Chicken Lollipops

Chicken lollipops are an easy appetizer or tailgate food that won’t break the bank, and they will steal the show. With just a little prep before you put them on the grill, these snacks you can eat with one hand will knock your off your feet.

Every chicken leg has some tendons and skin down around the bone but there isn’t much meat there. See the picture or video below to learn exactly how to cut the meat and tendons off but it’s pretty simple – you can use a knife or scissors to sever the tendons at the base of the meaty part of the leg. The bone itself will be the lollipop “handle.”

If you can’t marinate these all night, start at least four hours before you get the smoker hot. Mix up the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Toss all the drumsticks to coat. Marinate in the ice box for 4-24 hours.

About an hour before you’re ready to smoke these, take them out of the ice box. Once the smoker or grill is heated to 250 degrees, add a little apple or hickory wood. Season each drumstick with Rib Rub or your favorite BBQ seasoning, and cook until 170 degrees.

If you’re using a grill, move all of the coals over to one side, and smoke the drumsticks on the other. This way, you’ll get the effect of the smoker without burning the chicken. You can serve these pretty much immediately – as soon as they’re cool enough not to burn your mouth.