Butterflied chicken drumsticks are an obvious solution to make crispier, more flavorful chicken drumsticks with much less cooking time. Take a few minutes to split open the meat, season, and grill. You’re never going to stress about those high prices of chicken wings again.
Food prices are out of control. Part of my content strategy for this year was to start creating new recipes using cheaper cuts. Chicken drumsticks are always the cheapest, given that they take way less time to process than the rest of the chicken. I had just made a recipe for a spatchcock chicken, so it just hit me: Will this work for drumsticks? I didn’t know honestly, but I recorded the process and posted it on Instagram.
Nothing happened at first, my followers are generally very supportive and thought it was neat. Suddenly I was being tagged, over and over again by others trying out the process. Weeks went by, and everyone was making these. The recipe caught on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, and suddenly I realized I better write this down. Maybe I’m on to something.
I’ve seen chicken drumsticks split open before but never used in this application. Further research showed that this really hasn’t been published before, this new alternative to the expensive chicken wings. Could I actually be the first person to publish this grilling technique for butterflied chicken drumsticks? More meat, a little more effort, but a lot less money. Bingo.
We can’t stop making them! Try some of these recipes using the process such as Maple Bourbon Glaze with Chicken Drumsticks, or the Spiked Arnold Palmer Chicken.
Why should you Butterfly Chicken Drumsticks?
Grilling chicken drumsticks are tricky for many reasons. The thick meat around the bone tends to cook unevenly, many times leaving unappetizing streaks of pink and red inside. Too high of heat and the skin will burn before the chicken is fully cooked. Using the butterflied method addresses these issues, but it takes a little time to prepare. The term “butterflied” refers to slicing the meat on the drumstick revealing the bone inside. Opening up the meat this way creates a larger cooking surface, providing a means to cook the chicken evenly, and much quicker. Are butterflied chicken drumsticks really worth it?
Quicker process
Cut your cooking time in half, at least. Whole drumsticks on the grill can take anywhere between 30-45 minutes, depending on the process you use. Slowly smoking them will increase that time by at least another 30 minutes, which ends up being quite a long cook for chicken. Slicing open the meat to a wider surface area instantly cuts down cooking time, most of the time by half. Right over the coals, these butterflied chicken drumsticks can be cooked in about 15 minutes, flipping every few to ensure even cooking. Smoking can add a little time, but your family will definitely be eating within an hour.
Even cooking
No pink center on these drums. Have you ever grilled a chicken drumstick and accidentally charred the skin, long before the meat is done? Suddenly you need to move the chicken to a cooler side of the grill, doubling down on the cooking time to slowly cook the inside of the chicken.
The discoloration isn’t a thing here. One of the main benefits of butterflied chicken drumsticks is even cooking temperatures. Slicing the meat open creates a larger surface area with an even layer of meat, eliminating one of the biggest frustrations with thick drumsticks. The added bonus is that you won’t see the odd discoloration of pink and purple meat in the middle after it’s cooked.
More flavor
More surface, more opportunity for flavor. Trust me, this isn’t a trick – opening up the meat from the bone will absolutely add more flavor. Wrapped up tight, the meat in a chicken drumstick is insulated, touching the bone while hiding away from your seasonings. Once the meat is exposed and spread out, it is able to be seasoned.
Larger surface for browning and char. Another element of flavor is the Maillard reaction, the process which causes the meat to brown and crisp up. The savory, sweet crispy bits add another level of complexity to the chicken. If you’re a person that enjoys glazing chicken with BBQ sauce, this is your opportunity for more sticky caramelization and flavor.
Smoke and wood flavors. Don’t forget the wood-fired flavor notes that will hit the chicken as well. A larger surface area means the drumsticks are catching more smoke, spread out across the grates. You don’t enjoy this flavor component if you’re using a stove-top range or air fryer.
The process is pretty straightforward, much easier than splitting chickens or using the spatchcock method. You’ll need a very sharp knife, a cutting board, and your chicken drumsticks.
Step 1: Slice Along the Bone of the Drumstick
Flip the chicken drumstick to the side with the meat exposed at the top (see image below).
This is the side to cut, which has less skin. It’s not a game-breaker if you slice the wrong side, but I’ve found the skin crisps up nicer if you do it this way.
Using a sharp knife, make a slice in the meat along the side of the bone. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
Make a second cut along the other side of the bone, separating the meat so that it opens up flat. The bone should be completely exposed.
Make sure to keep the meat attached to the bone, do not slice off the top, or the meat from the back of the bone.
Step 2: Season and Grill
Season generously and then place them uncovered in the fridge on a wire rack for 2 hours, up to overnight. Lightly oil when ready to grill.
You may season them and grill sooner, but the skin will be crispier if you allow them that time to dry-brine.
Preheat grill to medium-high, 400°F for direct cooking. Use a grill with a lid.
