How Long to Grill Chicken Breast: Grilled chicken breasts are delicious, adaptable, and simple to prepare. Using a boneless or bone-in breast can lead to overcooking and drying out. But if you get the hang of grilling chicken breasts, you can enjoy juicy, flavorful meat that freezes well for later. You may use an electric, gas, or charcoal grill.
The thickness of the chicken breasts and the grill’s temperature can both have a small impact on how long to grill them.
It’s time to cook the chicken after it has marinated. The breasts should be cooked for 7-8 minutes on each side when placed on the grill. Don’t lift or peek to preserve those gorgeous grill marks!
After flipping the chicken, cook it for 7 to 8 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the breast registers 165°F.
Ingredients for Grilled Chicken Breast
This dish for grilled chicken breasts uses year-round, easily found-ingredients. Thus, don’t be scared to heat a grill pan indoors during the winter and fire up your outdoor grill during the summer.
1. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Chicken breasts are lean meat that is more satisfying than other cuts and has less fat. Seek for smooth, light pink breasts that show no symptoms of deterioration or graying.
2. Italian seasoning: An excellent method for quickly enhancing flavor is using a nice Italian spice. Make your homemade Italian seasoning using dried basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, and optional red pepper flakes. Alternatively, you can save by selecting a jar from the spice aisle of your local supermarket.
3. Paprika: Adds subtle heat and a splash of color to this grilled chicken. For a richer flavor, go for smoked paprika; otherwise, stick to sweet paprika.
4. Red pepper flakes: Red pepper flakes are optional, giving this recipe the ideal kick. You can use black pepper or Aleppo pepper instead for a tastier kick. Or, if you’re not into heat, leave it out.
5. Garlic: The strength of the marinade comes from a good quantity of garlic. The taste can be adjusted.
6. Lemon: Marinade is flavored with zest. Give the meat a short dip in lemon juice for the last half hour to tenderize it and add some brightness to counterbalance the savory flavor.
7. Extra virgin olive oil: The marinade is enhanced by a generous sprinkle of olive oil. Use a buttery, smooth variety, such as our Italian Nocellara.
8. Kosher salt: brings out the taste of the marinade and the chicken.
9. Parsley: A last sprinkling of parsley brings in freshness.
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How to Grill Chicken Breast
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to grill a chicken breast to perfection.
Step 1: Dry the Chicken
After putting the chicken on a tray covered with paper towels, pat it dry. By doing this, extra moisture is eliminated, keeping the skin from becoming crispy. Don’t forget to wash your hands and equipment when you handle raw chicken.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
Then, liberally season the chicken on both sides with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, and let it come to room temperature for fifteen minutes. This promotes even cooking and allows the flavorings, such as salt and pepper, to shine through.
Remember that you should wait to add sweet sauces, such as glazes and barbecue sauce until the chicken is cooked through. The chicken won’t be cooked through if they burn.
Step 3: Clean the Grill
Start with a clean grill every time. Gently apply a little layer of olive oil on a balled-up paper towel. To prevent flare-ups, it should be soaked but not dripping.
Step 4: Preheat the Grill with Two Heat Zones
Move the hot coals to one half of a charcoal grill to create two cooking zones. Set one burner on hot and the other on low for gas grills.
The more relaxed zone lets the chicken cook through gradually without burning, while the hot zone is used to crisp and char the skin. For fifteen minutes, preheat the grill while covering it with the lid vents open. The fire needs to be 500 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Step 5: Add the Chicken to the Grill
Place the chicken skin-side up on the side of the more incredible grill. Place the wings and breasts farther away from the flames and the thighs and drumsticks closer to them.
Wings and breasts may burn or dry out as they cook more quickly. For around fifteen minutes, cook with the lid closed.
Step 6: Grill the Chicken, Flipping It
Periodically check. Transfer the chicken to a colder location if the outside is scorching before the bird is cooked through.
With tongs, turn the chicken over. When an instant-read thermometer is put into the center of a chicken breast without touching a bone, registers 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook the chicken breast covered for approximately 15 minutes.
Step 7: Baste the Chicken In Sauce
This is the moment to add sauce if desired. Brush the chicken on both sides with the brush, then move the pieces to the hot side of the grill to finish frying and getting crispy. To keep the chicken from burning, turn and move it as necessary. One last time, brush to ensure the ideal sauce coating.
Take the pieces off the grill when the temperature reaches 160 degrees F. While at rest, the body temperature will increase by roughly 5 degrees. Before serving, ensure the chicken has at least five minutes to rest.
What Do You Serve with Grilled Chicken Breast?
Famously adaptable, grilled chicken breast can be used as a lean protein in almost any savory dish. This is also the case with this grilled chicken breast. It’s a fantastic method to start the week off strong. Ladolemono Greek Salad Dressing pairs nicely with the garlicky lemon marinade and Italian flavor.
Gather some fresh greens, prepare your chicken and Greek dressing, and add seasonal veggies like radishes or snap peas if you feel very fancy. You’ll always be prepared with a nutritious 5-minute lunch throughout the week!
Try something with a grain, bean, or carb for a heartier salad. Even the heartiest appetites can be satiated by Mediterranean Orzo Salad with grilled chicken on top, Tabouli Salad with bulgar, or Piyaz: Turkish Salad with white beans!
Lastly, you may slice or shred it to add protein to vegetarian pasta dishes, such as sun-dried tomato spaghetti or pasta primavera.
What are the Average Grilling Times for all Chicken Cuts?
Here are the typical grilling timings for different-sized chicken parts for your reference:
- It will take 8 to 12 minutes to cook 6 to 8 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken over direct medium heat (350 °F).
- Bone-in chicken breast (10–12 ounces) cooked over indirect medium heat (30–40 minutes) (350 °F)
- Place the leg or thigh, bone-in, over indirect medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes (350 °F).
- 4 ounces of boneless, skinless thigh cooked on high heat for 8 to 10 minutes (450–650 °F)
- Cook 2 to 3 ounces of chicken wings over medium heat for 18 to 20 minutes (350 °F).
- 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pound whole chicken cooked over indirect medium heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours (350 °F)
Remember that if you marinate the chicken, add a sauce, or alter the chicken in any other way, these times may change.
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How Do I Check the Temperature on My Grill?
Your barbecue should ideally come with a built-in thermometer. If it doesn’t have that, you can always gauge your grill’s temperature with the “hand test.”
Hold your palm three inches above your grill grate to perform a hand test. After that, how long can you maintain your hand over the heat?
It is still too cold to start grilling, even if you can hold your palm steady for seven or nine seconds. You can tolerate the heat for six to seven seconds on medium-low heat.
You will only be able to tolerate the heat for a maximum of five seconds at a medium temperature. Finally, you will probably remove your hand from medium-high heat after two to three seconds.
Bottom Line
Comprehending the fundamentals of cooking and the distinctions among all the components of a chicken is essential to determining the ideal grilling time.
Additionally, you must be aware of the various cooking methods and the ideal temperature for each type of food. Remember all the marinades and bastes that help guarantee your chicken has a delicious flavor.
It could appear like a daunting undertaking. However, with a few pointers and techniques, you may impress your loved ones with your expertise in grilling.
