This is the best recipe for Grilled Marinated Italian Chicken Drumsticks you will ever eat. It has authentic ingredients from a yummy lemon, pepper, garlic, and herb marinade. Just a few simple ingredients & easy steps - perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

Italian chicken drumsticks with lemon pepper marinade.

All that is left to do is to grill them on your barbecue or bake them in your oven for a chicken dinner everyone will love. The healthy recipe is perfect for anyone on a keto, gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, Whole30, or paleo diet.

Like my teriyaki chicken on a stick recipe, this is a family favorite. Great served with Summer Pesto Pasta Salad or Air Fryer Broccolini.

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Ingredients for Italian Chicken Drumsticks
How to Grill Marinated Chicken Legs
Oven Instructions
Italian Chicken Drumsticks
What to Serve with Drumsticks

Ingredients for Italian Chicken Drumsticks

This simple recipe only takes a few ingredients plus some fresh chicken drumsticks. You likely have most already in your pantry. If you love lemon, this recipe and my One Pot Lemon Butter Pasta (pasta al limone) will be your new Italian favorites.

Fresh garlic & lemon juice are the stars of the zesty Italian marinade. Add some olive oil & spices and the aromatic citrus marinade is ready to mix.

Ingredients for the best italian chicken

Chicken Drumsticks - the legs are easy to grill & eat (can substitute bone-in thighs)
Fresh Lemon Juice - for fresh citrus flavor and acid in the marinade
Garlic Cloves - classic Italian flavor
Black Pepper - the spice goes well with lemon & garlic
Seasoned Salt - the touch of sugar in this seasoning adds flavor & caramelization to the chicken as it cooks
Olive Oil - the base of the marinade
Dried Basil - the popular Italian herb goes well with chicken
Dried Parsley - the herb is grassy & the citrus notes add to the lemon
Red Pepper Flakes - a small kick of heat to offset the tart lemon

See the recipe card for amounts & full instructions.

How to Grill Marinated Chicken Legs

Here are the easy steps for making this recipe. Get the grill heated up and the marinade made - the rest is so simple.

Make the Marinade
Marinate the Chicken
Grill the Chicken

1 - Make the Marinade

To make the marinade, combine all marinade ingredients in a small mixing bowl or a container that has a tight lid. I made mine in a mason jar where I could add all the ingredients, screw on the lid tight, and shake! If making in a bowl, whisk until combined.

If you don't like the heat from the red chili flakes or the taste of basil, try my homemade lemon pepper marinade recipe.

2 - Marinate the Chicken

Add chicken drumsticks to a large gallon-sized Ziploc. To the chicken, pour in the marinade. Seal the Ziploc and shake. I often "massage' the marinade into the chicken pieces.

Refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Rotate, shake, or massage the chicken every hour to make sure all sides get the flavor.

Pour the marinade into Ziploc with the chicken drumsticks

3 - Grill the Chicken

How long to cook the chicken drumsticks on the grill? First heat the grill to high heat - 350-375° is ideal. This can be made on a gas, propane, charcoal, or electric grill.

How to grill chicken legs on a gas grill? Once ready, place the chicken on the grill over direct heat. Sear for about 2-3 minutes on each side to get crispy outer skin. Keep the lid open during the searing process.

Then move the chicken to the side and continue to cook over indirect heat with the lid closed for about 15 minutes on each side. It takes about 35-40 minutes to cook chicken drumsticks/legs on the grill using this method.

They will be crispy on the outside and still juicy on the inside. To learn more about when to grill with the lid on or off, check out my guide on GRILLING WITH THE LID ON OR OFF - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

To add more flavor while cooking, brush the marinade onto the chicken as it cooks or when you flip it over. Check with an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure they are done and are at 165°.

Do not save the marinade and use it for anything else,

discard it since it has come in contact with raw meat.

4 - Serve and Enjoy

I like to serve the drumsticks with fresh lemon wedges on the side and topped with fresh herbs. Squeezing more lemon juice adds a pop of acidic flavor that cuts through the rich chicken.

This is an easy handheld way to eat chicken. This is why it makes the list of the Best Game Day and Tailgate Grilling Recipes.

Oven Instructions

If you do not have a grill, you can also cook this in the oven quite easily. For cooking the chicken drumsticks in the oven, preheat the oven to 425°. Then bake for 20 minutes on each side. Again check to be sure the internal temperature reaches 165°.

Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

Pompeian USDA Organic Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil, First Cold Pressed, Full-Bodied Flavor, Perfect for Salad Dressings & Marinades, 24 FL. OZ.

$5.52