Zesty Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Why You’ll Love These Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Is there anything more satisfying than firing up the grill in spring, after the long chill of winter finally breaks? That first really nice day of the season calls for something special, and these Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are always at the top of our list. But it’s not just for spring; we adore grilling these throughout the vibrant seasons of spring, summer, and fall. This recipe is a celebration of fresh flavors and simple cooking, making it a perfect fit for any outdoor gathering or a delightful weeknight dinner.

A Family Favorite & Budget-Friendly Meal

Chicken drumsticks are a fantastic choice for family meals. Kids absolutely love them for their easy-to-handle shape and delicious flavor that’s both savory and subtly tangy. Beyond being a crowd-pleaser, they are remarkably inexpensive, offering a healthy and hearty meal without breaking the bank. Choosing drumsticks means you get a succulent, flavorful cut of meat that stays incredibly moist, especially when marinated. While this recipe specifically highlights drumsticks, the incredible Mediterranean marinade is versatile enough for any cut of chicken, including breasts, thighs, or wings. You can even adapt it for baked chicken, but nothing quite compares to the irresistible char and smoky flavor that only a grill can provide, not to mention the wonderfully easy cleanup!

Perfect for Any Occasion

Whether you’re planning a casual family dinner, a lively backyard barbecue with friends, or simply looking for a healthy weeknight meal, these drumsticks fit the bill. Their vibrant flavors and juicy texture make them a versatile dish that can be scaled up or down depending on your needs. For a main course, we recommend planning on about 2 drumsticks per person to ensure everyone gets a satisfying portion. If you’re serving them as an appetizer for a party, one per person should be perfect.

Delicious Serving Suggestions

These flavorful drumsticks pair beautifully with a variety of sides, enhancing the Mediterranean experience and creating a well-rounded meal:

• Creamy Oven-Roasted Red Potatoes: A classic, comforting side that absorbs all the delicious chicken drippings.
• Refreshing Berry Salad with Citrus Glaze: The sweet and tart notes of berries offer a lovely contrast to the savory chicken.
• Light and crisp Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad: A simple, fresh salad that complements the Mediterranean flavors perfectly.
• Classic Guacamole with crunchy tortilla chips: An unexpected but delightful pairing for a relaxed meal.
• Our ever-popular Greek Pasta Salad: A hearty and flavorful salad that makes for a complete meal alongside the chicken.

As an appetizer, elevate the experience by serving them with a dipping sauce. Our homemade Tzatziki sauce offers a cooling, garlicky counterpoint, or creamy Homemade Ranch provides a familiar and beloved flavor that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

The Ultimate Mediterranean Marinade: Key Ingredients for Flavor and Tenderness

The heart of these outstanding grilled chicken drumsticks is the vibrant, aromatic marinade. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in delivering that authentic Mediterranean taste and ensuring the chicken is incredibly tender and juicy. Here’s a closer look at the stars of our marinade and what makes them so essential:

• Fresh Lemon Juice: More than just a flavor enhancer, lemon juice acts as a natural tenderizer. Its acidity helps break down the chicken fibers, resulting in a more succulent bite and preventing dryness during grilling. It also infuses the chicken with a bright, zesty freshness that is characteristic of Mediterranean cuisine, cutting through the richness of the meat.
• Fragrant Lemon Zest: Don’t skip the zest! While the juice provides tartness, the zest is where the intense lemon oil resides, offering a deeper, more aromatic citrus punch. It adds a “zip” and an undeniable brightness that elevates the entire dish, providing a nuanced flavor layer that juice alone cannot achieve.
• High-Quality Olive Oil: The foundation of any good Mediterranean marinade, olive oil is crucial for several reasons. It helps carry and distribute the fat-soluble flavors of the herbs and spices evenly across the chicken, ensures the chicken remains moist during grilling, and contributes to that beautiful golden-brown char on the skin. You can also use avocado oil as a healthy alternative if you prefer a milder flavor.
• Tangy Vinegar (Balsamic or Red Wine): Another acidic component, vinegar works alongside lemon juice to further tenderize the chicken, creating a more supple texture. Balsamic vinegar adds a subtle sweetness and depth, alongside its acidity, which can caramelize slightly on the grill. Red wine vinegar offers a sharper, fruitier note, providing a different dimension of tang. Both are excellent choices for tenderizing and enhancing the overall flavor complexity.
• Authentic Mediterranean Spices: This carefully selected blend is key to the distinctive flavor profile that transports you to the sunny coasts of the Mediterranean. We use:
  • Dried Basil: Sweet, peppery, and slightly minty, basil adds a warm, inviting aroma and a classic Mediterranean taste.
  • Dried Oregano: Pungent, earthy, and robust, oregano is a staple in Mediterranean cooking, bringing a strong herbaceous backbone that’s essential for authenticity.
  • Dried Parsley: Fresh, clean, and slightly peppery, parsley brightens the overall flavor and adds a touch of freshness to the spice blend.
  • Onion Powder: Provides a concentrated, savory onion flavor without the moisture or texture of fresh onion, ensuring even distribution and a subtle allium depth.
  • Ground Sage: Earthy, piney, and slightly peppery, sage adds a unique depth and warmth, a hallmark of traditional Mediterranean cooking that pairs exceptionally well with chicken.

  For the freshest flavor, consider using fresh herbs if available, but dried herbs work wonderfully too (see tips below for using dried herbs effectively).

• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasoning to taste, enhancing all the other flavors and bringing them into perfect balance. Salt draws out moisture and allows the marinade to penetrate deeper, while pepper adds a subtle warmth and bite.

How to Make the Best Mediterranean Grilled Drumsticks: Step-by-Step Guide

Achieving perfectly grilled, flavor-packed drumsticks is easier than you think! Follow these simple steps for a delicious meal that will become a staple in your grilling repertoire:

1. Prepare the Marinade: In a large, sealable freezer bag (or a spacious non-reactive bowl with a lid), combine all the marinade ingredients: fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, your chosen vinegar (balsamic or red wine), dried basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, ground sage, salt, and black pepper. Seal the bag or cover the bowl and shake or whisk vigorously until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and emulsified. This ensures a uniform distribution of flavors.
2. Marinate the Chicken Legs: Begin by removing your chicken drumsticks from their packaging and patting them thoroughly dry with paper towels. This crucial step helps the marinade adhere better to the chicken and promotes a crispier skin once grilled. Add the drumsticks to the bag with the prepared marinade. Ensure the bag is sealed tightly, expelling as much air as possible, then shake and massage the bag thoroughly so that every single drumstick is completely coated in the flavorful marinade. Place the sealed bag in the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for a minimum of 2 hours. For maximum flavor penetration and optimal tenderness, we highly recommend marinating ideally overnight, or up to 24 hours.
3. Preheat and Prepare the Grill: Proper grill preparation is key to grilling success! About 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat (aim for an internal grill temperature of around 375-400°F or 190-200°C). During this time, ensure your grill grates are clean. Use a sturdy grill brush to scrape off any residue from previous cooks. Once clean, lightly oil the grates by dipping a folded paper towel in a high-smoke-point oil (like vegetable or canola) and carefully wiping it across the hot grates using long tongs. This will prevent the chicken from sticking.
4. Grill the Chicken to Perfection: Once marinated and the grill is ready, carefully remove the chicken drumsticks from the marinade. Allow any excess marinade to drip off, and discard the remaining marinade (do not reuse). Place the drumsticks directly onto the preheated and oiled grill grates. Cook for approximately 30-35 minutes in total. It’s important to turn them every 5-7 minutes to ensure even cooking, achieve beautiful golden-brown char marks on all sides, and prevent any single side from burning. Continue grilling until the chicken is cooked through and a digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick (without touching the bone) registers a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
5. Rest and Serve: Once the chicken reaches the proper internal temperature and is beautifully charred, carefully remove the drumsticks from the grill and transfer them to a clean platter or cutting board. Loosely cover the platter with aluminum foil and let the chicken rest for about 5-10 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the muscle fibers to relax and the internal juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat, resulting in incredibly moist, tender, and flavorful drumsticks. Cutting into them too soon will cause the juices to escape, leading to drier chicken. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade Mediterranean masterpiece!

Pro Tips for Perfectly Grilled Mediterranean Drumsticks

Elevate your grilling game and ensure your Mediterranean grilled chicken drumsticks turn out perfect every single time with these invaluable tips:

