Sweet and savory flavors mingle in this quick and easy recipe for BBQ chicken drumsticks made with a shortcut sauce.
Barbecue chicken drumsticks are glazed with a zesty sauce made from bottled ingredients and grilled until they’re juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and full of summer flavor.
Best BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Summertime and the grillin’ is easy! Busy weeknights and lazy weekends are perfect for grilling sweet, spicy, sticky BBQ chicken drumsticks.
- They’re delish with a side of homemade mac and cheese, creamy coleslaw and some sweet honey cornbread muffins. Wash them down with some creamy lemonade.
- Utensil-free drumsticks are a budget-friendly way to feed a crowd, but you might want to stock up on napkins. Grab packs of chicken drumsticks when they are on sale and make BBQ chicken drumsticks to enjoy hot or cold all week long. Even turkey drumsticks can be used in this recipe, county fair-style.
- No grill? No problem! BBQ chicken drumsticks can be baked in the oven for about 45 minutes at 400°F.
Easy Ingredients!
- Chicken: Family packs of chicken drumsticks are readily available and affordable, but you can also use other single-serve pieces of chicken, like legs, thighs, and smaller breasts. Adjust grilling time to ensure they’re fully cooked through. Frozen drumsticks can be grilled, but need to be brushed with the sauce more often and will take longer to cook. Chicken should read 165°F with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat.
- Sauce: Grab your favorite bottle of BBQ sauce and take it to the next level with tangy buffalo sauce and spicy chili sauce. Ketchup can be used instead of chili sauce for a non-spicy sauce. Adding a little honey or brown sugar adds a pop of sweet caramelization and helps the sauce cling to the drumsticks.
- Variations: For extra flavorful and juicy chicken drumsticks, add them to a homemade Italian dressing marinade for up to 6 hours before cooking.
How to BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Prepare a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat (about 375-400°F).
- Whisk sauce ingredients together and set aside.
- Grill drumsticks meaty side down first, turn, and brush with glaze.
- Repeat this process 3 times until the skins are crispy and the internal temp is 165°F.
- Remove the drumsticks and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Leftover Drumsticks?
- Store leftover drumsticks in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They are delicious served cold straight from the fridge. OR reheat with a fresh brush of sauce and pop them in the microwave. To make the skins crispy again, place them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, if desired.
- The meat can be removed from the bone and used to add BBQ flavor to a hearty ranch chicken salad, or to a chickpea pasta salad.
- Freeze leftover drumsticks on a pan before transferring the pieces to a zippered bag for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator and enjoy them cold or reheat as listed above.
Grilled Sides to Serve
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BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Juicy BBQ chicken drumsticks on the grill are glazed with a flavorful and super easy 3-ingredient sauce.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken drumsticks about 12-15*
Sauce
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup hot sauce buffalo style
- ½ cup chili sauce or ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium high, about 375-400°F.
- Rinse drumsticks, removing any bone shards and dry well with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and chili sauce. Set aside.
- Place drumsticks on the grill with the meatiest side down. Grill for 5 minutes, then flip and brush with the sauce. Flip a total of 3 times, saucing each time, for 20 minutes of cooking time.** Check the temperature of each drumstick, pulling it off the grill when it reaches the finished cooking temperature of 165°F.
- Rest the drumsticks for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*2 pounds of drumsticks is approximately 10, and will serve 5.
**For drumsticks that are on the smaller side, you may want to check them after 18 minutes. Our meatier ones took about 23 minutes.
Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave, or re-crisp the skin under the broiler.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 305 | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 973mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 294IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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