The BEST BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe is cooked in a simple homemade BBQ sauce and then grilled for that crispy skin we love. This is an easy and affordable recipe that’s always a crowd pleaser.
Bring on all the grilling recipes like Steak Kabobs, Cedar Plank Salmon, Fish Tacos, and Hawaiian Bowls.
Our BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are Finger-Licking Good
Our BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are Finger-Licking GoodThis easy BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe is my Mom’s recipe that she made regularly for us growing up. It’s one of the oldest recipes I shared on my blog.
Why you’ll love this recipe: it’s super flavorful since the chicken is first cooked bbq sauce, it pairs with any side dish, and is one of the cheapest meals (a dozen chicken legs only costs about $8). We love serving chicken legs at a BBQ or summer potluck and they get gobbled up so fast.
How to make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks:
Make BBQ Sauce: Add tomato sauce, mustard, sugar, vinegar and soy sauce to a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Add Drumsticks to the sauce, cover pot and cook for about 20-30 minutes, or just until cooked through.
Grill and Serve: Heat a gas grill over HIGH heat. Cook the drumsticks for a minute or so on each side, rotating them, allowing the sauce to caramelize and the skin to crisp and char.
Serve Chicken Drumsticks with:
- Coleslaw
- Buttermilk cornbread or Flakey Biscuits
- Baked Potato Salad
- Pesto Tortellini
- Grilled Corn Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Baked Beans
- Whipped Feta with Roasted Vegetables
- Wedge Salad
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Recipe
BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 12 large chicken drumsticks , pat dry
Instructions
- BBQ Sauce: tomato sauce, sugars, soy sauce, vinegar and mustard to a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir well to combine. Bring mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add chicken drumsticks. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and ladle some of the sauce into a cup.
- Grill: Clean grill and grease the grill grates well with oil. Heat to high heat. Once hot, add chicken drumsticks. (The chicken is cooked at this point, you're just wanting to char the skin). Lather some of the extra BBQ Sauce on the chicken as you grill it, and rotate the chicken drumsticks as each side becomes lightly charred. If your grill is hot enough, this should only take a few minutes!
- Serve with your favorite BBQ side dishes.
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe May 2014. Updated June 2019 and June 2024.
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Yummy and so easy.
Wow 😍 So delicious. My family really liked these drumsticks. Hubby wasn’t around in time to do the BBQ (I need to learn how still) so I just broiled them in the oven and they still turned out good. Next time I want to use the leftover sauce to make the Hawaiian meatball recipe on this website.
My kids love this recipe!