Southwest Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Quick and easy grilled chicken drumsticks are the perfect easy weeknight recipe for your grill! They only require three ingredients and are so delicious!

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Grilled chicken recipes are always a favorite at our house – grilled chicken legs, chicken breasts, and chicken skewers are just a few in our dinner rotation. These grilled drumsticks are always a favorite – quick, easy, and delicious!

Make sure to put these Southwest Grilled Chicken Drumsticks on your menu this week!

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Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Simple, easy, and delicious you’re going to love these drummies, I know we do – I’m a big fan of food with a built in handle, and the kids are too! 😀

With only three ingredients they take just minutes to get on the grill. They cook quickly and are great as a main dish (everyone loves them!), but are also an affordable appetizer. Drumsticks are perfect party food!

Ingredients

Chicken drumsticks – you should use fresh drumsticks. If you use frozen ones, you will need to thaw them completely and then pat them dry.

Olive oil – this keeps the chicken from sticking to the grill and adds flavor.

Taco seasoning – or any seasoning you like! For a Southwest theme we love taco spices, but you can use all kinds of seasoning blends to change up the chicken flavor.

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks

• Prep Grill – Preheat the grill and clean it well. Spray with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent the chicken legs from sticking
• Prep Chicken Legs – Brush the chicken with olive oil. Rub the taco seasoning into the legs.
• Grill – Onto the grill they go for about 30 minutes, rotating for even cooking every 10 minutes or so.

Often times when cooking chicken, the fat from the skin drips into the grill and can start flareups. What’s the best way to cook fatty meats without charing them black?

1. Keep your grill clean – removing deposits from previous cooking will keep meat from sticking and helps avoid a flame.
2. Don’t crowd the food. If an area flares up, move it to a cooler side of the grill.
3. Occasionally I’ll even have a piece of foil on one side of the grill, especially when cooking chicken. If there’s a flame out you can move it right on top of the foil to avoid the fire. Just be sure to spray it with non-stick cooking spray so it doesn’t stick.
4. Remove or trim excess fat.

Do you need to preheat the grill?

My recipes (most times!) start with preheating the grill. 

Why is it important to preheat your grill? Can’t you just turn it on high heat or light the flame and be ready to go? Here’s what happens when you flip a switch and start… 

• It takes longer for the food to cook which will (often times) result in overcooked or dry food.
• You don’t get that great char on the outside. The char isn’t just for looks, it actually equates to more flavor! The sugars caramelize and that makes everything taste better.
• Preheating the grill will keep food from sticking. It will be easy to flip with tongs once it’s gotten that tasty char on the outside.

How long to grill chicken drumsticks?  

About 30 minutes – rotate every 10 minutes or so. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to make it easy to check!

Side Dish Ideas

Make it a meal with these easy side dishes!

• We love them with grilled mixed vegetables! Or try them with grilled asparagus – yum.
• Everyone will love some cheesy grilled garlic bread!
• Or try them with my easy BBQ baked beans!

Recipe Variations

• If you’re looking for an extra flavor POP, coat them with the oil and seasoning and tuck them back in the fridge before grilling them. Chicken can be marinated up to two days in the refrigerator. 
• You can use your favorite taco seasoning for this recipe or try other flavors. Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and fajita seasoning are a few we love to use.
• Love sauce? Feel free to brush the drumsticks with your favorite BBQ sauce towards the end of the grilling time for a sticky delicious BBQ coating.
• You can use chicken thighs for this recipe, too! Depending on the size, you will need to adjust the grilling time.

I love to serve up a big platter of Southwest Chicken Drumsticks topped with some minced cilantro and lime wedges for dinner – everyone can’t wait to grab one and dig in! Give them a try soon – you will love them!

More Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

• Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs
• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs on the Grill
• Grilled Ranch Chicken Drumsticks

If you made (or are making!) this yummy recipe, be sure to comment below or tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling I’d love to hear what you grilled up for your family!

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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!

5 from 3 votes

Southwest Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Quick and easy grilled chicken drumsticks are the perfect easy weeknight recipe for your grill! They only require three ingredients and are so delicious! Make sure to put these Southwest Grilled Chicken Drumsticks on your menu this week!

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:30 minutes mins

Total:40 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 lb chicken legs
• ▢ 2 Tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 2-3 Tbsp taco seasoning

Instructions

• Preheat grill to 350 degrees. Make sure to clean and spray with non-stick spray or brush with oil to prevent chicken legs sticking.
• Brush chicken legs with olive oil. Rub taco seasoning into chicken legs. I lift the skin up and rub it underneath the skin to get the flavor right on the meat if you can. 
• Grill for 30 minutes, rotating every 10 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees F.

Tips

Directions to make these in the oven – 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 

Prepare the chicken legs according to directions. 

Place chicken legs on a baking rack that’s on a baking sheet with side and that has been brushed with oil. 

Bake for 45 minutes or internal temperature is 185 – 190 degrees F. Rotate chicken halfway through cooking.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 170kcal (9%), Protein: 10g (20%), Fat: 13g (20%), Saturated Fat: 3g (19%), Cholesterol: 60mg (20%), Sodium: 107mg (5%), Potassium: 131mg (4%), Vitamin A: 120IU (2%), Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 6mg (1%), Iron: 0.5mg (3%)

© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.