Description
These Grilled BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are bursting with flavor, featuring a delicious blend of spices and a sticky BBQ sauce. Ideal for summer cookouts, they are easy to prepare and sure to impress your guests!
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, or orange marmalade
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper to create the dry rub.
- Place the chicken legs on a large plate, pat them dry, and rub the dry rub evenly over the drumsticks. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or overnight. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before grilling.
- In a saucepan, combine the BBQ sauce and apricot jam. Heat over medium-low until simmering, about 10 minutes, whisking occasionally. Set aside.
- Preheat the grill with one side on high and the other on medium. Lightly oil the grates and place chicken on the medium heat side. Grill for about 5 minutes with the lid closed.
- Open the lid, flip the drumsticks, and move them around to balance the cooking. Grill for another 5 minutes, adjusting for burn prevention.
- When chicken is about 80% done, generously baste with the BBQ sauce mixture and cook for about 2 minutes with the lid closed. Flip, baste the other side, and cook for about 2 more minutes until done, aiming for an internal temp of 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish as desired.
Notes
Extra basting with BBQ sauce adds layers of flavor to the chicken.
Make sure not to overcrowd the grill for best results.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drumstick
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg