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Grilled Lollipop Chicken Drumsticks

5 from 1 vote

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Prepare to be totally amazed! These grilled lollipop chicken drumsticks are a crowd favorite. My kids request these fun and creative drumsticks weekly. I love making them, because they a fun way to eat chicken drumsticks and are a great source of protein for the kiddos. 

Lollipop drumsticks on the grill with BBQ sauce
Glossy!

LOLLIPOP’S ARE AT THE TOP OF THE KID LIST

The kids love it when I make lollipop drumsticks. It is requested weekly especially by my son who is on the autism spectrum. Getting him to eat chicken or any meat was difficult. For some reason this technique made it so it was roasted perfectly, juicy and it was the perfect texture for him to enjoy. I was so excited when he decided that this was one of those dishes that he wanted to keep in his rotation.

GRILLED TO PERFECTION

The top reason you should make this recipe is because you will have perfect chicken every time. The way that the drumstick gets grilled and roasted, creates a pocket of juices that make it for a perfect tender bite. Then you dip it in some delicious barbecue sauce and you have a beautiful little lollipop drumstick.  

@thebuttababe

Kid approved, Lollipop drumsticks! Here’s how to make fun drumsticks. #tiktokfoodies #foodietiktok #easycooking #tiktokfoodvideo #easyrecipe #momscooking

♬ Sauce – Naïka

TO MAKE LOLLIPOP CHICKEN

  • A large pack of drumsticks; Can be found at any local grocery store.
  • Roasted garlic seasoning (Weber); This seasoning has great spices in it.
  • Kosher salt; Using this salt helps control the salt content.
  • Italian seasoning
  • Pepper
  • Barbecue sauce; Avoid using BBQ sauce with brown sugar in it, to avoid burning the drumsticks bottoms.

CREATING A LOLLIPOP CHICKEN DRUMSTICK

  1. Preheat your grill by using charcoal or gas.
  2. Unpackage your drumsticks and place them in a bowl. Rinse with cold water, drain and set aside.
  3. Using a sharp knife, take one of your drumsticks and cut off the end so that it will stand up when placed upside down.
  4. Repeat this process until you have cut off all ends of the chicken.
  5. With the same sharp knife, cut 1″ from the end of the drumstick around the skin.
  6. Once you have made your initial cuts on the bottom of the drumstick, use kitchen shears to finish cutting all the way through meat, skin or tendons.
  7. Take a paper towel and wrap the end of the drumstick. Pull to remove the skin and cartilage end from the drumstick. You will have to use a little bit of arm strength for this step.
  8. Utilize your kitchen shears to trim off any excess tendon’s or skin remaining around the base of the drumstick. 
  9. Season your drumsticks with garlic mix, Italian seasonings, kosher salt and pepper.
  10. Once your grill is 400°F, use grilling gloves or tongs to place your chicken on the grill like upside down lollipops.
  11. Cook your chicken for about 10 to 12 minutes and then use tongs or grilling gloves to dip them into barbecue sauce.
  12. Place your dipped drumsticks back on the grill and The base of the drumsticks with the remaining barbecue sauce. Make sure your drumstick is fully coated with barbecue sauce.
  13. Grill your chicken for another 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature of your chicken, once it has reached 165° F, It is finished. There should be a beautiful glaze at the end of your grilling process.
  14. Carefully remove your lollipop drumsticks from the grill. Let them cool a bit and enjoy!

Helpful Tips

  • Reuse your paper towel two or three times, after that you will want to get a new paper towel because it will be too slippery to use.
  • Make sure you do use a sharp knife. This will be vital in ensuring safe cutting and executing the dish properly.
  • Avoid using overly sugary barbecue sauce. If there’s too much sugar in the barbecue sauce it could burn the bottom of the chicken.
  • Try to clean the chicken bone as much as possible for a finished look.
1.Remove the ends of the drumsticks.
They should stand balanced.
2. Cut 1″ around the bottom of the drumstick.
3. Remove the skin and cartilage with a paper towel.
4. Cut excess skin or tendons with kitchen shears.
Before seasoning, clean as much as you can.
5. Season with your spices.
6. Carefully place lollipop chicken on the grill.
7. After 10-12 minutes, dip the chicken in a bowl of BBQ sauce.
8. Brush the BBQ sauce all over.
9. Grill for another 10 minutes, until cooked.
Enjoy with your favorite side dish!

