How long should you grill chicken legs?

Cooking times will vary, but a general guideline is to cook them for about 25-30 minutes in a grill that's between 300-400 degrees F. I always recommend using a meat thermometer to get it just right. Grill the drumsticks to an internal temperature of 185 degrees F. (See more on this below, it's interesting!) If your chicken is getting too dark, you can always move it to indirect heat (unlit side or top rack of grill). Don't forget to let your grilled drumsticks rest for at least 5 minutes.

What temperature should you grill chicken drumsticks to?

While most chicken recipes are cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, we’re actually cooking legs and dark meat to a final internal temperature of 185 degrees F. This allows the higher fat and collagen content in legs to get a chance to “baste” the white meat, which makes it super juicy, flavorful, and really tender. I learned this while researching my grilled chicken thighs and have been a convert ever since.

Are these drumsticks gluten-free?

No, the marinade as written has soy sauce, which is not gluten-free, but it's easy to make gluten-free. Simply swap the soy sauce for a gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos.

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks - Juicy, Easy & Perfect for Summer

Name: Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cloves garlic; 4 Tbsp. soy sauce; 2 Tbsp. olive oil; 1 tsp. red pepper flakes; 6 chicken drumsticks (about 1 1/2 lbs.)

Description

These grilled chicken drumsticks are juicy, flavorful, and made with just 5 simple ingredients! Perfect for summer cookouts.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cloves garlic
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
6 chicken drumsticks (about 1 1/2 lbs.)

Instructions

Mince garlic and add all ingredients except for chicken to a plastic zip-topped bag.
Add chicken to bag and marinate for at least 20 minutes, or overnight. Flip bag to distribute marinade occasionally.
Remove chicken from refrigerator and preheat grill to medium high, about 375 degrees F.
Place chicken legs skin side down on hot grill and cook for 20 minutes, flip over and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 185 degrees. (See note below.)
Let rest for at least 5-10 minutes and dig in!

Notes

Cooking temp: While most chicken recipes are cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, we’re actually cooking legs and dark meat to 185 degrees F. This allows the higher fat and collagen content in legs to get a chance to “baste” the white meat, which makes it super juicy, flavorful, and really tender.
Storage: Store any leftover crispy grilled chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat the chicken drumsticks in a 350 degrees F oven for best results. Or, eat them at room temperature!
Ingredient notes: Look for skin-on drumsticks. Buy the highest-quality you can afford, it makes a difference with meat. The size of drumsticks varies quite a bit, so look for drumsticks that are pretty close to the same size so they cook at the same rate.
Prep ahead: Mix up marinade and marinate up to 12 hours in advance.
Special tools: I don’t cook meat without a meat thermometer; I think they are vital if you want perfectly-cooked meat.
Serve with: Veggie sides like summer cucumber salad or napa slaw, a pasta salad like Greek orzo salad, and brown butter blueberry crisp for a sweet summer treat.