Spicy Honey BBQ Chicken Legs with Charred Corn & Poblano Salad

These chicken legs are all about balance: a sticky, sweet-and-spicy glaze meets crispy, juicy meat, while the side salad brings smoky, charred veggies and tender sweet potatoes into the mix. It’s a dish that’s both comforting and a little adventurous—perfect for shaking up your weeknight routine.

The magic happens under the broiler, where the hot honey barbecue sauce caramelizes into a tacky, slightly charred coating. Meanwhile, the corn and poblano get blistered in a hot pan, adding depth and a touch of heat. Tossed with fresh tomato, cilantro, and lime, the salad is a bright, refreshing counterpart to the rich chicken.

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Ingredients

1 unit Sweet PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

13.4 ounce CornView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ShallotView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Poblano PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

16 ounce Chicken LegsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 ounce BBQ SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.75 ounce Hot HoneyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 teaspoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F with racks in upper and middle positions. Wash and dry all produce. Cut sweet potato into ½-inch cubes. Drain and rinse corn. Dice tomato. Halve and peel shallot, then cut into ½-inch-thick wedges. Halve lime. Core, seed, and dice poblano. Chop cilantro.
2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels; season all over with salt and pepper. On a foil-lined baking sheet, toss sweet potato with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Place seasoned chicken, skin side up, on a separate foil-lined baking sheet.
3. Place chicken on top rack and sweet potato on middle rack. Roast until chicken is cooked through and sweet potato is browned and tender, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred in spots, 5-8 minutes. (If corn pops, cover pan.) Season with salt and pepper. Transfer corn to a medium bowl. Add poblano, shallot, and a drizzle of oil to the same pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until slightly blistered, 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl with corn.
5. In a small bowl, combine barbecue sauce, a squeeze or two of lime juice, and as much hot honey as you like (start with half and add more to taste). Remove sweet potato from oven once tender and transfer to bowl with veggies. Heat broiler to high. Set aside half the barbecue sauce mixture for serving, then brush chicken with remaining half. Broil until sauce is tacky and beginning to char, about 3 minutes.
6. Toss tomato, cilantro, and a squeeze or two of lime into the bowl with the veggie mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Divide salad and chicken among plates. Serve with reserved sauce on the side for drizzling.

Useful Cookware

A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.

Strainer

Cuisinart, Mesh Strainers, Stainless Steel Mesh Strainers for Kitchen, Fine Mesh Kitchen Strainer Set for Sifting, Straining and Cooking, Ctg-00-3Ms, 3 CountView on Amazon3Pcs Super Wire Extra Fine Mesh Strainer with Handle, Small Medium Large Size Sifter Metal Strainer Set, Stainless Steel Sieve Fine Mesh Strainers for Kitchen Rice Juice Quinoa Food Flour Baking YLYLView on AmazonWinco Strainer with Single Fine Mesh, 8-Inch Diameter, Medium, Stainless Steel, Tan,SilverView on Amazon

Aluminum Foil

Reynolds Wrap Everyday Strength Aluminum Foil Roll, Freezer Safe and Grill Safe, Great for Foil Packets and Home Cooking, 12 Inches Wide, 200 Total Sq. Ft.View on AmazonReynolds Wrap Everyday Strength Aluminum Foil Roll, Freezer Safe and Grill Safe, Great for Foil Packets and Home Cooking, 12 Inches Wide, 30 Total Sq. Ft.View on AmazonReynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil Roll, Thick Heavy Duty Foil for Added Strength and Durability, Secure Easy Open and Close Tab, 12 Inches Wide, 50 Sq. Ft.View on Amazon

Baking Sheet

GoodCook Everyday Nonstick Baking Sheet Set, 3 Pack Includes Small (13×9) Medium (15×1) and Large (17×11) Pans Carbon Steel Construction Cookie Sheets Bakeware Set, GrayView on AmazonNutriChef 3-Piece Nonstick Kitchen Oven Baking Pans - Premium & Stylish Non-Stick Steel, Commercial Grade Restaurant Quality Metal Bakeware with Red Silicone Handles - Easy to Clean, NCSBS3SView on AmazonNordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet - USA Made Aluminum Commercial Quality Sheet Pan for Baking or Roasting, Encapsulated Galvanized Steel Rim Prevents Warping, 2-PackView on Amazon

Paper Towel

Scott Paper Towels, Choose-A-Sheet, 6 Double Rolls = 12 Regular Rolls (108 Sheets Per Roll)View on AmazonBounty Quick-Size Paper Towels, White, 8 Family Triple Rolls = 27 Regular RollsView on AmazonAmazon Basics 2-Ply Flex-Sheets Paper Towels, 12 Basics Rolls = 40 Regular Rolls, Everyday Value with 150 Sheets per Roll, Packaging May VaryView on Amazon

Large Pan

SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet with Lid, 12 Inch Large Deep Frying Pan, 5 Qt Non Stick Saute Pan with Cover, Induction Pan, Healthy Non Toxic Cooking Pan with Helper Handle, PFOA PFOS FreeView on AmazonFarberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick Jumbo Cooker Chef's Pan with Lid and Helper Handle, Kitchen Cookware, 6-Quart, BlackView on AmazonSNOWCLAD Frying Pans Nonstick with Lid,Hybrid Non Stick 5 Quart Saute pan,PFOA Free Cookware,Stainless Steel skillet,12 inch Deep Saute Pan,Dishwasher&Oven Safe,Works on All CooktopsView on Amazon

Medium Bowl

DOWAN 22 OZ White Ceramic Bowls Set of 4 - Perfect for Soup Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl, Ramen Bowl, Microwave Safe for Oatmeal, Fruit,Salad and Rice Bowl - Dishwasher & Microwave SafeView on AmazonMASTERCOOK Plastic Bowls Set of 6 – 15oz Multipurpose Deep Plates Salad and Pasta Bowls Ideal for Home, Kids, Parties – Stackable Bowl for Kitchen – Non-BPA and Food Grade – Cute ColorsView on AmazonMALACASA 26 OZ Porcelain Soup Bowls Set of 4, White Ceramic Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl for Oatmeal, Fruit, Salad, Ramen and Rice Bowl -Dishwasher & Microwave Safe BowlsView on Amazon

Small Bowl

Kaytee Stoneware Ceramic Pet Hamster Bowl, Brown, 3-InchView on AmazonDipping Bowls, Soy Sauce Dish Ceramic, 3 OZ Small Serving Bowls for Side Dishes Vintage Blue Stylish Design, Set of 6 Mini Appetizer Plates for Condiment Sushi Ketchup BBQ Party, 4 InchView on AmazonFarielyn-X 3.5in 4oz Small Glass Bowls, Mini Glass Containers, Ramekins, Prep, Pinch Bowl, Stackable Condiment Containers, for Prep, Dips, Nuts, Snacks, Candy Meal Prep Bowls, Dessert BowlsView on Amazon

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use chicken thighs instead of legs?

Yes, chicken thighs work well. Adjust cooking time as needed until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

What can I substitute for hot honey?

Mix regular honey with a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

The salad components can be prepped in advance, but the chicken is best enjoyed fresh from the oven for maximum crispiness.