Summer is a season when food tastes just a little bit better. One of the best things about summer is enjoying all the wonderful fresh produce that is in season. Many also look forward to grilling, as it brings back memories of barbeques and cookouts. Grilling cuts down on cooking time and gives an added flavor from all the charring from the grill, which makes it perfect for summertime dinners. However, many are stuck wondering what meat to grill or how to get those char marks without over cooking and drying out your meat. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to grill chicken that will not only taste great but look amazing too!.
Grilling chicken is not the easiest or most straightforward of cooking methods. There are many different ways to grill chicken, but they all have some things in common.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1 How to grill chicken in five simple steps
- 1.1 Step 1: Preheat grill.
- 1.2 Step 2: Place the chicken breast on grill.
- 1.3 Step 3: Allow chicken to cook for about 4 minutes on each side.
- 1.4 Step 4: Grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius)
- 1.5 Step 5: Remove chicken from grill and serve with rice if desired.
- 2 How to grill chicken on stove
- 3 How long to grill chicken
- 4 How to grill chicken legs
- 5 How to grill chicken on a gas grill
- 6 How to grill chicken tenders
- 7 What temperature to grill chicken
- 8 How to grill chicken oven
- 9 How to grill chicken thighs
- 10 How To Grill Chicken Breasts
How to grill chicken in five simple steps
Step 1: Preheat grill.
This is the first step and takes the least amount of time, but it’s an essential step to know that you’re ready to start grilling.
Grill should be preheated until at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius).
A good way to check whether your grill is hot enough is by holding your palm two inches above the cooking grate for three seconds. If you can’t hold it there for three seconds, then the grill still needs more time in order for it to heat up properly. You should wait another 10 minutes before grilling.
Once your grilled has been preheated, the next step is to season the chicken breast by sprinkling salt and pepper evenly over the surface of each chicken breast.
You will want to be sure that both sides of the breasts are salted and peppered.
Step 2: Place the chicken breast on grill.
After seasoning the chicken meat, all you have to do is place them on your heated cooking grate.
Make sure to place it on a part of the grill which is not burning and will not burn during grilling as this can ruin your meal rather than infuse it with a smoky flavor.
Step 3: Allow chicken to cook for about 4 minutes on each side.
As you can see below, I have brushed some olive oil onto the chicken breast so that it will not stick to my grate as I flip them.
You will want to do this so that the chicken breast will not stick to your grilling grate and burn.
Step 4: Grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius)
for medium heat grilling time of about 8 minutes per side for best results.
As you can see, I have placed the lid over the top of my grill and I am cooking it for about 4 minutes on each side.
If you cover your grill, then the meat will be infused with a more intense smoky flavor that would not normally be present.
Step 5: Remove chicken from grill and serve with rice if desired.
How to grill chicken on stove
Some stove-top chicken recipes call for searing the chicken to seal in all the juices. A quick sear will do the trick, but if you like a nice brown crust, here’s what to do: Heat your oven on its highest setting and then turn it off after 5 minutes. The moment your oven beeps, pull out pan and place raw meat in one layer. Close with lid (if possible) or cover with aluminum foil and return to oven for at least 10 minutes or until fully cooked through before removing from heat. Repeat with as many pieces of meat as you need!
Another tip: Grilling chicken breasts is usually a safe bet, but it’s always best to check that the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees before slicing. That’s why we like to use a thermometer (like this one!). It makes things easy, and helps prevent overcooking.
And one more secret: When grilling chicken breasts, skip the marinate and rub (we tried it—they were equally good!) and instead use your favorite barbecue sauce as a glaze after cooking.
How long to grill chicken
I’m going to show you how long it takes to grill chicken thighs as well as how to achieve an even, and juicy result every time. Generally, a good guideline is 5 minutes per side but I’ve included 3 timers that you can use depending on your preference:
- 6 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 12 minutes for total grill time
The first timer will give you 6 minutes per side of the chicken and then let the meat rest. The second timer will cook the chicken for 10 mins on each side. The third timer is 12 minutes per side. I personally prefer the 12 minutes for total grill time.
How to grill chicken legs
One of the very first tips that you should know is to start with a strong fire. You will then place the grill just below medium high heat, so that it can be hot and burning. Some people might also find it useful for you to bring your meat inside when you are preparing your meat. After this, place it onto your clean grill, which should be preheated. Make sure that you cook them for at least 10 minutes before flipping over or basting with butter or oil.
Step 1: Place 4-6 chicken legs on a wire rack.
Step 2: Rub them with the seasonings, place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow time for the seasoning to sink in.
Step 3: Preheat grill on high heat and allow it to heat up for about 10 minutes, before adding any food. This will prevent food from sticking.
Step 4: Grill the seasoned chicken legs with indirect heat until they are cooked through, flipping them at least once every 5-10 minutes. The total cooking time is about 15-20 minutes depending on the size and thickness of your chicken legs.
Step 5: After chicken is cooked through, you can remove it from the grill and allow it to rest for 3-5 minutes. Enjoy!
How to grill chicken on a gas grill
If you’re looking for an easy way to grill some chicken and vegetables, or even burgers, on your gas grill then you’ll want to take some time out and watch this video! In just a matter of minutes you’ll be grilling like a pro.
1. Get the coals started
– You’ll want to preheat your coals first. So once they start burning, say 10-15 min before grilling, pour them over the lit burner.
2. Oil the grate
– Place 1/4 cup of oil in a small dish and rub all over your grill grate with paper towels or rag until absorbent
3. Place chicken in the fire
– Place the chicken skin side down on the hottest grill grate and close the lid. Cook for 10 min or until the skin begins to brown. Flip and cook for about 5 more minutes.
4. Season your chicken
– Remove from grill and let rest for a few minutes before moving to a cutting board to cool slightly so you can season it without burning yourself. Brush with your favorite BBQ sauce (I like this one) or rub with a rack of spice leaves or herbs from your garden. Vitamin D and Omega Fatty Acid from the leaves will help lower your cholesterol. (This is a great time to ask your wife if she has any more spice leaves left from her garden, she always is trying to grow a herb garden).
5. Grill the green beans
– While the chicken cools place beans on the grill with skin side down (1/2″ of green bean skin should be slightly charred) and cook for about 4 minutes or until beans are crispy.
6. Manage the coals
– Once everything has finished cooking take out the scorched coals and replace with 1/4 cup of hot coals from your chimney to finish cooking. This is a good time to put a fresh beer for yourself in the freezer, it will be cold by the time you serve the meal and you are ready to start grilling again.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste
– Once cooked through remove from grill, let rest for a few minutes then season with salt and pepper. Serve over rice or couscous with your favorite side salad. Enjoy your meal!
How to grill chicken tenders
Grilling is the best way to cook chicken tenders. It’s quick, easy, and there’s no need for frying. The only downside is that you’ll have to clean your grill after cooking. But it will be worth the clean up effort because these simple things are the perfect summer meal; they’re healthy and perfect for outdoor entertaining.
Here are three reasons why your chicken tenders should be grilled:
Grilling gives the chicken a delicious smoky flavor. Grilled chicken is healthier and leaner than fried chicken. Grilled chicken tenders are less intimidating to cook.
While not as messy as frying, grilling can be messy.
You’ll need a metal or paper towel to clean the grill tray and brushes or scrapers to clean the grill surface. You’ll also need tongs to move the tenders on and off the grill surface.
The simple things: What you’ll need…
Boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders (about 11/2 pounds) Vegetable oil spray Coarse salt and ground pepper to taste Garlic powder
Directions
- Preheat grill on high for about 10 minutes. Spray the grill with vegetable oil. Use tongs to move the chicken around the grill surface so it won’t stick to the tray. Grill for about 5 minutes or until browned, but not cooked through; remove from the grill and set aside. Brushing a light coating of oil before grilling helps keep it from sticking to the tray.
- Turn down heat on grill to medium and set timer for 3 minutes. Spray grill with more vegetable oil. Place chicken on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes, turning once; sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. The tenders should be done after another 3 minutes.
- Remove chicken from the grill and serve hot or warm.
These simple things are the perfect summer meal; they’re healthy and perfect for outdoor entertaining.
What temperature to grill chicken
Grilling chicken is as easy as it can be. There are two different ways to do this. One is using a stove top or oven, and the other is firing up your grill. If you’re grilling for your family or friends, I would recommend firing up the grill to avoid sticking anything on the fire and burning it. This way your food will be more secure from any harm. If you are grilling for yourself, you may use other means to cook your chicken.
You’ll need: a chicken, sauce, a stove top or oven (if you’re not grilling), a bowl of water and Seasoning Salt.
I would recommend that if you have time before grilling, to bring the chicken out of the fridge and leave it in room temperature for about 1 hour or until the insides of the meat has reached room temperature. It’s better to do this than to put the cold uncooked meat on a fire because it will make it cook faster which could possibly burn it and make it taste bad.
How to grill chicken oven
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Follow the instructions of your favorite grilling recipe and prepare to grill the chicken within 15 minutes of preheating the oven, while cooking on a wire rack near one side of the pan
3. Transfer t-bone steaks (with bone) to an aluminum foil -lined baking sheet
4. Roast for 50-60 minutes or until cooked through, turning every 15 minutes, making sure not to overcook
5. To serve: Remove chicken from baking sheet and let rest for 10-15 minutes
6. Carve into thick slices before serving
7. Prepare any additional sauces according as desired.
How to grill chicken thighs
Grill, turning occasionally, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center. If you are using a gas grill, preheat it to medium heat and adjust heat as needed. Preheating and adjusting the temperature with a gas grill will preserve more of the moisture in chicken pieces than a charcoal or electric grill.
Everything came out great. I did make a few changes to the dry rub: I used 3/4 cup of regular soy sauce and 1/2 cup of honey instead of 3/4 cup of honey vinegar. The salt in the recipe is just personal preference, it was not too salty by my standards. Using olive oil instead of vegetable oil was a good move, it gave the chicken that extra flavor and made the meat a bit more moist. I will definitely make this again!
You are going to need to start this tomorrow night because you have another pork shoulder in the smoker. This is a great recipe for when you have guests coming over for dinner. You take the smoker outside and keeping an eye on it. As it gets close to serving time, you can raise the temperature and keep an eye on it. It’s not a complicated recipe but will impress friends with your cooking skills!
I tried this recipe out last night and I loved it. Smoked the chicken for about 2 hours at 225 degrees F with hickory wood chips, then I wrapped it in bacon when I took it out of the smoker and cooked some more until it hit 165 degrees F (about 15 minutes). So far everyone that has tried this has liked it also. So far I have made this a few times and each time I have gotten rave reviews. It is good stuff!
I smoked the chicken breasts on my smoker with mesquite wood/chunks. I also used an aluminum foil pan to catch the drippings inside of it to make the sauce. Instead of vegetable oil, I used olive oil, but everything else stayed the same. I also wrapped two chicken breasts per slice of bacon for some reason (couldn’t find thick bacon). When it was done, I took it out and let it rest for about 20 minutes and then sliced into bitesize pieces.
How To Grill Chicken Breasts
1. Start by seasoning the chicken breasts with a dry spice rub, a wet BBQ sauce, or your favorite seasonings (garlic, salt, pepper).
2. Place the oiled and seasoned chicken breast on the grill over medium-high heat and sear until well browned on one side.
3. Flip and sear until well browned on the other side.
4. Grill over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes each side or until done in the middle (according to your preference).
5. You can also use an indoor grill or oven set at 350 degrees F if you don’t have access to a barbecue grill outside.
6. For this recipe, I used a mandoline to get my thin slices of cornmeal-coated potato without having them fall through the grates and onto the hot coals.
7. In a bowl, mix together the cornmeal or polenta with eggs, milk, butter and seasonings (if desired). Then pour the mixture over each slice of grilled chicken breast. Bake for about 35 minutes or until cooked through and crispy on top. Serve with barbecue sauce (see below) if desired.
8. A trick I learned while in school is to hold the bowl of coating over the top of the baking dish. Use this to pour the mixture over the chicken pieces, then cover and shake gently to coat all the pieces.
9. Try not to marinade your chicken too long, as it will start to “cook” in its own juices before hitting a hot stove or grill. The longer you let it marinade, the more moisture will leak out and pool at the bottom of your container as water, which can dilute your BBQ sauce when you coat and cook.
Absolutely delicious! The chicken was moist and the spices were just right. I’m also impressed that it didn’t take long for them to grill. This would have been great for a party.