How to Marinate BBQ Chicken Thighs & Legs

By: Viola Horne

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The delicious sights, sounds and smells from barbecuing chicken are rivaled only by the mouth-watering taste of tender meat smoked and seasoned with a robust marinade and sauce. By removing the skin from legs and thighs, the marinade can penetrate deep into the meat, infusing it with flavor and preventing the loss of succulent juices. Marinades with acidic ingredients, such as citrus juice, vinegar or wine, help break down the tissue in the poultry and produce a more tender piece of barbecue.

Step 1

Cut the skin away from the bone using kitchen shears or a sharp knife. On thighs, a thin membrane holds the skin in place and skin can pulled off easily. On legs, the skin is attached to the bone at the smaller end of the drumstick. Discard the skin and rinse any visible fat from the meat.

Step 2

Place the legs and thighs in the plastic bag and add 1/2 cup of marinade per 1 pound of chicken. Zip the bag closed, pressing out as much air as possible. Shake or turn the bag so the marinade coats the chicken.

Step 3

Lay the bag flat on a shelf in the refrigerator and leave it there for 30 minutes or longer, turning once halfway through. Legs and thighs can be marinated for up to four hours.