Go Back
+ servings
chicken lollipops
Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 votes

Grilled Chicken Lollipop Recipe

Frenched chicken drumsticks that are grilled and then finished with a barbecue sauce, honey, and Sriracha glaze. Chicken Lollipops make for a perfect appetizer.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting Time10 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer, Entree
Cuisine: Chicken
Keyword: chicken lollipop recipe, chicken lollipops, how to make chicken lollipops
Servings: 12 drumsticks
Cost: $20.00

Equipment

  • Sharp Boning Knife

Ingredients

Grilled Chicken Lollipops

  • 12 whole chicken drumsticks (skin on)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup poultry rub

Glaze

  • 1 3/4 cups Kansas City BBQ Sauce
  • 1/4 cup Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime (1/2 a lime)

Instructions

Glaze

  • Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes stirring to incorporate.

Prepare Chicken Lollipops

  • Make a cut around the end of the chicken drumstick in a full circle around the bone. It’s important to cut all the way down and get through cartilage.
  • Using a paper towel pull back on the meat and skin on the end of the bone. Pull hard to remove all the skin so only the bone is exposed. Make sure you have plenty of paper towels on hand.
  • There is likely cartilage that remains from the joint on the meat end of the drumstick, remove that at an angle so it can stand up.
  • Using a boning knife, cut the strings of tendon that are showing from the frenching. And then push the meat down the drumstick and form a rough ball or the lollipop shape.
  • The last step is to pull the skin back down and cover the lollipop.

Grilling

  • Prepare grill for Two-Zone cooking using lump charcoal. Target 375 degrees over the direct heat.
  • Apply olive oil to the chicken and then liberally season them with the poultry rub.
  • Place the chicken over the direct heat with the meat side down and bone facing up. Grill over the direct heat until the internal temperature reaches 150 – 155 degrees F.
  • At this point, dunk the chicken into the glaze and move to indirect heat. Continue grilling on indirect heat until the internal temperature of the chicken lollipops reaches 170 degrees F.
  • Remove from the grill and glaze one more time. Let rest for 10 minutes and serve.

Notes

This is a great article from Thermoworks all about chicken and chicken temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 623mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 153IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg