Grilled Orange Saffron Chicken Drumsticks

Why You’ll Love This Grilled Chicken Legs Marinade

Whether it’s summertime and you are ready to fire up the grill, or winter and you want comfort food coming out of your oven, do yourself a favor and invest in a little package of saffron so you can make this marinade for chicken legs. It is a super simple but extra special addition to your dinner table.

In this recipe, a lot of orange juice and zest and just a bit of saffron in the chicken legs marinade gives the drumsticks a ton of flavor. A nice long soak combined with a hot grill or oven leaves you with moist and juicy drumsticks that taste absolutely incredible. Here’s why you’ll love it…

• Simple prep. The marinade has just 7 ingredients, and two of those are salt and pepper. So you can quickly stir it together, then let the drumsticks marinate till your ready to cook them. Prep it in the morning and you’ll be ready to cook in the evening. Or do it in the evening in order to make them in the next day or two.
• Grill or oven options. Yes, you can make grilled chicken legs or baked drumsticks, and with the methods included in this recipe, you’ll end up with perfect results either way. You’ll want to go low and slow on the grill so they cook through without getting charred, or in a very hot oven for a crispy exterior and moist interior.
• Great for everyone. Not only are the flavors so out of this world that everyone will love them, this recipe also suits many dietary needs because it’s naturally gluten free, dairy free, and low carb.

What You’ll Need

Once you grab a package of drumsticks from the grocery store, here are the ingredients for the grilled chicken legs marinade. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and detailed instructions.

• Olive oil.
• Oranges. First, zest the oranges, then cut them in half a squeeze the juice.
• Garlic. Minced or crushed fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
• Salt & Pepper.
• Dry thyme leaves. You can use 1/2 teaspoon dried or if you have fresh, use 1/2 Tablespoon.
• Saffron threads. Just a pinch is all you need. Read more about saffron below.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

If you have leftover grilled chicken legs, here’s how to properly store them and heat them up:

• Fridge – Store cooled chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Freezer – Place the drumsticks in a freezer-safe, sealable bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw the chicken completely in the fridge before reheating.
• To Reheat – You can reheat the chicken legs at 375°F in the oven for about 15 minutes or air fryer for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Or, using a microwave-safe plate, reheat the chicken in the microwave for about 1 minute.

Make it a Meal

When I really want to keep things simple, I cook some white rice or brown rice, then just pop frozen veggies in the microwave. So you certainly have that option, or you can ad sides to make the entire meal as special as this chicken main dish. Here are some serving suggestions.

• Make everything on the grill. Wrap up a batch of Foil Pack Potatoes and pair it with Grilled Asparagus with Lemon and Manchego Cheese to do all of your cooking outside.
• Stay cool with salads. A bright and fresh Strawberry Mango Avocado Salad or tangy and hearty Three Bean Salad are both great options.
• Keep the Mediterranean flavors going. Whether you go with Spanish-influenced Patatas a la Riojana or a Mediterranean Corn Salad, you’ll be taking your tastebuds on vacation.
• Let the summer vibes continue. Whether you make Sauteed Summer Vegetables or Cheesy Zucchini Rice Casserole, you’ll be taking advantage of all the seasonal flavors.