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10 Pro Tips for Grilling Chicken Drumsticks

For perfectly succulent chicken drumsticks, a grilling time between 25-30 minutes is ideal for almost any recipe. Overcooking can char and dry your meat, but you want to make sure you don’t undercook poultry either. Keep your grill around 300-400°F and make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165°F.

There are several ways to cook the perfect chicken drumsticks on the grill:

  1. Place drumsticks in foil or plastic wrap and warm them at room temperature before grilling.
  2. As you preheat your grill, coat the grill grates with oil to prevent your chicken from sticking. Keep that oil handy! You’ll need it later.
  3. Split your grill into two temperature zones, with one side at high heat and the other at medium.
  4. Start grilling with high heat to get crispy skin. Finish over medium heat until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F. This Char-Broil Instant Read Digital Thermometer will help.
  5. Turn your grilled chicken over once to keep the skin an even, crispy golden-brown.
  6. Spice up your drumsticks with rubs, marinades, glazes and sauces. Marinate your drumsticks for several hours before cooking. Add spices before they hit the grill and glazes and sauces shortly before they’re finished. Every master griller’s toolbox is incomplete without a Basting Brush to help you spread an even glaze.
  7. Remove your chicken from the grill onto a warm plate and let your drumsticks sit for three to five minutes before serving.
  8. Serve with vegetables and potatoes for a healthy, delicious backyard meal.
  9. Clean your grill grate using the remaining oil and a nylon brush to keep your grill primed in time for next week’s batch of chicken drumsticks.
  10. Try new flavours and marinades to see where your backyard grilling will take you next!
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