Description
Enjoy mouthwatering Grilled BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, richly flavored with spices and a delightful BBQ sauce. This easy recipe makes a perfect dish for summer gatherings, ensuring tender and juicy chicken with every bite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- chili powder or cayenne pepper, optional and to taste for spiciness
- 4 pounds chicken legs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup apricot jam, apple or grape jelly work well, orange marmalade is a less sweet option
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper to create a dry rub.
- On a large plate, pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. Rub the dry rub evenly onto all the drumsticks. Cover the plate with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight. Tip: Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling for even cooking.
- In a small saucepan, combine your favorite BBQ sauce and jam. Heat over medium-low until simmering, then let it cook for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside.
- Oil your grill grates and preheat the grill, setting one side on high heat and the other on medium heat. Grill the chicken on the medium heat side for about 5 minutes with the lid closed.
- Open the lid to flip the drumsticks and adjust their positions, moving some closer to high heat and others to medium heat. Cook for an additional 5 minutes while monitoring their progress.
- When the chicken is approximately 80% cooked (about 4-5 minutes remaining), use a brush to baste the chicken with the BBQ sauce mixture. Cook for about 2 minutes with the lid closed, then flip, baste the other side, and cook for an additional 2 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh herbs, green onions, sesame seeds, or red pepper flakes.
Notes
Allow chicken to marinate overnight for deeper flavor.
Always check the internal temperature to ensure chicken is fully cooked.
Variations of BBQ sauce can be used to suit personal taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drumstick
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 95mg