BBQ lemon pepper chicken drumsticks are exactly what your summer grilling dreams are made of. They're so easy to make and have deliciously crispy and flavorful skin on the outside and perfectly tender meat on the inside! Ready in 20 minutes!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken
This recipe was a happy little accident... and now it's got a permanent spot in our summer dinner rotation. One night, I had a little situation I like to call Failure To Plan, which sometimes happens around here.
I had some random chicken drumsticks hanging out in my fridge, and no recipes were coming to mind. There was also the need to get dinner on the table — and fast! So I worked with what I had and made what I decided would be a quick lemon pepper chicken marinade.
While it was cooking, I was a tad nervous. Although I enjoy grilled chicken, lemon pepper, all the ingredients- if you get overzealous (which I've been known to do from time to time), it can be pretty overwhelming. But I crossed my fingers and kept working on the sides while J took over grilling the lemon pepper chicken.
Boy, am I glad I threw that dinner together! The minute I tasted it, I knew that this recipe was a keeper. The chicken was totally moist and tender but with that perfectly crispy skin that I live for. And the lemon pepper flavor was just right — not too much, but just the right balance!
Here are a few more reasons you'll want to make lemon pepper drumsticks:
- Prep in just 5 minutes
- All you need are a handful of ingredients
- They go with all your favorite side dishes
- You can prep them ahead of time
- Double or triple for large cookouts
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Chicken- This recipe makes 8 regular-sized drumsticks, but you could easily double or triple the amounts for larger batches. Or, use it as inspiration for lemon pepper chicken thighs, breasts, or wings!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Has great flavor, helps the marinade stick to the surface, and can withstand the heat of the grill. Avocado oil is a great substitute.
- Lemons- Freshly squeezed juice tastes so much better than the bottled concentrate, which I find has a bitter aftertaste. You'll need 2-3 lemons to get enough juice!
- Seasonings- Lemon pepper seasoning is the true star of the show, but I like to amp up the savory flavor with garlic powder and some kosher salt.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Chicken:
Step 1- Place chicken in container.
Place the chicken pieces into a zipper bag or non-metal bowl.
Step 2- Marinate chicken drumsticks.
Juice the lemons into a bowl, then add the oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
Pour the marinade into a plastic bag and add the chicken. Seal and shake the bag until every piece of chicken is well coated.
Place the bag in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook, then transfer to the counter about 15-20 minutes before grilling.
Step 3- Grill lemon pepper drumsticks.
Spray the grill grates with cooking spray and preheat it to medium-high heat.
Add the meat, shaking off excess marinade as you remove it from the bag. Cook for about 15 minutes, depending on the size of your drumsticks, and turn often so they char on all sides.
Step 4- Rest and serve.
Once drumsticks reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, remove from the grill and rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a mixture of dried lemon peel, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. If it isn't available (or you're out), you can easily make your own — search for DIY recipes for measurements. In a pinch, I'd just mix some microplaned lemon zest with freshly ground black pepper and toss it in with the marinade.
I've marinated these lemon pepper drumsticks for as little as 15-20 minutes up to a couple of hours. Just don't leave them longer than 6 hours or the meat will get tough and rubbery or even mushy.
I oil the grill itself, before heating it! I use extra virgin olive oil in my grilled lemon pepper chicken marinade, but any neutral oil with a high smoke point will work.
Grill by temperature, not by time- there are too many variables to give an exact time, like size of the chicken pieces, grill hot spots etc. Keep an eye on the temperature and once they temp out at 162 degrees F at the thickest part (don't touch the bone with the probe!) remove and rest to bring to 165 degrees F.
Tips For Grilling Lemon Pepper Chicken
- To get as much juice out of each lemon as possible, roll it on a hard surface with the palm of your hand before cutting into it. It also helps if they're warm — either store at room temperature or microwave for 8-10 seconds.
- Adjust the marinating time. While you can totally get the chicken into the marinade well in advance(up to a few hours), don't worry if you're pressed for time. As little as 15-20 minutes before grilling adds plenty of flavor to these lemon pepper chicken drumsticks.
- Pull the chicken out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before grilling to bring it a bit closer to room temp. You don't want to leave it out long enough to put it in the temperature danger zone, just to take off the chill.
- Don't be afraid to get a nice char on the drumsticks. Grilling lemon pepper chicken creates perfectly crispy skin while still maintaining nice, tender meat inside.
- Like any other meat, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before digging in to redistribute all those delicious juices.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- You can juice the lemons and whisk together the marinade well in advance. Marinate the meat for at least 15 minutes before grilling, but 2-3 hours is best.
- Leftovers and storage- Lemon pepper grilled chicken will keep for up to 4 days covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to get the skin crispy again.
What To Serve With Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
With tangy, smoky, and savory flavors, there's not much that doesn't go well with lemon pepper grilled chicken!
I'll usually throw together a salad or toss some veggies on the grill at the same time. Here are some more ideas to make it a meal:
Other Grilling Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
BBQ Lemon Pepper Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large lemons (it ends up being around ½ cup of lemon juice)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 chicken drumsticks
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice from the lemons into a bowl (you should end up with around ½ cup).
- Add oil, lemon pepper, garlic powder and salt and whisk until well combined.
- Pour into a plastic bag and add chicken.
- Seal the bag and shake well until the drumsticks are well coated with the marinade.
- Refrigerate the chicken until you're ready to cook and remove it from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes prior to cooking.
- Spray the grill with cooking spray and preheat it to medium-high heat.
- Cook the drumsticks for around 15 minutes, turning them often. The cooking time will vary based on your grill and the size of the drum sticks. You'll want to have a really nice char on every side.
- Rest the chicken for 10 minutes and serve immediately after.
Notes
- To get as much juice out of each lemon as possible, roll it on a hard surface with the palm of your hand before cutting into it. It also helps if they're warm — either store at room temperature or microwave for 8-10 seconds.
- Adjust the marinating time. While you can totally get the chicken into the marinade well in advance(up to a few hours), don't worry if you're pressed for time. As little as 15-20 minutes before grilling adds plenty of flavor to these lemon pepper chicken drumsticks.
- Pull the chicken out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before grilling to bring it a bit closer to room temp. You don't want to leave it out long enough to put it in the temperature danger zone, just to take off the chill.
- Don't be afraid to get a nice char on the drumsticks. Grilling lemon pepper chicken creates perfectly crispy skin while still maintaining nice, tender meat inside.
- Like any other meat, let it rest for 5-10 minutes before digging in to redistribute all those delicious juices.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- You can juice the lemons and whisk together the marinade well in advance. Marinate the meat for at least 15 minutes before grilling, but 2-3 hours is best.
- Leftovers and storage- Lemon pepper grilled chicken will keep for up to 4 days covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to get the skin crispy again.
Leave a Reply