Updated on December 22nd, 2023
Grilled chicken drumsticks recipes are about as simple as grilling gets! As expected, grilled chicken drumsticks are always guaranteed hits at BBQ gatherings because the results are just so flavorful and enjoyable. All you need to scale through the process is a simple and flavorful seasoning rub and the appropriate cooking directions.
This article will teach you the best way to cook chicken drumsticks on the grill. Important and helpful tips, timing guidelines, recommendations, and suggestions will also be provided, and these will all help you achieve desirable results with your recipe.
Chicken Drumsticks Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Chicken Drumsticks
It is important to keep the following tips in mind when cooking chicken drumsticks on the grill, so pay close attention:
Spice things up – Rubs, marinades, glazes, and sauces add immense depths of flavor to drumsticks. Before cooking, you can choose to marinate the drumsticks for several hours. Spices should typically be added to the chicken drumsticks before they go on the grill, and sauces and glazes should be added just before the drumsticks get done. A basting brush is an essential part of any skilled griller’s toolkit for spreading an even glaze.
Ideal timing – Drumsticks of chicken, like other chicken parts, should ideally be roasted over medium heat on a grill. This process should take between 30 and 35 minutes to reach a surface temperature of roughly 450°.
To avoid scorched skin on your drumsticks, it’s important to flip them every 5 minutes or so until they reach a final internal temperature of 180°-185°, which is ideal for drumsticks and thighs.
You can lower the surface temperature, but it will increase the cooking time and cause the chicken pieces to dry out faster. Always make sure to cook your chicken to the proper internal temperature. A grill temperature of 500° or higher will not produce acceptable results. Finally, keep in mind that the size and thickness of your chicken drumstick is major factor in determining the cooking time.
Ideal internal temperature – The USDA advises cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. That guideline is followed in a lot of recipes. Cooking a chicken breast to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, results in a perfectly cooked breast. However, when a chicken wing or a leg is cooked to that temperature, the meat is moist but stringy and rough, and it feels undercooked.
The wings and legs of the chicken are a lot more forgiving. They’re better ‘overcooked,’ in most people’s opinion. 180F to 190F is a more ideal temperature range for chicken legs because, at this temperature, it produces soft, fall-off-the-bone meat that is still quite moist and delicious.
For a crispy, caramelized skin – The icing on the cake with grilled chicken drumstick recipes is the wonderfully toasted and crispy skin you get out of cooking on the grill. It’s arguably the most enjoyable part.
Grilling at a high temperature of roughly 300F to 350F at the grate level is what helps you achieve these crispy results. You won’t obtain sufficient skin crispness if you go lower than this temperature, and you’ll scorch the chicken skin if you go any higher.
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Cooking Time for Chicken Drumsticks on Grill
The following timing guidelines are ideal for grilled chicken drumstick recipes:
| Cooking procedure | Cooking time |
| Cooking chicken drumsticks on a gas grill at 300 F | 25 minutes |
| Cooking chicken drumsticks on a charcoal grill | 25 to 30 minutes |
Grilled BBQ Chicken Drumsticks (4 Servings)
Ingredients
For the Chicken Drumsticks
- 2 lb. of chicken drumsticks (legs)
- ½ cup of bbq sauce, choose a bbq sauce that works with your dietary requirements.
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
For the BBQ Spice Blend
- ¾ teaspoon of chili powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- To make the bbq seasoning spice blend, combine the salt, smoked paprika, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne powder, and chili powder (if using) in a small mixing bowl. Using a spoon, mix everything together.
- To properly dry the skin of each chicken drumstick, pat it with a couple paper towels. Season the chicken with the spice combination after drizzling it with oil. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and thoroughly coat each piece of chicken.
- Using a gas grill: Adjust the grill’s temperature setting to medium-high (about 400°F) and leave it to preheat. Afterward, cook the chicken drumsticks on the already cleaned and well-oiled grill (this should have been done beforehand). After a few minutes, turn each drumstick until the skin on it is golden and crispy on all sides.
Close the grill and reduce the heat to a medium-low setting (approximately 300°F). Cook the drumsticks for about 25 minutes, turning the chicken once halfway through.
- Using a charcoal grill: By placing the majority of the charcoal to one side of the grill, you can effectively make two separate heat zones on your grill; one at a medium-high heat level, and the other with a medium-low heat level.
- Place the chicken pieces directly over the heating element and turn each piece every few minutes to properly brown the skin.
- Transfer the chicken from the heat source to the indirect (medium-low temperature) heat region once the skin is browned and crispy. Cover and simmer for another 25 minutes, turning the chicken halfway through.
- Finally, brush the barbecue sauce over each piece of chicken.
- Verify the internal temperature of the chicken to confirm it has reached the safe temperature of 165°F (74°C), then serve the drumsticks right away!
This recipe for grilled BBQ chicken drumsticks yields particularly delicious results, so feel free to try it out at home. As stated in the recipe, you can choose between using a gas or charcoal grill, it all depends on which you find more convenient to use, or which one is readily available.
The entire cooking time for this recipe is about 45 minutes, so in addition to being delicious, it’s also quick and easy to make. If you want to explore more ideas for cooking chicken drumsticks on the grill, then we suggest that you watch this video recipe.
