Beer-Brined Grilled Drumsticks

Helloooooooo little drummies!! Summer is the season of grilling. And what better way to honor thy grill than filling it with delicious chicken…brined in beer…and rubbed with nummy spices??

When it comes to chicken, I am a dark-meat girl, all the way. It’s moist, it’s flavorful and it’s cheap, and in the case of drumsticks, it’s super cute. So any recipe calling for drumsticks soaked in beer is pretty much a winner right outta the gate for me. On top of that, this is an easy, straightforward, relatively hands-off recipe, which is always helpful when you have three little crumb-snatchers to police every waking second of every single day.

The brine is what makes all the difference here, elevating this from regular chicken to “I’ll have what she’s having”. A brine is simply a solution made up of salt and water. The benefits are two-fold: it adds an insane amount of flavor and it makes the chicken exceptionally juicy. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

The second these babies hit the grill, they sizzle and hiss, filling the air with the smell of smoky, savory spices and meaty, beer-infused chicken, tantalizing you for a full half-hour as they do their thang. These little guys are barely even off the grates before they are being snatched up and devoured.

I highly recommend adding this one to your grilling line-up this summer. Get your caveman on.

Print Recipe

Beer-Brined Grilled Drumsticks

100% delicious little drummies, perfectly brined, perfectly grilled. Every. single. time. This is a great, easy, crowd-pleasing recipe to keep in the rotation, especially in summer. Active prep time is minimal, but make sure you account for the brining time.

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Rating: 5
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Courses

Chicken

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

35 minutes

Servings

MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

• 12 drumsticks
• Brine:
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 bottles beer 12-oz
• Barbecue Rub:
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Courses Chicken Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 35 minutes Servings MetricUS Imperial Ingredients 12 drumsticks Brine: 1/4 cup sea salt 1/4 cup sugar 2 bottles beer 12-oz Barbecue Rub: 1 Tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe!

Instructions

1. For the brine, in a noncorrosive container, mix the sea salt and sugar together and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved, then stir in the beer. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
2. Line a sheet pan with foil, remove the chicken from the brine, rinse thoroughly with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Place the chicken on the pan and refrigerate for 1 hour to dry the chicken skin.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix all the rub ingredients, except the olive oil. Brush the olive oil all over the chicken and sprinkle on the rub mix.
4. Heat the grill to medium and put the chicken on to cook over indirect heat. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
5. Flip the drumsticks and cook another 15 to 20 minutes on the other side, or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees when inserted.
6. When the drumsticks are done, transfer them from the grill to a plate and let them cool for a few minutes before devouring them like a caveman.