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Grilled Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks with Bang Bang Sauce

James Brown
These Grilled Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks with Bang Bang Sauce are charred over high heat, then finished low and slow for juicy, smoky chicken.
Servings 4
Calories 717 kcal
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken:

  • 8 chicken drumsticks butterflied
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Tony’s Creole seasoning

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp hot sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp honey

Optional Garnish:

  • Chopped fresh chives or green onion
  • Extra red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

Butterfly the Chicken Drumsticks

  • Use a sharp knife to cut along the bone of each drumstick and press the meat flat. This helps them cook faster and more evenly. Pat dry with paper towels.

Season the Chicken

  • Rub the chicken with olive oil. In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder. Sprinkle the mix on both sides of each drumstick.

Grill the Chicken Over High Heat

  • Preheat your grill to high heat (around 450°F). Place the chicken directly over the heat. Grill for about 4–5 minutes per side until nice and charred.

Smoke the Chicken Over Indirect Heat

  • After charring, move the drumsticks to the cooler side of the grill. Lower the heat to around 275–300°F and cover. Add wood chunks if using a smoker. Cook for another 30–40 minutes, until internal temp reaches 175–180°F.

Make the Bang Bang Sauce

  • In a bowl, mix mayo, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, and honey. Stir until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Coat and Serve

  • Once chicken is done, brush or toss the drumsticks with bang bang sauce. Garnish with chives or more pepper flakes. Serve right away.

Nutrition

Calories: 717kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 28gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 29gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1444mgPotassium: 430mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 766IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg
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