Grilled Chicken Legs (keto + low carb)
Grilled Chicken Legs are the perfect easy dinner recipe! This chicken is marinaded in an Asian sauce that pairs perfectly with grilled vegetables!
Grilled Chicken Legs
Chicken legs, also called drumsticks, are a flavorful, juicy cut of meat! Chicken legs are also very affordable and easy to prepare. This makes them a wonderful weeknight dinner option! For this recipe I make a homemade Asian inspired marinade that helps keep this chicken from drying out as it cooks.
It also happens to have amazing flavor that has a hint of sweet and savory! This recipe is also keto friendly if using a low carb sweetener, and it is naturally gluten free if you are mindful of the brand of soy sauce you use! For more keto grilling recipes, check out this list of 30+ Low Carb Cookout Recipes!
Chicken Marinade Ingredients
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. To get the complete, printable recipe just keep scrolling. To make grilled chicken legs you will need:
- Soy sauce, sriracha, garlic, sweetener of your choice, lime zest and juice and toasted sesame oil.
- You will also need of course, chicken legs!
For this recipe you can use a sweetener such as honey, maple syrup or brown sugar. If you are keeping keto or low carb use brown sugar monkfruit.
How Long to Grill Chicken Legs
Because chicken legs can vary in size, you will want to rely less on time and more on a meat thermometer to know when chicken legs are done cooking. Chicken legs require between 15-20 minutes cooking time.
I grill my chicken drumsticks for 10 minutes, flip and grill 5 more, then I start to check the meat with a thermometer. Chicken legs are done when they have reached an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.
What temperature should I grill Chicken Legs?
Heat a grill to high heat, between 400 degrees F and 425 degrees F. Make sure to keep the grill temperature as consistent as possible while they cook. This is especially important when using a charcoal grill.
How do I know when Chicken Legs are done?
Rely on a meat thermometer to know when chicken is done. According to the FDA, the minimum safe temperature for chicken legs is 165 F, however they recommend cooking the meat to 170 degrees F.
Should I use a gas or charcoal grill for Chicken Legs?
Both gas and charcoal grills work great for this recipe. You will follow the same cooking times and temperatures for both grills.
Are Chicken Drumsticks healthy?
Chicken is a very healthy option. It contains a large amount of protein, while being low in fat. Chicken also contains many vitamins and nutrients, while also being extremely tasty!
What to serve with grilled chicken drumsticks?
Some of my favorite easy side dishes are:
Other Chicken Recipes
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Legs (keto + low carb)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken legs
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweetener of your choice, brown sugar monkfruit if keto
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- In a jar, combine the marinade ingredients and shake well.
- Pour the marinade over the drumsticks and allow them to marinade at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
- Heat a grill over high heat to approximately 400 degrees F. Place the chicken legs on the grill and cook 10 minutes, flip and cook an additional 5 minutes. Using a meat thermometer, check the internal temperature of the chicken. Remove from the grill when they reach 170 degrees F.
This chicken is amazing! I want one drumstick right now.
That’s such a funny story, and those chops had to be HOT! These drumsticks look delicious — I love the sound of that sauce!
That is too funny about your husband only using sriracha! At least he got an A for effort, right? 🙂 These drumsticks look amazing! I love that you added in a honey lime sauce. Delish!
Ok, this story just gave me the biggest smile on my face! Your husband is just too cute! I love husbands. They think they have the best ideas sometimes. Ha!
These drumsticks sound much more appetizing. I can’t wait to make these!
Oh my gosh, sriracha porkcops! I can only imagine how spicy those were. You’re such a nice wife though! Love the sauce on these drumsticks! Josh has been obsessed with that spicy stuff lately, I’ll have to show him this recipe!
Haha,that is the best story ever!! My husband just throws the meat on the grill and doesn’t even put salt on it! I think I’ve spoiled him into forgetting how to cook. He was just complaining that I don’t cook enough meat anymore, so maybe I will make these drumsticks for him and he will be happy 🙂
This is such a funny story. At least he tried…:-). These drumsticks look amazing!
Yes Liz! It is the thought that counts! 🙂
Hahahhaa! Your hubby is so sweet for cooking for you—at least he tried and that’s what matters most—that story just made my entire day by the way 😀 This chicken looks absolutely phenomenal—your photos are totally stunning, Annie!
Isn’t it precious?! Silly man! 🙂 Thank you Sarah!!
I love sriracha!! I just saw a friend post on facebook that she had made raspberry sriracha wings and I was drooling…. these ones sound just as amazing!! They look perfectly fall off the bone cooked too!
Raspbery sriracha?! That sounds amazing!! I need to experiment!
Drumsticks are my favorite. Thankfully noone in family prefers the drumsticks so I don’t have to fight them over it (I’d win anyways!). Yours look delicious!
Ha!! I love that Pamela! You should make a big batch just for yourself! 🙂
These look beautiful and it is nice how you cook them, without marinating first. Sauce sounds delicious, since I’m a big fan of sriracha! Great way to show how other parts of the chicken can be cooked, since I was getting tired of boneless skinless chicken breast. Pinning!
Thank you Mira!! I also use a lot of boneless chicken breast, sometimes I forget there are other cuts I could be using! I am trying to branch out a little bit! 🙂
Love this recipe! Loving the siracha and honey lime sauce- so good, flavours that are mean’t to be together! 😀
Thank you Jess! I loooooove sriracha and lime together!!
That is the cutest story – he did have good intentions though 🙂 The first time my husband ever grilled, he didn’t even add anything – just straight up haha. Love the sound of this honey lime sriracha drumsticks though -they look amazing!
Oh my goodness! Not even salt and pepper?! Men are so funny!
Oh man, how funny Annie! So sweet he was all gung-ho for making dinner…even if it was spicier than usual! 🙂 These drumsticks look AMAZING – and I’m craving that sauce big time! Pinning.
Thanks Alyssa! I cannot complain! 🙂 Even if it was a bit hot there was dinner on the table!