These Mediterranean grilled chicken drumsticks are an easy, inexpensive, and healthy chicken recipe that uses the best marinade for grilling. Made with Mediterranean spices, olive oil, and lots of lemon juice, the flavorful marinade is easy to prepare and can be grilled up in just a few minutes.
Marinating chicken before grilling leaves them super moist and juicy, you will never skip this step again. Plus, you can marinate them the day before which makes your barbecue prep even easier.
Recipe Notes
Is there anything better than grilling in the spring after a long winter and you finally get that first really nice day of sping? We love grilling throughout the spring, summer and fall and these chicken drumsticks are always top of the list. We
If you’re wondering how much to plan, for a main course, plan on serving about 2 drumsticks per person. As an appetizer, one per person would probably do the trick.
We love to serve these with Roasted Red Potatoes, Berry Salad, Cucumber Tomato Side Salad, or Guacamole with chips. Our Greek Pasta Salad is always a hit too. As an appetizer, serve with Tzatziki sauce or our Homemade Ranch.
Best Chicken Drumsticks Marinade for Grilling
My kids absolutely love to eat chicken drumsticks. Plus, they are inexpensive and an easy way to serve and eat a healthy meal. But, you can use this marinade for any cut of chicken cut for this recipe. You can even use this for baked chicken recipes, too. I just prefer that char flavor from the grill, and the clean up is so easy!
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Key Ingredients
- Lemon juice– helps tenderize the chicken as well as adds a really fresh flavor.
- Lemon zest– this will give your drumstick recipe a little zip.
- Olive oil– you could also use Avocado oil.
- Vinegar– this will help tenderize the chicken while it’s marinating.
- Mediterranean Spices– basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, and sage.
- Salt and Pepper– to taste.
How to Make the Best Grilled Drumsticks
You can marinate the chicken for 2-24 hours before grilling, so plan ahead and preheat your grill at least 30 minutes before you want to serve.
- Make the marinade. In a freezer bag, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, vinegar, basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, sage, salt, and pepper. Mix all the ingredients together.
- Marinate the chicken legs. Add the drumsticks, seal the bag, shake to fully coat, then marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Grill the chicken. Remove from the marinade and place onto a hot grill. Cook for about 2-4 minutes or until golden brown, then flip and continue to cook until all sides are golden and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Serve. Remove form the grill, cover with foil, and let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Grilled Drumstick Recipe Tips
- To keep your drumsticks moist, tender, and juicy, be sure to use a digital meat thermometer when cooking drumsticks. If you wait for the meat to visible start to pull away from the bone, your drumsticks are overcooked.
- Use a ziplock bag to keep the marinade mess to a minimum.
- This recipe can easily be doubled.
- This recipe calls for fresh herbs but sometimes I won’t have all the fresh herbs in stock. You can use dried herbs too. If you’re using dried herbs, try putting them in the palm of your hand and rubbing them together. This will break up the herbs a little more and it will release a little more of the oils from the herbs.
- If you’re using fresh herbs…hooray!It really does make it so much more delicious!
Storage
Leftovers: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat: you can either microwave your drumsticks to reheat, or place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sage, ground
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Marinating the Chicken
- Remove chicken drumsticks from their packaging and pat dry with paper towels. In a large freezer bag, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, vinegar, basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, sage, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken drumsticks, seal the bag, and roll it around so all of the drumsticks are coated in the marinade. Transfer to the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours, but up to 24 hours.
To Grill the Chicken
- Preheat the grill.
- After it has marinated, remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess drip off. Lay them on the preheated grill over medium heat and cook for about 30-35 minutes, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- Once cooked, remove the drumsticks from the grill, cover with foil, and let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use a ziplock bag to keep the marinade mess to a minimum.
- This recipe can easily be doubled.
- Storing Instructions: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: you can either microwave your drumsticks to reheat, or place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
Nutrition
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More of the Best Grilled Chicken Recipes
- Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Recipe
- Garlic and Herb Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
- Rosemary Garlic Chicken Breast
- Lemon Rosemary Chicken Kabobs
- Southwest Chicken Kabobs
- 3 Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade
- BBQ Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- More Healthy Chicken Recipes
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This recipe includes chicken drumsticks marinade for grilling that truly makes them the most juicy and flavorful drumsticks you will ever eat. The marinade is full of Mediterranean flavors like lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh herbs.
Categories:
4th of July, Chicken, Dairy-Free, Easy Weeknight Meals, Gluten-Free, Healthy, Main Dish, Nut-Free, Summer Recipes,
