Barbecued chicken drumsticks are one of my favorite summertime dishes. The deep red caramelized sauce made up of sweet, savory, and smoky flavor is what summer grilling is all about. When barbecued chicken is done right, it can be love at first bite. In terms of popularity, the chicken drumstick often plays second or third fiddle to the breast. But the kid in me loves eating the drumstick especially when it is covered in barbecue sauce. Who can resist licking the sticky sweet smoky sauce from their fingertips when enjoying barbecue chicken right off the grill? Impossible.
If youve ever tried grilling barbecued drumsticks straight from the package to the grill, then you may have experienced love at first sight but not at first bite. I remember being a newlywed 13 years ago and my husband flexing his barbecue skills at the grill. When he plated these beautifully deep red chicken legs which were charred just right, I was so excited to dig in and eat. That is until I bit into raw chicken. My excitement deflated into confusion and a form of hanger (hunger + anger). Seriously, how long does it take to grill chicken? You would think 15-20 minutes on the grill would suffice, but no not even close.
Due to the thick bone in drumsticks, this part of the chicken takes a lot more time to cook. In fact, much longer than a large piece of boneless chicken breast. However, if you are willing to invest some time in preparing drumsticks you will be rewarded handsomely.
The key to great barbecued chicken legs is to soak them in a brine (salt bath) for 3-4 hours. The brine is made up of water, salt, sugar, and a touch of apple cider vinegar. Salt not only flavors the meat but it also helps to break down the muscle and tenderize the meat allowing the meat to soak up water producing a flavorful and moist piece of meat. The sugar helps balance the saltiness of the brine.
Brining and par-roasting the chicken in the oven then finishing them off on the grill on medium-low heat is my secret to great grilled chicken. I cooked them on the grill already basted with my favorite barbecue sauce just long enough for it to caramelize and char nicely. If you try grilling legs with sauce for more than 10 minutes you can (and likely will) burn and overcook the chicken.
My whole family loves eating grilled barbecued chicken drumsticks, and I know your family will love eating them too. Enjoy!
A crowd family pleasing recipe. The secret to amazing grilled barbecued chicken legs is in the brine and par-roasting method. Never overcook or burn chicken legs again!
Alice Currah is the publisher of popular food blog, Savory Sweet Life. Her approachable everyday recipes are accompanied by beautiful step by step photos and have been featured online at Martha Stewart, Real Simple, The Pioneer Woman, Epicurious, Bon Appetit, Saveur, iVillage and many more. In March 2010, Forbes.com featured Alice as one of Eight of the Very Best Food Bloggers. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
You can precook chicken then mark it on a grill before serving. Sous vide is a good way to go about doing that. I prefer to mark the chicken on the grill from raw and then finish it the oven.
Place chicken pieces over a medium-hot grill, brushing once more lightly with leftover sauce. Cover and cook 15 minutes, then turn chicken over and brush other side with remaining sauce. Cook 15 more minutes and serve.
Lay chicken pieces, skin side up, in a large baking pan. Brush evenly with 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce and cover. Refrigerate 8 hours. Twenty minutes before cooking, take from refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake chicken uncovered 30 minutes and remove from oven.
A crowd family pleasing recipe. The secret to amazing grilled barbecued chicken legs is in the brine and par-roasting method. Never overcook or burn chicken legs again!
If youve ever tried grilling barbecued drumsticks straight from the package to the grill, then you may have experienced love at first sight but not at first bite. I remember being a newlywed 13 years ago and my husband flexing his barbecue skills at the grill. When he plated these beautifully deep red chicken legs which were charred just right, I was so excited to dig in and eat. That is until I bit into raw chicken. My excitement deflated into confusion and a form of hanger (hunger + anger). Seriously, how long does it take to grill chicken? You would think 15-20 minutes on the grill would suffice, but no not even close.
Due to the thick bone in drumsticks, this part of the chicken takes a lot more time to cook. In fact, much longer than a large piece of boneless chicken breast. However, if you are willing to invest some time in preparing drumsticks you will be rewarded handsomely.
Brining and par-roasting the chicken in the oven then finishing them off on the grill on medium-low heat is my secret to great grilled chicken. I cooked them on the grill already basted with my favorite barbecue sauce just long enough for it to caramelize and char nicely. If you try grilling legs with sauce for more than 10 minutes you can (and likely will) burn and overcook the chicken.
Barbecued chicken drumsticks are one of my favorite summertime dishes. The deep red caramelized sauce made up of sweet, savory, and smoky flavor is what summer grilling is all about. When barbecued chicken is done right, it can be love at first bite. In terms of popularity, the chicken drumstick often plays second or third fiddle to the breast. But the kid in me loves eating the drumstick especially when it is covered in barbecue sauce. Who can resist licking the sticky sweet smoky sauce from their fingertips when enjoying barbecue chicken right off the grill? Impossible.
HOW TO PRESEASON /PARBOIL CHICKEN BEFORE GRILLING]Tips for stress free grilling]Time saver cooking
FAQ
Can you bake chicken and then grill it?
Can you pre cook chicken before grilling?
Is it better to boil or bake chicken before grilling?
Should you grill or bake chicken first?
Do you have to precook chicken before grilling?
You do not absolutely have to precook chicken before grilling it, as with enough time on the grill, the chicken will cook through, but if you’re in a hurry than it is probably best if you do precook chicken. By precooking chicken, it will not only need less time on the grill, but it will cook evenly too.
What are the benefits of eating baked chicken?
Roast chicken provides a good amount of protein with lower amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, which contains more red meat. In addition, chicken meat contains large amounts of niacin and phosphorus, as well as small amounts of other minerals and also vitamin B-12, which is part of the beneficial vitamin B complex.
Can You precook chicken in the oven?
You can precook large portions of chicken in the oven with a foil tent, you can quickly precook smaller portions of chicken in the microwave, or you can parboil chicken pieces and add to their flavor on the stove. How much you precook your chicken will be up to you, but it is a good idea to cook it till almost done.
What temperature do you cook chicken before grilling?
Cook the chicken at medium-low to medium heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit when tested with a meat thermometer. Can I pre-cook chicken before I grill it? Precook it in the oven ahead of time so you know it’s fully cooked and ready for the grill.