Grilled Chicken Drumsticks - Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside these drumsticks are packed with flavors. Just make a simple seasoning, coat your drumsticks and get them grilled! You can also try Baked Chicken Drumsticks.

Summer Grilling couldn't get any better. With the 4th of July around the corner, I cannot think of anything better than some easy grilled recipes.
You can find some delicious grilling recipes on the blog such as Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wraps or Grilled Chimichurri Chicken or Grilled Buffalo Chicken Skewers or Greek Grilled Chicken Recipe or Grilled Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Marinade in Sheet Pan or Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Recipe - (Mandarin Teriyaki Chicken)
With the current heatwave, cooking has become so much of a toil. But, my family cannot get enough of these Juicy Grilled Chicken drumsticks.

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🥘 Ingredients
These are the ingredients that you will need to make Grilled Chicken Drumsticks.
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ground Cumin
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- Olive Oil
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Cilantro/Parsley for garnish
See recipe card for quantities. Also check out the video for a visual🎥
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Make the Marinade
I've used basic spices which are easily available in our homes. So, just combine them and add some oil. Oil helps the spices stick to the chicken.

Step 2: Coat Chicken Drumsticks
Coat Chicken Drumsticks with the spice mix. Coat both sides completely.

Step 3: Grill
Preheat your outdoor grill and then grill your chicken drumsticks until they reach an internal temperature of 180-185°F. Flip after every 10-minutes so that one side doesn't get burnt. This usually takes 30-35 minutes.

You can also grill in a grill pan with some canola oil.
Hint: Do not flip Chicken Drumsticks early on. Wait for 10-minutes and then flip them over.
Gas Grill
You can use your gas grill to grill your chicken drumsticks. Heat it between 400°F-450°F. Read more on how to use a gas grill here.
Charcoal Grill
Grilling them on charcoal grill has many advantages. For starters your chicken drumsticks will have a beautiful charcoal taste and I simply love them.
Many People want to know how to grill Chicken legs on a Charcoal Grill. Well, here it is.
- Use about 4 lbs of charcoal on one side.
- Grill Chicken on direct heat.
- Flip after every five minutes.
- Cook until the internal temperature of chicken is 180°F.
💪 Keto Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken Drumsticks are high in fat and are therefore a good fit for someone who is in a Keto Diet. Coat chicken with spices and oil and then grilling them is probably the healthiest way to enjoy Chicken Drumsticks.
Instead of Olive Oil you can coat your chicken with butter and then add the seasoning. Butter will help the spices stick to the drumsticks.
📋 Variations
Giving the visitor ideas on how they can change this recipe to better suit their dinner guests, or their cultural cuisine, is a great way to increase the chances they make the recipe
- BBQ Sauce - You can just coat your Chicken Drumsticks in
- Kid-friendly - You can skip Cayenne Pepper if you are making this for kids.
- Brown Sugar - If you prefer a crispier coating and a sweetish touch add some brown sugar to the grilled chicken legs marinade.
- Onion Powder - Onion Powder can also be added to the marinade to add an extra edge to the dish.
- Dry Mustard - Dry Mustard can also be added while making the marinade.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - To add a fruity tartiness you can add some Apple Cider vinegar.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
You can serve your Chicken Drumsticks with any sauce that you like. My kids like it with creamy ranch dressing. I like it with Peri-Peri sauce (I love the heat🔥). Try these Vegan Peri-Peri Kebabs as well,
You can also serve this with Yum Yum Sauce or Pineapple Sweet Chili Sauce or Tomato Ketchup or Honey Mustard Sauce.
You can also serve them with
Southern Fried Corn - Southern Fried Corn is southern comfort food that makes an excellent side with drumsticks.
Cucumber Salad - If you need something cool and refreshing then try this salad.
Mushroom Garlic Risotto - If you want something filling and comforting try this risotto. or else try Cauliflower Rice Risotto with Peas for a healthier alternative.
Keto Cauliflower Tater Tots - Want to serve it as snack? Try it with these tater tots.

📦 Storage
You can store your grilled Chicken Drumsticks in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Make sure you keep it covered in an air-tight container.
You can also freeze these drumsticks for several months. Allow them to cool down completely. It can stay in the freezer for several months if stored properly in an air-tight container.
🔥 Reheat
You can reheat your Chicken Drumsticks. First allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then reheat at 350°F until completely warm.
💭 Top tip
- Pat Dry - Pat Dry drumsticks until completely dry. This helps the drumsticks get dried completely.
- Heat grill - Do not heat your grill beyond 500°F. Heat only between 400°F to 450°F.
- Internal Temperature - You can check the internal temperature of chicken drumsticks. It should be between 180°F - 185°F.
If you are making this recipe, then please leave a rating below. Also take a snap and share it on Instagram with #recipemagik. Tag me @recipemagik and let me know how this turned out.
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Outdoor grill or Indoor grill
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
Ingredients for Grilled Chicken legs Marinade
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- salt as per taste
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Canola oil if using a grill pan
- Parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat outdoor grill to 400°F or 450°F.
- In a plate combine the marinade with olive oil. Use a spoon to mix well. You can also use a ziplock bag to make the marinade.
- Coat chicken drumsticks with the spice mix.
- Grill Chicken Drumsticks until both sides have char marks. Flip over after 5-10 minutes. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Pat Dry - Pat Dry drumsticks until completely dry. This helps the drumsticks get dried completely.
- Heat grill - Do not heat your grill beyond 500°F. Heat only between 400°F to 450°F.
- Internal Temperature - You can check the internal temperature of chicken drumsticks. It should be between 180°F - 185°F.
Ron Tucker says
Excellent recipe. These drumsticks turned out juicer than I had imagined.
Anjali says
Thank you so much!!