Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with our delicious grilled teriyaki drumsticks! Grilled to perfection and generously coated in a blend of sweet and savory sauce, these drumsticks are guaranteed to be a hit on your next camping trip.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

It’s grilling season and that means firing up the BBQ and enjoying fresh grilled chicken all summer long!

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One of the many recipes that we will be enjoying are these sticky teriyaki chicken drumsticks!

I love the wonderfully crispy skin and beautiful grill marks that develop as the chicken cooks. You just can’t recreate those things with any other cooking method.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

It only takes a couple of basic ingredients and a few simple steps to make these tender chicken drumsticks.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Outside of the marinating time, you can have dinner for the crew in just 30-35 minutes. Served with potato salad and grilled vegetables, this is the perfect summer dinner.

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Supplies:

Grilled BBQ Drumsticks Process

Teriyaki Drumsticks:

Ingredients:

  • 8-10 chicken drumsticks
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 5 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic or 1 tsp ground 
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch
  • 1/4 cup water

Note: Any kind of teriyaki sauce will work but we love this homemade teriyaki sauce. It combines brown sugar, ginger and soy sauce in a way that our whole family loves.

Use your favorite sauce or make our homemade sauce with simple ingredients from the grocery store.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger and garlic. Whisk together.

2. In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water.  Mix well.

3. Pour the first mixture into a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat (about 5 mins).

4. When the sauce begins to boil, add the cornstarch mixture and whisk continuously.

5. When the teriyaki marinade begins to thicken (about 2 mins), remove from heat.  Allow to cool to room temperature. 

6. In a dish or large freezer bag, coat the chicken in 3/4 of the teriyaki marinade and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Tip: I like to make the sauce at home, place the chicken in the marinade in a freezer bag and then pack it with the rest of our camping food to prepare while camping.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks Process

7. Place the chicken drumsticks on the grill, baste with reserved teriyaki sauce.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks Process

8. Cook for 15 minutes, turn and baste with sauce again.

9. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 170 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Tips and Tricks:

  • Use olive oil to season your grill before cooking. This will help to prevent the chicken from sticking. Lining your grill grates with aluminum foil will also help.
  • Though we love using our Traeger to make these drumsticks, they can also be made using a gas grill, charcoal grill, in the oven, or in a slow cooker.
  • The key to really tender meat is cooking it low and slow. The long cook time allows the connective tissue in tough cuts of meat to break down. Marinating your meat also helps this process along.
  • This recipe can be made with chicken breasts, chicken wings, and skinless chicken thighs too. Whatever cut of meat you are using, be sure the chicken’s internal temperature reaches the recommended temperature for food safety.
Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks
  • If you use different chicken pieces, cooking time will vary, particularly if they are bone-in pieces. Always use an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken to determine whether the meat is cooked thoroughly.
  • Test this recipe out with different teriyaki sauces to find the ones your family enjoys most.
  • Instead of using your favorite teriyaki sauce, try making your own dry rub for these grilled drumsticks.
  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

The whole family is going to love this recipe for teriyaki chicken drumsticks. Serve these grilled chicken drumsticks with your favorite side dishes, or try them with our grilled vegetables or corn on the cob.

Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks

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Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Grilled Teriyaki Drumsticks

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8-10 chicken drumsticks
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 5 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger or 1 tsp ground
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic or 1 tsp ground 
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger and garlic. Whisk together.

2. In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water.  Mix well.

3. Pour the first mixture into a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat (about 5 mins).

4. When the sauce begins to boil, add the cornstarch mixture and whisk continuously.

5. When the teriyaki marinade begins to thicken (about 2 mins), remove from heat.  Allow to cool to room temperature. 

6. In a dish or large freezer bag, coat the chicken in 3/4 of the teriyaki marinade and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

7. Place the chicken drumsticks on the grill, baste with reserved teriyaki sauce.

8. Cook for 15 minutes, turn and baste with sauce again.

9. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 170 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.

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