Chicken Lollipops are a fun recipe for the whole family to enjoy. All you need is regular chicken drumsticks, simple seasoning, and a short cooking time, and you'll have a delicious family dinner for all to enjoy.
This lollipop chicken recipe is a simple main course that provides crisp skin with tender chicken in every bite.
This chicken lollipop recipe quickly became an absolute favorite of mine because the chicken meat does a great job of absorbing that smoky flavor. The finished product gives everyone the option of adding their favorite sauce or eating this delicious chicken lollipops recipe just like it is.
For more chicken recipes, check out my Honey Lemon Pepper Wings and this Traeger Beer Can Chicken recipe.
Ingredients
- Chicken legs - While you could use any piece of chicken for cooking on the grill, I use full size drumsticks for these smoked chicken lollipops.
- Salt
- Black pepper
Check out the simple cooking tips on the recipe card below.
How to Make Chicken Lollipops
Preheat the grill to medium high.
Step One: Use a sharp knife to score halfway down the chicken drumstick.
Step Two: Pull the bottom half of the meat, skin, and cartridge off the bone. It can be slippery so holding with a paper towel is helpful.
Step Three: Add the salt and black pepper for seasoning. Cook, turning regularly, for 20-25 minutes on the grill grate until golden brown and 160 internally.
Step Four: Toss with your favorite sauce in a large bowl, if desired.
Top tip
Check the internal temperature of the chicken meat before removing it from the grill. I use a meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone. The reading should be 160 degrees, indicating that the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat. Dark meat is very forgiving so feel free to cook them longer to crisp the skin.
Substitutions
- Chicken wings - Make small lollipops by using the chicken drumettes section of a chicken wing. They are a perfect appetizer!
Variations
- Sauce combinations - Have fun with new recipes like this. You can add varying sauces to chicken recipes and get different flavor outcomes each time. Use barbecue sauce or spicy sauce, or make an extra sauce (like homemade BBQ sauce) to dip and have on the side.
- Seasonings - While I typically use salt and pepper, you could also use garlic powder, chili powder, or even your favorite bb rub.
See this Honey Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe for another delicious, easy recipe.
Equipment
You'll need a cutting board, sharp knife, and grill to prepare and cook this chicken recipe.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Common Questions
Having the grill on medium-high heat gives the best results when cooking this chicken. This is because if you have the grill too hot, it will dry out the chicken, and if you have the grill too low, it will take a long time to cook the chicken, and it will be hard to maintain a constant cooking temperature.
I always add a delicious glaze at the end of the cooking process so that it sticks and has time to cool a bit with the resting chicken. It gives it time to also become a bit tacky, which I like.
I don't, but I know that some people do use a clean paper towel to pat it dry. A little bit of liquid or wetness on the chicken isn't going to hurt anything, so I just leave the chicken meat just like it is.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs
- Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
- Smoked Pulled Chicken
- Jalapeno Popper Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Recipe
Chicken Lollipops
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- sauce of choice
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium high.
- Use a knife to score halfway down the drumstick.
- Pull the bottom half of meat, skin, and cartilage off the bone.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes turning regularly.
- Coat with sauce, if desired.
Nutrition
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