Remove the chicken from the fridge at least 20 minutes before adding to the grill, allowing them to come to room temp. Place the drumsticks on the grill grates with the skin-side up. Close the lid and allow them to cook for 5-6 minutes.
Flip the drumsticks, and repeat the process. You’ll continue to flip and close the lid every few minutes until they are almost cooked. This should take about 20-25 minutes depending on your grill.
Once the chicken temperature is about 155-160°F, go ahead and baste with your BBQ sauce or glaze. Leave the lid off, allowing the heat to blast the outside of the chicken and create caramelization and char.
Flip and repeat, cooking until the chicken is about 180-185°F.
Disadvantages of Butterflied Drumsticks
Quicker cooking time, additional flavor, and crispier chicken… what could be wrong?
Time required for preparation. Slicing open the chicken takes a few minutes, but after you get the hang of it the process speeds up. It’s MUCH faster than making chicken lollipops. Just be prepared for 10 minutes extra for preparation.
Inconsistent appearance. It’s pretty minor, but the other disadvantage I’ve found is the appearance. One side of the chicken has a nice, crispy skin while the other side has charred, sliced chicken. It’s not the most photogenic piece of barbecue, but the benefits greatly outweigh the appearance. One bite into a crispy side of the drumstick and you’ll forget what it looked like.
Tips for Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks
There are many ways to cook these butterflied chicken drumsticks, pretty much all of the same ways that you would cook a regular drumstick. There are a few important tips that I’d like to point out to make sure you have the most success:
- Dry-brine your chicken. This is known as seasoning ahead of time, and placing the meat in the fridge on a wire rack, uncovered. If you’re in the “crispy skin” team like myself, you want as little moisture as possible on the skin. I recommend seasoning all sides and resting in the fridge for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Pat dry and add oil before seasoning. This will make sure the chicken doesn’t stick to the grill (you should be cleaning your grill) but also helps the skin crisp up a bit more. Just a light amount will do the trick.
- Use the lid of your grill. The first half of cooking chicken is all about making sure you can get the temperature higher in the meat while drying out the surface for crispy skin. Closing the lid creates an oven, air rushing around all sides of the meat to achieve this. Don’t walk away though, you’ll need to flip your chicken every 5-7 minutes depending on how hot the grill is.
- Baste with something. BBQ sauce, vinaigrette, garlic butter, just anything. The chicken is a boat, waiting for the flavor passenger to jump aboard so it can sail into your mouth. Seriously though, all of those incredibly crispy crevices are the perfect place to add layers of flavor. Baste at the end right before you focus on crisping up the skin.
More Flavors to Love
The drumsticks are just a vehicle for flavor transportation to your mouth. Don’t limit yourself, try anything! Here are some delicious recipes you can easily transfer to these butterflied chicken drumsticks:
- Korean BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Mexican Buffalo Wings
- Pumpkin Spice Chicken Wings
- The BEST Buffalo Wings
- Grilled Kung Pao Chicken Wings
- Smoked Orange Chicken Lollipops
Grilled Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks
Butterflied chicken drumsticks are an obvious solution to make crispier, more flavorful chicken drumsticks with much less cooking time. Take a few minutes to split open the meat, season, and grill.
- Total Time: 40
- Yield: 6 Chicken Drums 1x
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- BBQ Seasoning, such as Signature Sweet & Smoky Rub
- BBQ Sauce, such as Spicy Buffalo BBQ Sauce
- Vegetable oil, optional
Instructions
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry. Take a drumstick and place it on your cutting board, with the side up facing you that has the most meat showing. Using a sharp knife, cut the meat along one side of the bone, careful not to slice all the way through. Make a second cut, separating the meat from the other side of the bone. Fold open the meat and lay the drumstick face-down. Repeat for each one.
- Season the drumsticks generously and then place them uncovered in the fridge on a wire rack for 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Preheat grill to medium-high, 400°F for direct cooking. Use a grill with a lid.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge at least 20 minutes before adding to the grill, allowing them to come to room temp.
- Place the drumsticks on the grill grates with the skin-side up. Close the lid and allow them to cook for 5-6 minutes.
- Flip the drumsticks, and repeat the process. You’ll continue to flip and close the lid every few minutes until they are almost cooked. This should take about 20-25 minutes depending on your grill.
- Once the chicken temperature is about 155-160°F, go ahead and baste with your BBQ sauce or glaze. Leave the lid off, allowing the heat to blast the outside of the chicken and create caramelization and char. Flip and repeat, cooking until the chicken is about 180-185°F.
Notes
Chicken drumsticks have more fat than white meat, and can take a bit more punishment with the heat. Feel free to cook to 180-185° without regret. You’ll have crispy, moist chicken that will fall off the bone.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Chicken & Poultry
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Chicken
Keywords: Chicken, drumsticks, butterflied drumsticks, butterflied chicken drumsticks, grilled chicken, grilled drumsticks, grilled butterflied drumsticks, chicken recipes
