Description
This smoky-sweet chicken leg recipe will be your new favorite way to cook chicken legs. The secret ingredient? Traeger pellets. Smoky, spicy, and crispy, these chicken legs are perfect for your next game-day party or just an easy weeknight meal. It’s bursting with smoke flavor, and the sauce takes it to the next level.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Equipment:
- Plastic bowl
- Plastic wrap
- Probe thermometer
- Traeger pellet grill/pellet smoker
- Wood pellets (cherry or hickory)
Ingredients for Chicken:
- 6 whole chicken legs (thigh and drumstick)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Ingredients for Jalapeno Salsa:
- 6 Medium jalapeños
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 6 Sprig fresh cilantro
- 2 green onions
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
Chicken Instructions
- Mix the dry rub ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pat the chicken legs dry using a paper towel.
- Coat the chicken pieces with olive oil and place them into the bowl with the chicken rub. Once all your chicken has been added to the bowl, stir and coat the chicken evenly. Sprinkle the chicken with lemon juice.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the chicken legs marinate for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
- Preheat your Traeger grill to 350°F.
- Place the chicken wings on the grill grates with the skin side up.
- Insert the meat thermometer in the center of one of the legs
- Let the chicken legs smoke until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F – about 40 to 45 minutes.
Jalapeno Salsa Instructions
- While the chicken is smoking, place jalapenos on the grill grates and let them sit for about 25-30 minutes.
- Take the jalapenos off the grill and remove their stems and seeds. Combine the jalapenos and the rest of the salsa ingredients in a blender. Pulse until the mixture resembles a chunky salsa. You can store the salsa in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
- Serve your smoked chicken legs with a side of smoky jalapeno salsa and warm corn tortillas. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 0.1g
- Sodium: 144.9mg
- Fat: 25.3g
- Saturated Fat: 7.1g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 0.3g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 32.8
- Cholesterol: 154mg