Grilling chicken is one of those timeless cooking methods that many of us turn to, especially during warmer months. This Smoky Chipotle Grilled Chicken recipe offers a simple yet flavorful twist to the classic grilled chicken. The dry rub, made from a blend of spices like chipotle powder and smoked paprika, gives the chicken a smoky and slightly spicy flavor profile. The addition of brown sugar balances out the heat with a touch of sweetness.

Butterflying the drumsticks is a technique that ensures even cooking. It also allows the spices to better penetrate the meat, ensuring a flavorful bite every time. If you’re new to butterflying, don’t worry; it’s a straightforward process that involves making a cut along the drumstick to open it up.

The choice of hickory wood chunks for smoking adds another layer of smokiness to the chicken. If you don’t have hickory on hand, other woods like apple or cherry can be used as alternatives.

To complement the grilled chicken, we’ve included a Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce. It’s a simple mix of traditional ranch dressing with the added kick of diced chipotle pepper. This sauce provides a creamy and spicy contrast to the smoky chicken, making each bite even more enjoyable.

How spicy is this recipe?

The chipotle and cayenne in the rub, along with the chipotle in the ranch, give this recipe a moderate kick. For those with milder palates, consider reducing the amount of cayenne and chipotle. This allows you to adjust the heat level to your preference while still enjoying the smoky flavor.

What sides pair well with this smoky chipotle grilled chicken?

This flavorful chicken complements a variety of sides. Consider pairing it with a crisp coleslaw, freshly grilled vegetables, a slice of cornbread, or a refreshing garden salad. The choice is yours, and the possibilities are endless.

How to make homemade chipotle ranch dipping sauce?

To make a homemade chipotle ranch dipping sauce, start with a creamy base of equal parts mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk, which gives the sauce its signature tang and smooth texture. For every ½ cup of each of these ingredients, add the juice of half a lemon to introduce a zesty freshness. Incorporate a mix of fresh herbs: 2 teaspoons each of freshly chopped dill, chives, and parsley. These herbs elevate the sauce with their aromatic flavors. Season the mixture with ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt to enhance its depth and savoriness. For the chipotle kick, finely dice or blend in a chipotle pepper (from a can) to your desired heat level. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined. For best results, let the sauce sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Ingredients:

For the Dry Rub:

1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons chipotle powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon brown sugar

For the Chicken:

Chicken drumsticks (quantity as needed)

For the Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce:

½ cup Mayo
½ cup Sour cream
½ cup Buttermilk
½ Lemon, juiced
2 tsp Fresh chopped dill
2 tsp Fresh chopped chives
2 tsp Fresh chopped parsley
½ tsp Onion powder
½ tsp Garlic powder
½ tsp Kosher salt
1 chipotle pepper (from a can), finely diced or blended (adjust to desired heat level)
1 diced chipotle pepper (from a can)

Additional:

Hickory wood chunks (for smoking)

Instructions:

Prepare the Dry Rub: In a mixing bowl, combine kosher salt, chipotle powder, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
Butterfly the Chicken Drumsticks: To butterfly a chicken drumstick, place it on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise cut along the side of the bone, ensuring not to cut all the way through. Open the drumstick up like a book, exposing the bone. This allows for more even cooking and better flavor penetration from the rub.
Apply the Dry Rub: Generously coat each butterflied drumstick with the prepared dry rub, ensuring all parts of the chicken are well-covered. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour for the flavors to meld.
Set Up the Grill: Prepare your grill for direct grilling. Once hot, sear both sides of the butterflied chicken drumsticks for 90-120 seconds each. After searing, set up your grill for indirect grilling at approximately 325°F (163°C). Add hickory wood chunks to the grill to introduce a smoky flavor.
Smoke the Chicken: Transfer the seared chicken drumsticks to the indirect heat side of the grill. Close the lid and allow the chicken to smoke until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This ensures the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
Prepare the Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the ranch ingredients with the diced chipotle pepper. Stir well until fully combined.
Serve: Once the chicken drumsticks are cooked, remove them from the grill. You can either serve them with the dipping sauce on the side or pre-dunk each drumstick in the sauce before serving.

Below is a printable recipe card!

Smoky Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Ingredients

Smoky Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Chicken drumsticks quantity as needed
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons chipotle powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Hickory wood chunks for smoking

Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce

½ cup Mayo
½ cup Sour cream
½ cup Buttermilk
½ Lemon juiced
2 tsp Fresh chopped dill
2 tsp Fresh chopped chives
2 tsp Fresh chopped parsley
½ tsp Onion powder
½ tsp Garlic powder
½ tsp Kosher salt
1 chipotle pepper from a can, finely diced or blended

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine kosher salt, chipotle powder, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, smoked paprika, and brown sugar to create the dry rub.
Butterfly the chicken drumsticks by making a lengthwise cut along the side of the bone without cutting all the way through. Open the drumstick up to expose the bone.
Generously coat each butterflied drumstick with the dry rub and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce. In a separate bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk.
Add the juice from half a lemon to the sauce mixture.
Mix in the freshly chopped dill, chives, and parsley.
Season the sauce with onion powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
Incorporate the finely diced or blended chipotle pepper into the sauce and stir until well combined. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve.
Prepare the grill for direct grilling. Once hot, sear both sides of the marinated chicken drumsticks for 90-120 seconds each.
Adjust the grill for indirect grilling at approximately 325°F (163°C) and add hickory wood chunks for smoking.
Transfer the seared chicken to the indirect heat side of the grill and smoke until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the grill and serve with the Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce.