Grilled drumsticks brushed with a sweet and tangy glaze with a kick of heat from jalapeno and sriracha. Add some grilled pineapple on the side and pile it all on rice for an easy summer dinner.

overhead shot of grilled drumsticks with grilled pineapple.

These grilled chicken drumsticks are a great way to switch up regular BBQ chicken. They are coated in a sweet, sticky pineapple glaze flavored with jalapeno, sriracha, and brown sugar.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You don’t have to marinate the chicken drumsticks.
The easy homemade glaze balances sweet pineapple with spicy jalapenos.
This recipe is great for summer grilling, but it works in the oven, too.
No special grilling techniques required!

Ingredients

Chicken drumsticks: Drumsticks are budget-friendly, but you can use other cuts like boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Just adjust the cooking time – they’ll need less time.
Fresh pineapple: Chunks are skewered and grilled.
Pineapple juice: Look for canned pineapple juice near the other shelf-stable juices.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness but also helps caramelize the chicken.
Jalapeno pepper
Low sodium soy sauce
Rice vinegar
Sriracha
Ginger paste

a piece of chicken being brushed with the glaze.

Recipe Steps

Make the glaze: Combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, diced jalapeno, and ginger paste in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil for 10 minutes, stirring often, or until thickened.
Grill the chicken drumsticks: Heat the grill to 400°F and brush the drumsticks with a light coating of the glaze. Grill them, turning them every 10 minutes or so and adding more glaze, until the internal temperature is 165°F. It will take about 30 minutes or so.
Grill the fresh pineapple chunks: Thread the pineapple chunks on skewers and add them to the grill in the last ten minutes of the cooking time. Turn them often until they are softened and caramelized.
Serve: Enjoy the glazed drumsticks and grilled pineapple as is or serve them over rice.

overhead shot of the chicken and pineapple with rice.

More Grilling Recipes

Lemon Grilled Shrimp – super simple summer main dish
Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad – loaded with veggies, grilled chicken, and a simple dressing.
Grilled Salmon with Sour Cream – perfect for an easy summer meal
Grilled Garlic Bread – pair it will all your favorite summer dinners

Pineapple Jalapeno Grilled Drumsticks

Pineapple jalapeno grilled drumsticks with a sweet, spicy, and sticky homemade glaze.

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Author: April Anderson

Servings: servings

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 50

Ingredients

1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 teaspoon ginger paste
1 large jalapeno, diced seeds and ribs removed
2 pounds chicken drumsticks seasoned with salt and pepper
16 ounces fresh pineapple chunks
You will need skewers for the pineapple. If you use wooden skewers, soak them for 20 to 30 minutes before so they don't burn on the grill.

Instructions

Preheat grill to 400°F.
Whisk the 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoons sriracha, 1 teaspoon ginger, and diced jalapeno in a small saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat and cook until it's thickened and reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place them on the grill and lightly brush each with the reduced glaze. Every 8-10 minutes, turn the chicken on the grill and brush it with more sauce. Repeat for 35-40 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Thread 16 ounces of pineapple chunks onto skewers, and in the last 10 minutes of the cooking time, place them on the grill with the chicken. Turn them often until the pineapple is softened and caramelized.
Once the chicken is done, take it all off the grill and serve the chicken and grilled pineapple as is or over rice.

Notes

You can also cook this dish in the oven. Preheat it to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with foil. Coat it with cooking spray. Brush the chicken with the sauce and bake it for 45 minutes. Brush it with more glaze every 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Add the pineapple in the last ten minutes – I toss it on the sheet pan, no need to skewer the chunks first.

Use a meat thermometer to know for sure when the drumsticks are done. Stick it the thickest part of the drumstick (away from the bone) – once it reads 165°F, they’re done.

This glaze will work with other cuts of chicken – try grilled chicken thighs, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or chicken wings. Depending on what you use, the cooking time will vary.

Nutrition Estimate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: glazed drumsticks, grilled chicken drumsticks, pineapple chicken drumsticks

More Chicken Recipes for Summer

Pesto Chicken Pasta – chicken, pasta, and basil pesto for an easy summer dinner
Chicken Fajita Burgers – juicy burgers loaded with fajita-inspired flavors and toppings
Balsamic Glazed Chicken – chicken breasts brushed with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze
Pesto Chicken Pizza – shortcut pizza with only 5 ingredients

Add this chicken legs recipe to your summer grilling list! It’s easy, delicious, and perfect for a warm summer night.

Happy grilling!