Easy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
These Easy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are a foolproof way to get juicy, flavorful chicken with a perfectly crispy skin. With a simple seasoning mix and a final brush of BBQ sauce, they’re ideal for weeknight dinners, weekend cookouts, or meal prep.
Looking for dinner ideas? Try these honey baked chicken drumsticks next.
Grilled chicken drumsticks are my go-to when I want something satisfying without a ton of fuss.
They’re versatile—you can pair them with fresh veggies, classic BBQ sides, or even shred leftovers into wraps and salads. The combination of indirect cooking and a quick sear ensures the meat stays tender while the skin turns perfectly golden and crispy.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these grilled chicken drumsticks:
Ingredient Notes
Drumsticks: Use skin-on chicken drumsticks for the crispiest, juiciest results. Skinless works too, but won’t get the same golden, crispy texture.
Avocado Oil: High-heat oil like avocado oil ensures even cooking on the grill without burning. You can also use canola or grapeseed oil.
Salt & Pepper: Essential for seasoning. Adjust to taste. Freshly ground black pepper adds the best flavor.
Smoked Paprika: Gives the chicken a smoky, rich flavor. You can substitute with regular paprika or chili powder for a different kick.
Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: Add savory depth and complement the smoky paprika.
Dried Thyme: Adds a subtle herbal note. You can swap with rosemary or oregano if desired.
BBQ Sauce: Brush on at the very end for a sweet and tangy glaze. Avoid adding too early to prevent burning.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Variations
Swap smoked paprika for chili powder or Cajun seasoning for a spicier kick.
Try honey mustard or teriyaki sauce instead of BBQ for a different glaze.
Marinate overnight in the seasoning mix plus a little yogurt for extra tender chicken.
How to Make Easy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks: Step by Step
Here are quick visual instructions. Be sure to check out the full instructions with exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Set up your grill with two zones—a hot zone for direct heat and a cool zone for indirect heat—then pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels.
Step 2: Coat the drumsticks evenly with the avocado oil.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme.
Step 4: Rub the seasoning mix thoroughly over all the drumsticks.
Step 5: Place the seasoned drumsticks on the cool zone.
Step 6: Close the lid and cook for 15–20 minutes.
Step 7: Turn the drumsticks and continue cooking, with the lid closed, for an additional 10–15 minutes. (This indirect heat ensures the chicken cooks completely without burning.)
Step 8: Move the drumsticks to the hot zone for 3–5 minutes to get a nice char and crisp the skin.
Step 9: Lightly brush the drumsticks with BBQ sauce.
Step 10: Grill for 1–2 minutes to allow the sauce to set into a glaze.
Step 11: Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
For extra juicy chicken, don’t skip the indirect cooking step.
Toppings and sides are endless—corn on the cob, grilled vegetables, potato salad, or rice all pair beautifully.
Make multiple servings and store leftovers in the fridge or freezer for quick meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the skin is what crisps beautifully—skinless drumsticks won’t get the same texture.
Indirect heat prevents the outside from burning before the chicken is fully cooked.
Only brush it on at the end. The sugars in the sauce can burn if added too early.
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: Up to 2 months
I hope you love this easy grilled chicken drumsticks. Please consider leaving a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below. Thank you so much!
More Chicken Dinner Ideas
Easy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2 pounds drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other high-heat oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- BBQ sauce for brushing after cooking
Instructions
- Set up your grill with two zones—a hot zone for direct heat and a cool zone for indirect heat—then pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels.
- Coat the drumsticks evenly with the avocado oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme.
- Rub the seasoning mix thoroughly over all the drumsticks.
- Place the seasoned drumsticks on the cool zone.
- Close the lid and cook for 15–20 minutes.
- Turn the drumsticks and continue cooking, with the lid closed, for an additional 10–15 minutes. (This indirect heat ensures the chicken cooks completely without burning.)
- Move the drumsticks to the hot zone for 3–5 minutes to get a nice char and crisp the skin.
- Lightly brush the drumsticks with BBQ sauce.
- Grill for 1–2 minutes to allow the sauce to set into a glaze.
- Serve immediately.
The nutritional details for recipes are estimated using MyFitnessPal and can vary with different products, measurement accuracy, and source reliability. We aim to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of the nutritional data