Learn how long to boil chicken legs to get perfectly tender, moist, and flavorful chicken every time. Grab our step-by-step guide on how to quickly add flavor to bone-in chicken legs when boiling. Serve the juicy chicken as is or brush with your favorite sauce and broil to crisp the skin.
Boiled and ready to serve in just 30 minutes, this chicken drumsticks recipe makes a great choice for dinner on busy weeknights, as a party appetizer or game day snack. There are so many different ways to easily flavor chicken legs making it a staple go-to dinner option made with simple ingredients. From barbeque and buffalo sauce to dry rubs and seasoning blends, we can’t wait to share all our favorite ways to boost flavor.
Boiling is a quick and easy cooking method to create tender chicken legs. Not only can you learn how to boil chicken but we have created guides on How To Boil A Whole Chicken, How To Boil Chicken Breasts, and How To Boil Bone-In Chicken Thighs.
Looking for more ways to cook chicken legs? Check out our Air Fry Chicken Legs, Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks, Ranch Chicken Drumsticks Crockpot and Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds of chicken legs ✅
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 2 teaspoons salt
- fresh sprigs thyme and sage optional
- water
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce ✅
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make Boiled Chicken Drumsticks
Start by taking the chicken legs and placing them in a large pot. Add a handful of peppercorns and a suitable amount of salt for seasoning. Optionally, toss in some fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or parsley or try adding 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and bay leaves to add extra flavor to the chicken.
Next, pour enough water into the large stockpot to cover the chicken legs by about an inch. This will ensure they’re submerged adequately for cooking. Put the stockpot on the stove over medium heat to medium-high heat and bring it to a gentle boil.
Let the chicken legs simmer for about 20 minutes then remove with a slotted spoon or tongs. Cook time varies based on the size of the chicken legs, so it’s advisable to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The minimum internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F, ensuring it’s thoroughly cooked and safe to eat. You can reserve the poaching liquid to boil broccoli, green beans, or carrots to serve with dinner.
How Long Does It Take To Boil Chicken Legs?
Boiling fresh chicken legs typically takes around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken legs and the level of heat applied. It’s essential to ensure that the chicken legs are thoroughly cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Here’s a general guideline based on different sizes and cooking conditions:
- Small to medium-sized chicken legs (around 2-3 ounces each) might take approximately 15-20 minutes of boiling.
- Larger chicken legs, chicken leg quarters, or if you want to cook frozen chicken legs the chicken will require 25-30 minutes or more.
It’s crucial to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Once it reaches 165°F, regardless of the time it took, the chicken legs are safe to eat. Adjust the cooking time accordingly for frozen or larger pieces.
Remember to maintain a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil, to prevent the chicken from becoming tough or overcooked on the outside while still being undercooked inside.
As the chicken is finishing cooking on the stove, preheat the broiler on your oven. Broiling creates crispy skin on the chicken. Place the cooked chicken legs onto a wire rack set into a baking tray. This setup helps air circulate around the chicken, aiding in even crisping of the chicken skin.
At this stage, you have the option to leave the chicken legs as is or boost the flavor of the dark meat by brushing with BBQ sauce or any preferred sauce for added taste.
Once the broiler is ready, put the baking sheet with the chicken legs under the broiler. Keep an eye on them as they broil, turning occasionally if needed to ensure even browning. Allow the chicken to broil for 3-5 minutes or until the skin starts to turn golden brown and gets crispy.
Once the chicken is appropriately browned, remove it from the oven. Let the chicken legs rest for a minute or two, then serve them hot.
Expert Tips
- Regardless of the part of the chicken you are boiling, be cautious when adding to the water to prevent spillage or splashing for food safety concerns.
- Wipe down all surfaces after handling raw chicken.
- Discard fresh herbs after chicken is completely cooked.
- To cook evenly, do not overcrowd the stockpot with chicken but instead boil in a single layer.
- Cover the stockpot with a lid when boiling.
Ideas for Sauces and Seasonings
BBQ sauce is just one of the sauces to brush onto chicken legs prior to serving. Check out all these sauces and seasoning blends then pick your favorites.
- Easy Buffalo Sauce (Gluten-Free)
- Homemade Lemon Pepper
- Chicken Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Chicken Seasoning Blend Recipe
- Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce
- Easy Chicken Seasoning Recipe
- Gluten Free, Soy Free, Homemade “Everything” Seasoning/Rub
- Homemade Thai Seasoning Blend (Thai Spice Mix) Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken legs take just 20 minutes to boil from fresh or 30 minutes from frozen. The best way to ensure it is cooked completely is to cook until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F. When using a meat thermometer to test the temperature, always insert the probe into the thickest part of the chicken leg.
Gluten Free Cheesy Potatoes, Low Sodium Mac and Cheese, Green Beans For Kids and Sauteed Butternut Squash are a few suggestions that pair well with chicken legs.
Let cooked chicken legs cool completely then store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven or microwave in increments until hot.
Without even knowing it, you have created a homemade chicken broth in the stockpot! Use the broth to make a homemade gravy or store to use in later recipes. For an even more flavorful broth, add carrots, celery sticks and onion slices to the water when boiling.
The correct internal temperature for cooked chicken, including chicken legs, should reach a minimum of 165°F (74°C) to ensure that it is safe to eat. This temperature is considered safe by food safety standards to kill harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, which might be present in poultry. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature by inserting it into the thickest part of the chicken leg without touching the bone. When the thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) or higher, the chicken is safe to eat.
Storage Instructions
Let cooked chicken legs cool completely then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can also store the chicken in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag then store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven or microwave in increments until hot.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- To test the temperature of the chicken, insert a meat thermometer into the thickness part of the chicken thigh. If under 165°F, keep boiling until the internal temperature reaches this number.
- Broiling is a high-heat cooking method that can be used for crisping. It is a great option when looking to crisp the skin on chicken.
- Top chicken thighs with barbecue, hot sauce, siracha, buffalo or your favorite sauce.
- Chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
More Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Baked Chicken Thighs
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Old Fashioned Boiled Chicken and Rice
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
How Long to Boil Chicken Legs Recipe
Equipment
- baking sheet with rack
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds chicken legs ✅
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 2 teaspoons salt
- fresh sprigs thyme and sage optional
- water
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce ✅
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients. Place the chicken, peppercorns, salt, and fresh herbs if using into the large stockpot. Add enough water to cover the chicken legs by about an inch.2.5 pounds chicken legs, 1 tablespoon peppercorns, 2 teaspoons salt, fresh sprigs thyme and sage, water
- ⭐️Cook. Bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Preheat broiler.
- ⭐️Broil. To crisp skin place chicken legs onto a wire rack set into a baking sheet. Broil as is or brush with BBQ sauce or your favorite sauce. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until chicken starts to brown. Serve hot.2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
Notes
Nutrition
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