OTHER WAYS TO PREPARE LOLLIPOP CHICKEN

  • Smoke them in your pellet smoker
  • Bake them at 375° F and follow the same prep steps and finishing steps.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are chicken drumsticks healthy for you?

Yes, oven roasted or grilled chicken drumsticks are a healthy choice. Drumsticks have about 70% protein and 30% fat, which means they are a good choice to pick if you are going to be grilling or baking them.

How do I know my chicken is cooked?

If the internal temperature at the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 F, your chicken is cooked. You can also, cut or poke a small hole in the thickest part of the chicken near the thigh. If the juices that run out are clear, with no blood, your chicken is cooked.

PAIRING OPTIONS

Lollipop drumsticks on the grill with BBQ sauce

Grilled Lollipop Chicken Drumsticks

Prepare to be totally amazed! These grilled lollipop chicken drumsticks are a crowd favorite. My kids request these fun and creative drumsticks weekly. I love making them, because they are a great source of protein for the kiddos.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 111 kcal

Equipment

  • Grill or Oven
  • Sharp knife
  • Paper Towels
  • Basting brush

Ingredients
  

  • 12 Chicken Legs Drumsticks
  • 12 oz. BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp. Kosher Salt
  • 2 tbsp. Cracked black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. Roasted garlic seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your grill by using charcoal or gas to 400 degrees F.
  • Unpackage your drumsticks and place them in a bowl. Rinse with cold water, drain and set aside.
  • Using a sharp knife, take one of your drumsticks and cut off the end so that it will stand up when placed upside down.
  • Repeat this process until you have cut off all ends of the chicken.
  • With the same sharp knife, cut 1″ from the end of the drumstick around the skin.
  • Once you have made your initial cuts on the bottom of the drumstick, use kitchen shears to finish cutting all the way through meat, skin or tendons.
  • Take a paper towel and wrap the end of the drumstick. Pull to remove the skin and cartilage end from the drumstick. You will have to use a little bit of arm strength for this step.
  • Utilize your kitchen shears to trim off any excess tendon’s or skin remaining around the base of the drumstick.
  • Season your drumsticks with garlic mix, Italian seasonings, kosher salt and pepper.
  • Once your grill is 400°F, use grilling gloves or tongs to place your chicken on the grill like upside down lollipops.
  • Cook your chicken for about 10 to 12 minutes and then use tongs or grilling gloves to dip them into barbecue sauce.
  • Place your dipped drumsticks back on the grill and The base of the drumsticks with the remaining barbecue sauce. Make sure your drumstick is fully coated with barbecue sauce.
  • Grill your chicken for another 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature of your chicken, once it has reached 165° F, It is finished. There should be a beautiful glaze at the end of your grilling process.
  • Carefully remove your lollipop drumsticks from the grill. Let them cool a bit and enjoy!

Notes

Make sure you do use a sharp knife. This will be vital in ensuring safe cutting and executing the dish properly.
Avoid using overly sugary barbecue sauce. If there’s too much sugar in the barbecue sauce it could burn the bottom of the chicken.
Try to clean the chicken bone as much as possible for a finished look.
Reuse your piece of paper towel two or three times, after that you will want to get a new paper towel because it will be too slippery to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 2495mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 211IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Meat
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

By on August 12th, 2022

About thebuttababe

HI I'm Alex! Self-Taught Home Chef and Food Photographer. I am here to help you build confidence in the kitchen. We will always have laughs and fun along the way!

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