Honey Garlic Smoked Fried Drumsticks is the perfect meal for summer cookouts, picnics and family gatherings. Drumsticks are lightly seasoned and smoked on the grill, then battered and deep fried to crispy perfection. Top it all off with a quick honey garlic sauce for the most epic chicken dinner!

Smoked Fried Chicken is literally our new favorite way to eat chicken, we are taking it to another level of deliciousness with the drizzle of honey garlic sauce. Don’t take our word for it, give this a try for the best chicken ever!

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Smoked Fried Chicken:

For the Chicken:

Chicken Drumsticks
Olive Oil
Creole Seasoning – or any grill seasoning
All Purpose Flour
Milk
Egg
Vegetable Oil for Frying

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

Butter
Honey
Brown Sugar
Water
Smoked Paprika
Granulated Garlic
Kosher Salt

How to Make Honey Garlic Smoked Fried Chicken:

Start by drying the chicken with paper towels. Give it a light coating of olive oil.
Sprinkle a bit of Creole seasoning or your favorite dry rub.

Prepare a grill fire using pecan or hickory for smoke flavor.
Cook the chicken with the grill closed for about 25 minutes.

Check the internal temperature, cooking until chicken reaches about 150°- 160°, it will finish cooking in the fryer.

Remove chicken from the grill and cool slightly.

Prepare a breading station: add milk and egg to a shallow dish, beating well. Add flour and Creole seasoning to another shallow dish, mix to combine.

Dredge chicken into flour and then dip into egg and milk mixture. Return to flour mixture, coating completely. Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with all of the chicken pieces.
Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of milk mixture into flour mixture. Mix it with your fingers to create a shaggy batter.
Dip the chicken into the milk and egg and then into the flour once more.

Heat the vegetable oil in a dutch oven or heavy bottom pan using a deep fry thermometer.

Cook chicken a few pieces at a time until golden brown and crispy.

Drain on a paper towel lined baking sheet with a wire rack.

Make the honey garlic sauce by combining butter, honey, brown sugar, water, smoked paprika, garlic and salt in a small pan. Cook over medium heat until sauce starts to bubble and the sugar is melted.

Drizzle sauce over the chicken just before serving.

How to Store and Reheat:

Store leftover chicken in a zip top bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Honey Garlic Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks.
Reheat chicken on a baking sheet in a 350° oven for 15 minutes or until heated through.
Honey garlic sauce can be reheated in a small pan over low heat, stirring until heated through.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes to Try:

Serve this Honey Garlic Smoked Fried Chicken with your favorite slaw and Creole Butter Potatoes for a family favorite meal.

If you are looking for the absolute best fried chicken recipe, try smoking it first on the grill! These drumsticks are tender, juicy and flavorful with an extra crunchy crust and finished off with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Give it a try for an epic chicken dinner that is sure to beat any drive-thru chicken.

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Honey Garlic Smoked Fried Drumstick on a plate.

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5 from 1 vote