• Mastering the Internal Temperature with a Digital Thermometer: This is arguably the most important tip for achieving moist, tender, and juicy drumsticks. Chicken drumsticks are notorious for appearing cooked on the outside while still being undercooked near the bone. Always use a reliable digital meat thermometer. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, being careful not to touch the bone, as bone temperature is not an accurate indicator of meat doneness. The target internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C). If you wait for the meat to visibly start to pull away from the bone, your drumsticks are likely already overcooked and will be dry.
• Minimize Mess and Maximize Coating with a Ziplock Bag: A large, gallon-sized ziplock bag is your best friend for marinating. It ensures the chicken is fully coated with the marinade with minimal effort, creates a mess-free environment, and allows for easy, compact storage in the refrigerator. Just be sure to double-bag if you’re concerned about leaks.
• Batch Cooking Made Easy: This recipe is incredibly versatile and easy to double or even triple! It’s perfect for feeding a crowd at a summer barbecue, preparing for a party, or simply stocking up on delicious, healthy meal prep for the week ahead. Just ensure you have a large enough bag or container to accommodate the increased volume of chicken and marinade.
• Fresh vs. Dried Herbs – The Conversion Rule: While fresh herbs add an unparalleled vibrancy and aroma, dried herbs work perfectly well and are often more convenient to keep on hand. As a general rule of thumb, use one teaspoon of dried herbs for every tablespoon of fresh herbs called for in a recipe. If you’re using dried herbs, try crushing them gently in the palm of your hand before adding them to the marinade. This simple action helps to break up the herbs a little more and releases their essential oils, intensifying their flavor and making them more aromatic.
• Preheat Your Grill Thoroughly: Patience is a virtue when it comes to grilling. Don’t rush the preheating process. A properly preheated grill (medium-high heat, 375-400°F or 190-200°C) is absolutely essential. It ensures rapid searing for those beautiful grill marks, prevents the chicken from sticking to the grates, and guarantees even cooking throughout.
• Keep Grates Clean and Oiled: Before placing your chicken on the grill, ensure your grill grates are pristine. Use a sturdy wire grill brush to remove any residue or burnt bits from previous cooks. Once clean, lightly oil the grates by dipping a paper towel in a high-smoke-point oil (like vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil) and carefully wiping it across the hot grates using long-handled tongs. This creates a non-stick surface and contributes to perfect grill marks.
• Avoid Overcrowding the Grill: Give your drumsticks space to breathe! Overcrowding the grill grates lowers the overall temperature, which can lead to the chicken steaming rather than grilling. This results in less crispy skin, uneven cooking, and can extend cooking times. Work in batches if necessary to ensure each drumstick gets proper heat exposure.
• Manage Flare-Ups Proactively: Chicken fat can drip onto the hot coals or burners, causing sudden flare-ups. Keep a spray bottle filled with water handy to quickly extinguish any flames without losing too much heat. Moving chicken to a cooler part of the grill temporarily (if you have hot and cool zones) can also help prevent charring without cooking the interior.
• The Importance of Resting After Grilling: After grilling, always let your drumsticks rest for 5-10 minutes under a loose tent of aluminum foil. This seemingly small step is crucial. Resting allows the internal juices, which have been pushed to the center of the meat during cooking, to redistribute throughout the entire drumstick. This ensures every bite is incredibly moist and flavorful. Cutting into them too soon will cause those precious juices to run out onto your plate, leaving you with drier chicken.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Enjoying your Mediterranean grilled chicken drumsticks extends beyond the first meal! Here’s how to properly store and reheat any leftovers to maintain their delicious flavor and texture:

• Storing Leftovers: Allow any leftover drumsticks to cool completely to room temperature (this should happen within 2 hours of cooking) before storing. Transfer them to an airtight container or a heavy-duty ziplock bag and place them in the refrigerator. They will remain fresh and delicious for up to 4 days.
• To Reheat:
  • Microwave: For a quick and convenient reheat, place drumsticks on a microwave-safe plate. Heat for 1-2 minutes initially, then in 30-second increments, or until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can dry out the chicken and make it rubbery.
  • Oven: For best results, especially if you want to regain some of that crispy skin, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the drumsticks in a single layer on a baking sheet. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Covering them loosely with aluminum foil for the first part of reheating can help maintain moisture and prevent the skin from over-browning.

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Author: The Carefree Kitchen

These Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are an easy, inexpensive, and healthy main dish. They are easy to prepare and only take a few minutes to cook on the grill. This chicken marinade is soon to be a family favorite!

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Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 30-35 mins

Total: 40-45 mins (plus marinating time)

Yields: 8 servings

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 (or 1/3 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1/3 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1/3 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sage, ground
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Marinating the Chicken

1. 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. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.
2. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bag, seal tightly, and roll it around or massage to ensure all drumsticks are fully coated in the marinade. Transfer to the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours, but for best flavor, up to 24 hours.

To Grill the Chicken

1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (375-400°F or 190-200°C) for about 10-15 minutes. Ensure grill grates are clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking.
2. After marinating, remove the chicken from the bag, allowing any excess marinade to drip off (discard used marinade). Lay the drumsticks on the preheated grill over medium heat. Cook for about 30-35 minutes total, turning occasionally (every 5-7 minutes) to achieve golden-brown char marks on all sides and ensure even cooking. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) when measured with a digital meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat, avoiding the bone.
3. Once cooked through, remove the drumsticks from the grill, place them on a clean platter, and cover loosely with foil. Let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your perfectly grilled Mediterranean chicken drumsticks!

Notes

• Use a ziplock bag for easy marinating and minimal mess.
• This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.
• 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 quickly, or for best results, place them in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for about 15-20 minutes, covering loosely with foil initially to prevent drying.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

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