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Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Grilling

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with Blue Cheese

Published: May 4, 2021 · Modified: Jun 5, 2025 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

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Two photos of chicken drumsticks split by text on image for Pinterest.
Female hand brushing buffalo sauce on chicken drumsticks with logo on the right corner.
Top view of a white platter filled with Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with text on image for pinterest.
Three photos split by text on image. Top two of prepping drumsticks, bottom of Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks.
Top view of a white platter filled with Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with text on image for Pinterest.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks on a white platter with text on image for Pinterest.

This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SavortheSizzle #TexasPete #SauceLikeYouMeanIt

Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce coats chicken drumsticks that are grilled to perfection. Top these grilled buffalo chicken drumsticks with blue cheese for an easy summertime lunch or dinner. Entertain with ease with this low-prep recipe that requires only a half hour of hands on cooking.

White platter filled with chicken drumsticks with buffalo sauce bottle in the background.

We love buffalo anything in our home. Whether it’s buffalo chicken salad sandwiches, buffalo chicken flatbreads, or even buffalo chicken dip my family loves the flavors. My Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks have all the delicious tastes of buffalo wings, but with a larger scale of a drumsticks!

Summer to me is all about grilling and entertaining friends and family. I like to grill a wide variety of entrées, so that way no one is burnt out on hamburgers and hotdogs. I partnered with my friends at Texas Pete® to create a delicious and easy-to-make recipes. My Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with Blue Cheese Crumbles drumsticks are the perfect summer time grilled lunch or dinner. They are packed with protein, marinated in spicy buffalo sauce, and topped with Blue Cheese Crumbles.

Table of contents

  • Ingredients
  • Directions
  • Tips & Tricks
  • FAQs
  • BBQ Side Dishes
    • Still craving grilled recipes? Try these…

Ingredients

Ingredients on marble countertop: Chicken drumsticks, Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Sauce, Celery, and Bleu Cheese.
  • Drumsticks – I like to use about 5.5 pounds worth of drumsticks.
  • Buffalo Sauce – I like to use Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce. Texas Pete® products are the perfect balance of bold flavors and heat. Check out the Texas Pete® locator to see where you can purchase it. Texas Pete® Original Hot Sauce is also great to keep on hand to spice up delivery or take-out. 
  • Non-stick Cooking spray – Whenever I grill meat I always use non-stick cooking spray.
  • Bleu cheese crumbles – Bleu cheese crumbles are definitely optional if you don’t care for the taste.
  • Dressing – I like to provided bleu cheese and ranch dressing for dipping!
  • Celery & Carrots – I like to serve fresh veggies whenever I’m making buffalo anything!

Directions

Two photos showing buffalo sauce being poured on and massaged on to chicken drumsticks.

Place chicken drumsticks in a gallon size bag or large container. Pour ¾ of a cup of the Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce on the drumsticks. Close the bag or container and shake it until all the sauce has covered all of the drumsticks. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-hour and no longer then 24-hours.

14 golden brown Chicken drumsticks cooking on the grill.

Once you’re ready to grill, heat the grill on high heat. Once the grill reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit, reduce the heat to low. Clean the grill grates, and spray non-stick cooking spray on the grates.

Place the drumsticks on the grill. Grill for 10 minutes, then carefully turn and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Turning once more and cooking for at least 5-10 minutes longer until the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Female hand brushing on buffalo sauce on to chicken drumsticks.

Remove the chicken drumsticks from the grill. Using a silicone brush, brush on the additional ¼ cup of Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce. Then, sprinkle on a ¼ cup of bleu cheese crumbles. Serve with bleu cheese or ranch dressing, celery, and carrot sticks if desired.

Tips & Tricks

Here are all my favorite tips and tricks when making grilled buffalo chicken drumsticks.

  • Easy Cleanup – Use a plastic disposable bag for easy cleanup.
  • Prep – It’s best to let your drumsticks sit in the marinade for at least a few hours. This makes for easy food prep especially if entertaining. I prep the chicken prior to friends coming over by placing chicken drumsticks in a bag with buffalo sauce. Massage the sauce on to all the drumsticks, seal the bag, and placed them in the refrigerator until the next day once you are ready to grill.
  • Internal Temperature – Whenever cooking with poultry I always recommend using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Freeze & Heat – You can also marinate the chicken drumsticks, and freeze the drumsticks with the sauce until you are ready to eat. Then, thaw, and grill for an easy meal.
  • Weight – 5.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks equals about 14 drumsticks.

FAQs

Top view of a white platter filled with Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks and Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Sauce bottle next to it.
How many people does this drumstick recipe serve?

