Smoked Chicken Drumsticks

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These smoked chicken drumsticks are seasoned with a BBQ rub, smoked low and slow on a pellet grill, then finished over higher heat for juicy, tender meat and skin that isn't rubbery. Brush them with your favorite BBQ sauce or serve them with a flavorful dry rub.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Total Time2 10

Course: Grilling, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: smoked chicken drumsticks, traeger

Servings: servings

Author: Joshua Boquist

Equipment

Ingredients

12 chicken drumsticks bone in
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup BBQ Spice Rub

Optional Finish

BBQ sauce homemade or storebought

Instructions

Set the Traeger (or other pellet grill) to 225°F.
Pat the drumsticks completely dry with paper towels then brush them lightly with olive oil.
Coat all sides evenly with the BBQ spice rub. Let them rest while the smoker preheats.
Arrange the drumsticks directly on the grill grates with a little space between each. Smoke for 90 minutes.
Increase the grill temperature to 375°F and brush the chicken with BBQ sauce, if desired. Continue cooking another 20–30 minutes, turning once halfway through.
Cook until the thickest part reaches 185–190°F. Unlike chicken breast, dark meat becomes more tender at these higher finishing temperatures.

Notes

Pat the chicken dry: Dry skin equals crispier skin.

Finish with high heat: Don't skip the high-heat finish. Pellet grills don't crisp chicken skin well at low temperatures.

Leave some space: Arrange the drumsticks with plenty of room between them so the smoke can circulate evenly.

Choose your pellets: Apple pellets produce a mild, slightly sweet smoke flavor, while hickory delivers a stronger, more traditional BBQ profile.

Use a thermometer: Check the temperature in the thickest part of the drumstick without touching the bone for the most accurate reading.

Cook to temperature, not time: Weather conditions and the size of the drumsticks can affect the cooking time. Instead of relying on the clock, use an instant-read thermometer and cook until the thickest part reaches 185°F to 190°F.

Avoid overcrowding: If you're cooking a large batch, use a second rack if possible rather than packing the drumsticks tightly together.

Use Super Smoke (if available): If your pellet grill has a Super Smoke setting, turn it on during the low-temperature smoking stage for extra smoky flavor.

Nutrition