flavor and prevent drying out.

• Use tongs instead of a fork for turning chicken. A fork punctures the meat, letting juices escape.

• Resist the urge to move chicken legs around. Opening the oven repeatedly can cause temperature fluctuations.

• Brush any thick marinades or sauces on toward the end of broiling to avoid burning.

• For char-grilled flavor, finish off chicken under the broiler after grilling.

Common Broiling Mistakes

It’s easy to go wrong when broiling if you aren’t careful. Here are some common mistakes and fixes:

Chicken is undercooked – Raise oven rack closer to broiler and increase cooking time in 2 minute increments until done.

Chicken is overcooked or burnt – Watch heat closely and reduce broiling time. Lower oven rack to increase distance from heating element.

Chicken sticks to the pan – Make sure to grease pan well and use tongs instead of sharp utensils when turning chicken.

Skin isn’t crispy – Increase heat, raise oven rack, and broil skin-side up a bit longer. Baste less often.

Chicken is unevenly cooked – Use similarly sized pieces and tent with foil at the end to balance doneness.

Chicken is dry, not juicy – Baste while cooking, don’t pierce meat, and let rest before cutting for juicier results.

The Best Chicken Leg Broiling Recipe

This simple, classic broiled chicken legs recipe turns out juicy, flavorful chicken every time:

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken legs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven broiler on high and place oven rack 6 inches from heat source. Pat chicken dry and coat all over with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.
2. Arrange chicken skin-side down on greased broiler pan and broil 8-10 minutes until starting to brown. Flip chicken and broil 8-10 more minutes on second side.
3. Flip chicken skin-side up again and broil 6 more minutes until skin is crispy and lightly charred.
4. Tent chicken loosely with foil and broil 4-8 more minutes until 165°F internal temperature.
5. Remove from oven, tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Squeeze lemon juice over chicken and garnish with parsley.

So for flavorful, juicy broiled chicken legs at home, just remember these simple tips on prep, cook time, temperature, and technique. In about 30 minutes or less dinner is served! Crispy, browned skin on the outside and moist, succulent meat within – broiled chicken legs make the perfect quick and tasty weeknight meal.

Chicken Boiling Time Chart