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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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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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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*I originally shared this recipe May 2014. Updated June 2019 and June 2024.
Thank you! such a simple recipe and it came out just as expected.
Great recipe! So easy and delicious – and again, quite flexible to adjust to your taste! I added Frank’s RedHot sauce, and a bottled barbecue sauce for basting. My family raved about this – Excellent! 5 stars! Make this again, Mom! and much more! So thanks so much, Lauren, for the wonderful recipe and an inexpensive meal!
So good! Great to know they were cooked before finishing them off on the grill. Got lots of compliments.
Best sauce ever. I use it on any meat..
The left over sauce never goes to waste. I have it with rice.
Ok That was tremendous.
What do I do with all the leftover sauce,?
I’m gonna get some ribs for tomorrow….
Big question is… How long will the sauce keep?
It will keep in the fridge for a few days.
I let the extra sauce simmer after the chicken was out, and thickened it. We had rice on the side and it was good drizzled on top. I’m going to make this recipe again, but double the sauce, and then use the leftovers to make her Hawaiian meatball recipe next time.
delicious I tried it and will definitely cook again
Very easy and very tasty! We used the sauce on the Jasmine rice and and it went very well. We will most certainly be using this recipe again soon.
Very good!! I also followed recipe as written and paired it with your mashed potatoes. Delicious! Thank you!!
Made for dinner. Simple and delish. Followed recipe as written. I would like to know what to do with left over bbq sauce .
We made these for dinner Sunday and everyone LOVED them! My kids all went back for seconds, they are so good! I used chicken legs and thighs.
Thanks Shelley! I’m really glad your family liked this recipe!