Grilled chicken legs on your deck grill is the perfect way to cook chicken drumsticks. This quick and easy cooking method gives a delicious smoky flavor with just the right amount of char.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Whether you're throwing dinner together last-minute for your family or preparing a meal outdoors for your friends, know that this tasty grilled chicken dish will bring everyone to the table!
Not only does grilling provide an unmatched flavor profile that can't be recreated in your oven, but it's also incredibly easy and fast.
Other things you will love about this grilled chicken legs recipe:
- Versatile. You can use any type of chicken, not just chicken legs! This recipe is perfect for juicy, flavorful chicken leg quarters!
- Can be varied easily. Season with any type of seasoning. Try our Louisiana Cajun Seasoning or Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
- Adaptable. Can be cooked on a grill or in an oven.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Grilling Chicken Drumsticks
- How to Make Grilled Chicken Legs
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitution and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Ingredients for Grilling Chicken Drumsticks
By following a few simple tips, you can perfect your grilled chicken drumsticks technique and make sure your outdoor feasts are always full of deliciousness!
I used the Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce recipe to coat my chicken drumsticks, but you could use any barbecue sauce you already have. If you don't care for the mustard base of Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, try our Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Sauce or Alabama White BBQ Sauce.
- Chicken Drumsticks - Anticipate 2 to 3 per person.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder - Optional.
- Barbecue sauce - Use your favorite.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Legs
There's nothing quite like delicious grilled chicken drumsticks! Whether you're an experienced grill master or just starting out on your grilling journey, grilling chicken drumsticks will be an instant hit at any meal.
This guide will show you everything you need to know about how to get perfectly juicy and tender results every time.
Pat Chicken Legs Dry
- Clean and oil your grill grate so the chicken drumsticks don't stick.
- Preheat your grill to 400°F. Rinse the chicken drumsticks and pat them dry with paper towels so the seasonings will stick.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the raw chicken legs. Other seasonings are delicious also, such as Greek Seasoning blend, or Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Season And Baste With BBQ Sauce
- Baste Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce (Honey Gold BBQ Sauce, made with mustard), or your favorite barbecue sauce, on the chicken drumsticks.
Add To Preheated Grill
- Place the chicken legs on the grill and cook at 400°F for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the skin is crispy.
PRO TIP: If you don't have a grill, you can bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes.
Turn, Baste, And Cook
- Reduce the grill heat to medium high (about 350°F) and cook on the grill for about 30 minutes with the lid down, but turning frequently.
- Remove from grill when internal temperature is 180-185°F. Let the grilled chicken legs rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute, making tender and juicy grilled chicken legs.
Serving Suggestions
Add some foil wrapped ears of corn on the grill using our Traeger Corn On The Cob recipe when grilling chicken drumsticks. Or, throw on a pan of our Smoked Baked Beans. Whether you have a Traeger or a gas grill, grilling chicken drumsticks is easy and makes for a tasty barbecue dinner!
Some additional sides that are perfect when grilling chicken drumsticks are:
- Smoked Jalapeno Poppers (Texas Twinkies)
- Air Fryer S'mores
- Texas Cowboy Beans
- Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Sauce
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitution and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations using this recipe for grilling chicken legs as a base:
- You can substitute any type of chicken for the chicken drumsticks in this recipe.
- You can also add any type of seasoning that you like to the chicken drumsticks.
- If you don't have a grill, you can bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when grilling chicken legs.
- Traeger Pellet Grill and Smoker
- Traeger Hickory Wood Pellets
- Traeger Pellet Grill and Smoker Combo Set
Storage and Reheating
- Store the grilled chicken legs in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze the cooked chicken drumsticks for up to 2 months.
- To reheat the chicken drumsticks, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.
Tips for Success
- Make sure to pat the chicken drumsticks dry before seasoning or coating them with BBQ sauce. This will help the seasonings adhere to the chicken and create a crispy skin.
- Don't overcook the chicken drumsticks. They should be cooked to an internal temperature of 180-185°F.
- Let the chicken drumsticks rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making them more tender and flavorful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken drumsticks should be grilled at a medium-high heat of about 400°F for about 5 minutes on each side until crispy, then reduce heat to medium (350°F) and cook for about 30 minutes. Chicken drumsticks are done when internal temperature is 180 - 185°F.
To prevent chicken drumsticks from sticking to the grill, brush the grill grates with oil before grilling. You can also use a grill pan or baking sheet when grilling chicken legs.
Yes, you can cook chicken drumsticks in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake the chicken drumsticks for about 30 minutes, flipping them every 5 minutes.
As a general rule, you can plan on 2 chicken legs per person. However, if your guests have large appetites or you are not serving other dishes, you may want to plan on 3 chicken legs per person.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Grilled Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken drumsticks rinsed and patted dry
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup barbecue sauce your favorite, or one of our recipes
Instructions
- Clean and oil your grill grate so the chicken drumsticks don't stick. Preheat your grill to 400°F.
- Rinse the chicken drumsticks and pat them dry with paper towels so the seasonings will stick.2 lb chicken drumsticks
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the raw chicken legs. Other seasonings are delicious also, such as Greek Seasoning blend, or Montreal Steak Seasoning.1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Baste Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce (Honey Gold BBQ Sauce, made with mustard), or your favorite barbecue sauce, on the chicken drumsticks.1 cup barbecue sauce
- Place the chicken legs on the grill and cook at 400°F for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the skin is crispy.PRO TIP: If you don't have a grill, you can bake the chicken drumsticks in the oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes.
- Remove from grill when internal temperature is 180-185°F. Let the grilled chicken legs rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute, making tender and juicy grilled chicken legs.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken drumsticks dry before seasoning or coating them with BBQ sauce. This will help the seasonings adhere to the chicken and create a crispy skin.
- Don't overcook the chicken drumsticks. They should be cooked to an internal temperature of 180-185°F.
- Let the chicken drumsticks rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making them more tender and flavorful.
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