I wrote the recipe for grilled buffalo chicken drumsticks to grill 14 drumsticks. Depending on how hungry your crowd is I would expect you could feed 5-7 adults with this recipe. Unlike wings where you have to eat 10+ wings to feel full you only need to eat 2 to 3 of these large drumsticks. Plus they aren’t as messy!

Can you cook drumsticks in the oven?

I did have a few friends ask me if they could make these in the oven instead of the grill. The answer is yes! You would simply line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake them in the oven at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. I suppose you could also cook these in an air fryer or even deep fry them. But, I do not have any experience on either method so you would need to experiment on your own cooking temperatures and times.

What do you serve with grilled drumsticks?

You can serve these buffalo drumsticks with a wide variety of side dishes and accoutrements. I love to have both ranch and bleu cheese dressing on hand. If you have veggie lovers you could even cut up some celery sticks and carrot sticks. Side dishes like potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, and even a salad work great with grilled drumsticks.

Are chicken drumsticks the same as wings?

No, chicken drumsticks are the much larger version then a traditional chicken wing which is about ⅓ the size of a chicken drumstick.

Can I split this drumstick recipe in half?

Yes, simply reduce the amount of Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce to only ⅓ to ½ cup to marinade the drumsticks in and then use a little less then ¼ cup to toss or brush on after grilling.

BBQ Side Dishes

Top view of a white platter filled with Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with bleu cheese.

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes that are perfect for a warm summer day barbecue and pair perfectly with buffalo chicken legs.

  • Potato Salad without Mayo
  • Mandarin Orange Coleslaw

Still craving grilled recipes? Try these…

  • Lemon & Herb Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Sausage and Peppers
  • Grilled Kielbasa and Potato Foil Packets
  • Grilled Balsamic London Broil

If you’re looking for simplifying entertaining this summer, I hope you’ll give this recipe for Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with Blue Cheese Crumbles a try!

If you make my buffalo drumsticks, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list! Follow Texas Pete® on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Texas Pete® store locator.

Top view of a white platter filled with Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with bleu cheese.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks with Blue Cheese

Spicy buffalo sauce coats chicken drumsticks that are grilled to perfection. Top these grilled buffalo chicken drumsticks with blue cheese for an easy summertime lunch or dinner. Entertain with ease with this low-prep recipe that requires only a half hour of hands on cooking.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 14 Servings
Calories: 198kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • Grill

Ingredients

  • 5.5 lbs chicken drumsticks
  • 1 cup Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce divided
  • Non-stick Cooking spray
  • ¼ cup Bleu cheese crumbles
  • Bleu Cheese or Ranch Dressing for serving
  • Celery & Carrot sticks optional

Instructions

  • Place chicken drumsticks in a gallon size bag or large container. Pour ¾ of a cup of the Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce on the drumsticks. Close the bag or container and shake it until all the sauce has covered all of the drumsticks. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-hour and no longer then 24-hours.
  • Once your ready to grill, heat the grill on high heat. Once the grill reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit, reduce the heat to low. Clean the grill grates, and spray non-stick cooking spray on the grates.
  • Place the drumsticks on the grill. Grill for 10 minutes, then carefully turn and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Turning once more and cooking for at least 5-10 minutes longer until the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Remove the chicken drumsticks from the grill. Brush on the additional ¼ cup of Texas Pete® Buffalo Wing Sauce. Then, sprinkle on a ¼ cup of bleu cheese crumbles. Serve with bleu cheese dressing, celery, and carrot sticks if desired.

Notes

  • Easy Cleanup – Use a plastic disposable Ziploc bag for easy cleanup.
  • Prep – It’s best to let your drumsticks sit in the marinade for at least a few hours. This makes for easy food prep especially if entertaining. I prep the chicken prior to friends coming over by placing chicken drumsticks in a bag with buffalo sauce. Massage the sauce on to all the drumsticks, seal the bag, and placed them in the refrigerator until the next day once you are ready to grill.
  • Internal Temperature – Whenever cooking with poultry I always recommend using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Freeze & Heat – You can also marinate the chicken drumsticks, and freeze the drumsticks with the sauce until you are ready to eat. Then, thaw, and grill for an easy meal.
  • Weight – 5.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks equals about 14 drumsticks.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.33oz | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 272mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!

Disclosure: There are affiliate links present in this post. That means if you click on a link and purchase something. I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continuous support of Katie’s Cucina!

« Mexican Street Corn Salad
Grilled Southwestern Pork Chops with Peach Salsa »

About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 15 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

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I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

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