Barbecued Chicken Drumsticks

Smoked chicken drumsticks seasoned with a smoky spice blend and slow-cooked on a pellet grill, then brushed with a tangy homemade barbecue sauce and caramelized to perfection.

This barbecued chicken drumsticks recipe features drumsticks seasoned with a smoky spice rub and smoked on a pellet grill until tender. They are then coated with a tangy homemade barbecue sauce made from ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and spices, and cooked at a higher temperature to achieve a caramelized finish. Perfectly paired with classic barbecue sides, these drumsticks make for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Servings

4-6

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time

2 hours 45 minutes

For the Chicken
8-12 chicken drumsticks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

Barbecue Sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

Prepare and Season the Chicken
Preheat pellet grill to 225°F. Pat chicken drumsticks dry, rub with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.Mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne. Rub seasoning evenly over drumsticks.

Make the Barbecue Sauce
In a saucepan, combine ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until thickened. Set aside.

Cook the Chicken
Smoke drumsticks on the grill at 225°F for 1.5-2 hours until they reach 165°F internally. Raise grill temperature to 375°F.  Brush drumsticks with barbecue sauce and cook for 15-20 minutes, basting every 5 minutes, until they reach 175°F and sauce caramelizes.

Rest and Serve
Let drumsticks rest for 5-10 minutes.  Serve with extra barbecue sauce and sides like coleslaw or cornbread.