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Smoked Kansas City-Style BBQ Pulled Goose Legs Recipe

You can use any waterfowl legs and thighs to make this tasty recipe.

Smoked Kansas City-Style BBQ Pulled Goose Legs Recipe

This is a simple and rewarding recipe to make use of those often-discarded duck and goose legs. (Photo By: Jack Hennessy)

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When it comes to cooking your waterfowl, barbecue may not be the first method that comes to mind. After all, so many of your ducks and geese are likely dropped in colder months—who wants to fire up the smoker and grill when the weather’s sub-freezing and stacking inches of snow per hour? Good news: These methods work year-round and are actually a great solution to those very old packages of wild fowl at the bottom of your freezer suffering from freezer burn.

Smoked Kansas City-Style BBQ Pulled Goose Legs Recipe

Yield: 2-3 servings
Prep time: 3 hours to overnight
Cook time: 6-9 hours

Main Ingredients:

  • Canada goose thighs and legs, approximately 3 pounds worth
  • Your favorite barbecue rub or custom sauce mix

Brine Ingredients:

  • 1 gallon water
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup whole black peppercorns
  • 6 ounces crushed fresh ginger
  • 1 fresh garlic bulb, smashed
  • *If not wet brining, use your favorite barbecue rub or custom sauce mix

Crock Pot Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/2 cup dark beer
  • Favorite barbecue or custom sauce mix
goose legs brining in a pot
If wet brining, simmer all ingredients with half gallon of water until salt and sugar is dissolved. (Photo By: Jack Hennessy)(Photo By: Jack Hennessy)

Brine Directions:

  1. Add other half gallon of cold water, mix together.
  2. Add goose thighs and legs to brine only once brine is cool.
  3. Leave in fridge overnight, thoroughly rinse under cold water upon removing from brine.
  4. If using a dry rub, liberally rub down all sides at least 3 hours prior to smoking.
  5. Leave in fridge until ready to smoke.

Cooking Directions:

  1. Heat smoker to 160 degrees.
  2. Smoke legs for 2-1/2 hours (1-1/2 hours if using duck legs).
  3. Sear over high heat only to caramelize meat and add a bit of char.
  4. Add thighs and legs to Crock Pot and pour over Crock Pot ingredients.
  5. Set to low. Meat will start to fall off the bone within 6-9 hours. If that seems like too long, set to high for 3 hours then reduce to low. Thighs and legs are done when meat literally falls off the bone.
  6. Prior to serving remove bones and tendons and shred. If you can’t shred easily with two sets of tongs, the meat still needs time. Try to take out any steel shot you find before serving.
  7. Add barbecue sauce over top or on the side. You can serve as a sandwich with coleslaw topping or as its own entrée.

Any questions or comments, please reach out on Instagram: @WildGameJack

goose smoking on a grill
If using legs and thighs smaller than Canada geese, reduce smoking time by 1 hour—other steps remain the same though it may take less time for meat to tenderize in Crock Pot. (Photo By: Jack Hennessy)



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