Garlic Lime Taco Style Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Sharing one of my favorite chicken drumstick recipes today! These Garlic Lime Taco Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are an ideal summer dinner—simple to make and packed with bright, savory flavor.

Chicken Drumsticks

These grilled chicken drumsticks are easy to prepare and coated in a zesty taco-lime marinade that delivers bold flavor with minimal fuss. With just a handful of ingredients—lime, garlic, taco seasoning, olive oil and drumsticks—you’ll have a crowd-pleasing main in no time. This recipe adapts well for backyard barbecues, weeknight dinners, or feeding a group.

Try my Taco Lime Grilled Chicken too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.

Chicken Drumstick Marinade

Place the drumsticks in a large zip-top bag or bowl. Add fresh lime juice, minced garlic, taco seasoning and olive oil. Seal the bag and massage the mixture over the chicken until evenly coated. Marinade time can be as short as 15 minutes, but allowing the chicken to sit for 1–3 hours in the refrigerator deepens the flavor.

After massaging the marinade, the chicken will be well coated and ready for the grill.

How To Grill Chicken Drumsticks

Preheat your indoor or outdoor grill to medium-high. Arrange the drumsticks on the hot grill and cook until the meat is cooked through and the skin is nicely charred.

How Long Do I Grill Chicken Drumsticks?

1. Grill drumsticks over medium heat (a surface temperature around 450°F is a good guideline). Expect roughly 30–35 minutes total, depending on size.
2. Turn the drumsticks every 4–6 minutes so the skin browns evenly and doesn’t burn. Aim for a final internal temperature of 180–185°F for tender, fully cooked drumsticks.
3. A lower grill temperature will lengthen cooking time and may dry the meat if cooked too long; very high temperatures (500°F+) can char the outside before the interior is done. Size and thickness of drumsticks are variables, so use a thermometer when possible.

Grill each side about 4–5 minutes, rotating frequently for even color and crisp skin.

You’ll get attractive grill marks and a well-seasoned crust.

Remove from the grill and serve warm.

How To Serve

These Garlic Lime Taco Grilled Chicken Drumsticks pair beautifully with classic barbecue sides: garden salad, roasted or grilled vegetables, potato salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob or a fresh fruit salsa. For leftovers, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. If you plan to reuse the meat in another dish, consider shredding the cooked meat off the bone for sandwiches, tacos, or salads.

This post was in partnership with Old El Paso in 2015; thoughts are my own.