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.
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
This simple recipe only takes a few ingredients plus some fresh chicken drumsticks. You likely have most already in your pantry.
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.
- 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.
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. Plus the addition of fresh herbs adds clean earthy flavors. I like fresh parsley and basil best at the end.
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:
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Italian Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 1.5 LBS Chicken Drumsticks about 6 (or bone-in thighs)
- ½ C olive oil
- ¼ C fresh lemon juice
- ½ TB dried basil
- ½ TB dried parsley flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil and parsley finely chopped (optional)
- lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions
- To make the marinade, combine all marinade ingredients in a small mixing bowl or a container that has a tight lid. Mix or shake well to combine all the ingredients.
- 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 the chicken and let marinate for 2-4 hours. Remember to shake or massage the marinade into the chicken pieces about every hour or so until you are ready to get cooking. It can marinate overnight as well.
- Preheat your grill (or oven if using an oven - see instructions above) to 350-375°F. While waiting for it to preheat, remove chicken from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature on the counter for about 15 minutes.
- To grill the chicken, heat the grill to high heat. Once ready, place the chicken on the grill over direct heat with the lid open. Sear about 2-3 minutes on each side to get crispy outer skin. Then move the chicken to the side and continue to cook over indirect heat with the lid closed.
- Continue cooking for about 15 minutes on each side. Brush the chicken with more marinade as you turn it over and it cooks. Check with a meat thermometer to ensure they are done and are at 165° internal temperature.
- Once cooking is done, place on a serving platter and let rest a few minutes. Top with finely chopped fresh herbs and serve with wedges of lemon. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Drumsticks
Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with chicken drumsticks, kid-approved too.
Cindy says
This recipe looks delicious. I love crispy chicken skin.
Chelsea says
That marinade looks so good! I know longer eat meat, but when I used to, I loved that lemon flavor. I think it would be tasty on veggies on the bbq too! I'm going to try it!
Angela says
Yes, it is wonderful on vegetables too. I made the chicken with grilled squash that also had the marinade brushed on it when grilling.
Taryn says
That looks delicious. Lemon is a great complement to chicken. Yum!
Angela says
Yes, it is, enjoy!
Sarah says
These look fab and easy to make! I don't know why I never think to marinate chicken but what a difference it makes! Thanks for the great tips - I'll have to give this a shot with the drumsticks I have in our freezer!
Angela says
Let me know what you think when you try out the recipe - easy chicken dinner coming your way!
Sabrina DeWalt says
This sounds tasty!
Kate says
A perfect summer recipe!
Brittany Rausch says
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try this next time we make chicken!
Anne Marie says
Ooo! I think I have all of these items on hand! This is going on the list to make this week. Also love the mason jar idea for marinates! Easy to make ahead of time and leave in the fridge if needed.
Angela says
Enjoy and if you have a mason jar, use it!
Emily says
Looks super tasty! Apparently we are on the same page this week. I just did Mediterranean/Lebanese chicken leg quarters haha
Angela says
Can't go wrong with seasoned chicken!
Beth Shields says
Looks delicious. Will definitely have to try it. Thanks for the recipe.
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Looks good!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 14, open until July 26.
Elaina says
This looks absolutely delicious and I love how easy the recipe is. Pinned it so I can come back to it later. Thank you!
Angela says
Thanks for Pinning!
Myrka says
Cooking can be so easy but I am not the best cook! I will try this though. I love anything with garlic!
Adrienne Freeman says
I saw this recipe on Tasty Tuesday and clicked right over - my family loves drumsticks! I can't wait to try it.
Angela says
Thank you for checking out the recipe and hope you try it and others from my blog!
Glenda Fitzpatrick says
Made the Italian Chicken tonight for dinner! It is wonderful! Will make this again.
Angela says
I am so glad you liked it. Thank you for letting me know it was a hit!
Eva Keller says
This looks like a great recipe! I think we eat chicken more than any other meat and we are always looking at ways to change it up.