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How long to grill chicken legs? Best internal temp of chicken drumsticks? Great questions.
If you’re wondering how to grill drumsticks you’ve come to the right place.
Today we’re cooking fall off the bone drumsticks on the BBQ and showing you how to make your own!
Firing up the BBQ grill and don’t know what temperature or how long to grill chicken legs, more affectionately known as drumsticks? You’re in luck!
Here you’ll learn exactly how long to grill drumsticks, without a fancy recipe.
Grilling chicken legs to the right temperature will make them fall off the bone delicious!
Don’t forget to check out how to grill beer can chicken, and how to grill thighs too.
As I said, this is not a recipe but a simple outline of how to make grilling drumsticks.
Also, check out how to make smoked chicken wings.
Drumstick Seasoning or Not
Season your legs if you wish.
I usually add a little salt and pepper, or a store bought dry rub nothing fancy here!
You can also try this sugar free dry rub I’ve made, it’s tasty!
How To Oil Grill Grates
Oil your grill grates as usual. I like to use a half onion on a fork.
Dipping the onion into vegetable oil and rub it on the hot grill grates before placing the chicken on.
Note that the first couple of flips, the chicken still may stick a little bit – this is normal.
How to Grill Drumsticks
Your ingredients are whatever you want them to be.
We like serving ours with asparagus, but you can serve them with any side you wish. Most importantly, what’s the chicken drumstick grill time?
You can spice your drummies with salt and pepper, or get creative with garlic salt, cayenne pepper or one of our favorites, Stubb’s Rub.
Let’s get to it. How long do you grill chicken drumsticks? What’s a good internal temp of chicken drumsticks? How long to grill chicken legs?
How To Grill Chicken Legs – Drummies
How long to cook drumsticks?
Place your chicken on the preheated grill and cook with the lid closed for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes.
Maintain your grill temp around 400 degrees throughout the entire cook. It’s fine if it fluctuates, they always do.
Internal temp of the meat is the most important thing.
Internal Temp of Chicken Drumsticks
The most important part of getting a nice juicy, fall off the bone chicken is the internal temperature!
You need to reach an internal temp of 185 degrees F for drumsticks. Use a meat thermometer for this to get it right! I have one of these.
Shop Meat Thermometers Here »
Optional: Add BBQ sauce and continue grilling chicken for an additional few minutes.
Now that you know how long to grill chicken legs it’s time to serve up and chow down! #yum!
Click here for Beer Can Chicken!
How Long To Grill Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- Drumsticks
- Optional: Spices (salt, pepper etc…), BBQ Sauce
Instructions
Preheat grill to about 400 degrees on your grill dome thermometer. While your grill preheats, prepare your drummies.
Pat your bird legs dry with paper towels. This will help you get the crispiest skin possible. I love the crispy skin, don’t you?
Okay, so make sure to do this step – don’t forget!
Grill the drumsticks for about 35 minutes total time. You need to turn them every 5 minutes or so.
Turning them frequently like this will assure they cook evenly.
The magic happens with the internal temperature. At about 35 minutes, the temperature will get to 185 degrees.
That is the perfect temperature if you want your drumsticks to fall off the bone, be juicy and so tender!
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How To Grill Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Gas Grill
Ingredients
- 10 Chicken legs - drumsticks
- Optional: Seasoning BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high, 400 degrees on your grill lid thermometer
- Dry drumsticks with paper towels
- Optional: Season w/salt, pepper or other dry seasoning
- Cook on preheated grill w/lid closed for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes.
- Optional: Once chicken internal temp reaches 185 degrees F. w/meat thermometer, add BBQ sauce and continue grilling a few minutes more.
Video
Notes
Be Inspired!
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Worked out great! Love the onion/oil trick too!!
I’m so glad it worked out great for you, Cheryl! Once you cook chicken a few times this way, it’ll be like second nature to you and you’ll have perfect drumsticks every time!
First time grilling legs with no flare ups! I used the onion trick! So good!!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, they are the best chicken legs with this method. We grill them exactly this way every time!
Chicken legs are always a nice treat here on the grill. It is really the only way I cook them and then when grilling season is over we had our fill for a while haha! We all like different BBQ sauce so we use a little bit of goya on them and then everybody dips them into sauce on their plates.
Great instructions 🙂 Not many people mention to flip often like you mentioned. If it’s not flipped often, the chicken is under cooked. It’s the only meat I flip more then once on the grill.
Grilling season is back and I hope you have drumsticks aplenty!
Came out perfect thanks!
Always glad to help, glad they came out perfect!
Do i grill my chicken on the cold side
Hi Norris, No, you grill them right over the direct heat. I use all the burners on my grill at med-high heat when grilling chicken.