How Do I Cook Chicken On The Grill

How To Grill A Whole Chicken

How to cook a whole chicken on the grill easy recipe

Remember to have already spatchcocked the chicken or you can ask the butcher to do that bit for you! Then follow these steps :

1) Season the chicken well. I like to salt the chicken first on all sides with kosher salt, and it’s important to get underneath the skin as well with some salt.

TIP: You can even do this step one-night in advance and let the chicken air-chill in the fridge to allow the salt to season and tenderize the chicken.

2) Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, spices, herbs, and loads of fresh garlic in a small bowl. Whisk to combine well. Apply the marinade particularly underneath the chicken skins and all over. Set the chicken in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours to allow the marinade a chance to impart flavor.

3) Grill over indirect heat. Preheat gas grill to 400 degrees F . Place the chicken on the grill and turn off the burner or burners directly below it, leaving the burners around it on . Grill for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the chicken’s internal temprature at the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F. You’ll see in the video below, my friend Adam uses a meat thermometer similar to this one .

Tip: Check every 15 minutes, and if the chicken looks browned on one side, rotate it at about 90 angle. The side of the chicken closest to the direct heat will begin to brown quickly, rotation will allow for a more evenly browned skin.

How To Spatchcock A Chicken

Most any butcher will be happy to spatchcock a whole chicken for you, saving you time and mess, but its also easy enough to do yourself. Good kitchen tools and a little confidence are all you need to spatchcock, or butterfly, a chicken at home. Heres how to do it yourself:

  • Cut the backbone out of the chicken, starting from the thigh end and working upwards. Youll snip through the rib bones as you go, but it shouldnt be too harda good, sharp pair of poultry shears or kitchen scissors really help with this step. Get as close to the backbone as you can, and once youve removed it, dont toss it! Its great for making chicken stock.
  • Flatten that bird! Flip the chicken over so that it is skin-side up, and press down hard on the breastbone to flatten the chicken out. Remember: the goal is to make the chicken as evenly-splayed out as possible for quick, even cooking on the grill.
  • P.S. Friendly reminderdont rinse your chicken! And wash your hands super thoroughly before and after handling raw chicken. And, while were talking chicken and food safety, always check that your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before you pull it off the grill or out of the oven.

    What To Serve With Grilled Chicken

    Grilled chicken is a healthy, delicious main course to serve by itself-but there are tons of ways to dress it up, too. You can put grilled chicken in just about anything: sliced on top of salads, stuffed into sandwiches, shredded for chicken soups or skewered on a kabob. Or top the dish off with a heaping pile of grilled veggies and youve got yourself dinner!

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    How To Cook A Flat Chicken

  • How to Broil Chicken on the Bone
  • When you flatten a chicken, you most likely want to grill or roast it. Flattening your chicken allows you to cook the chicken evenly, since the meat is about the same thickness all over. When grilling a flat chicken, you should stay close by so that you can move when the dripping fat cause the flames to flare. To infuse the flat chicken with flavor, you can either marinate it for a few hours before cooking or baste it repeatedly with a glaze while it grills.

    How To Grill Chicken Breasts That Are Sooo Juicy

    Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Learn the method for how to grill chicken breasts that are juicy, and never ever dried out.

    Everybody loves chicken, and all cooks love a good chicken How-To. I know this because the most popular post on this site is How To Cook Chicken Breasts From Frozen and the most popular post on my sister site, TheCookful, is How To Bake Chicken Wings That Are Sooo Crispy. With summer and grilling season coming up, I thought it would therefore be a good time to tackle that real conundrum of how to grill chicken breasts that are juicy, every time.

    The thing about chicken breasts is that they are not typically of an even thickness. This means that the thinnest part tends to dry out before the thickest part is cooked all the way through. There is only one way to fix this and it involves a tiny bit of work, but not hard work. Dont worry!

    What youre going to do is flatten the chicken out to an even thickness, then marinate them a bit for flavor, and then grill for as short a time as possible. Heres how!

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    How To Grill A Whole Chicken On The Barbecue:

    Clean the chicken: Remove all the giblets, trim, and pat the chicken dry.

    Stuff the chicken with the onion and garlic cloves. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen thread.

    In a small bowl, mix the seasonings and melted butter. Rub this mixture all over the entire chicken. You can use a basting brush to make this a cleaner process.

    To Cook the Chicken: Heat your grill to high heat on one side. You want the temperature inside your grill to be about 375 degrees. To barbecue the chicken, we will be using indirect heat. Place chicken on the barbecue with the legs facing the back of the barbecue on the opposite side of the heat. Close the lid and let cook for 45 minutes and do not open. Rotate the chicken so the wings are facing the back of the barbecue and close the lid. Let cook for another 40 minutes. Internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees.

    Once your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, it is ready to come off the grill. Let the chicken rest for about five minutes. Carve your chicken and serve!

    If you enjoyed this recipe, here are a few more grilling recipes I think youll love:

    What’s The Difference Between A Brine And A Marinade

    Both brines and marinades are meant to enhance plain meat, but they do it differently. A brine has more salt than a marinade, and meat gets totally immersed in a brine. It works because the salt penetrates the meat as the brine and the meat reach an equilibrium. Brining adds moisture to the meat that keeps it from drying out while grilling, helping it to come out juicy.

    A marinade often contain oil, and the oil does not penetrate the meat. The meat is usually not immersed in a marinade. Marinade flavors only the outside of the meat so there’s a chance it will come out dry after grilling.

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    Safety Of Chicken In Foil

    When you grill chicken straight on the grates of the grill, you expose it to high heat and open flames. Fat from the chicken can drip and burn, too. As a result, explains Harvard Health Publications, chemicals called heterocyclic amines and aromatic hydrocarbons from, and they have been linked to cancer.

    Reduce the formation of these compounds by putting chicken in foil on the grill. You still achieve a smoky taste, with a lower cancer risk.

    Read more: Nutritional Information on Cooked Chicken Breast

    Research published in Environmental Sciences Europe in April, 2017, showed that grilling food in aluminum did not transfer a dangerous amount of the metal to the food. The researchers do recommend avoiding acidic marinades, such as those with a lot of lemon, tomato or vinegar, as this can cause more aluminum to leach into the chicken and vegetables while cooking. The resulting meal would exceed healthy limits of aluminum intake for adults and children.

    How Long To Grill Chicken Breast

    How to Grill Chicken | How Long to Cook Chicken on a BBQ with Easy Recipe

    This answer can fluctuate depending on how hot your grill gets and the thickness of your chicken breasts.

    In this grilled chicken breast recipe, I dont pound my chicken out unless it is extremely thick in some parts and thin in other parts. Once your chicken breasts are marinated, place them on the grill. Cook them for 7-8 minutes on each side, not lifting during the cooking process

    Flip your chicken and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the largest part of the chicken breast reads 165°F.

    It is important to allow your chicken to rest about 3-5 minutes before cutting to keep it juicy . Serve with your favorite sides, and preferably on a patio with a big pitcher of Easy White Sangria!

    Also Check: How To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast

    Here Are A Few Ways To Tell If Your Chicken Is Cooked:

    The most important factor to moist grilled chicken is to not overcook. Grill chicken according to the heat and times in this recipe, and watch carefully.

    • Internal temp: The internal temp should reach 165° F to be safe. Pro tip: You can cook chicken slightly less to 160° and let it rest 5-10 minutes under foil. It will continue to cook to a safe temp and be moister.
    • Visual check: Cut into the center of the chicken breast with a knife. It should be white, with just the slightest hint of pink. If its pure white and looks stringy inside, its overcooked. Note: using this method while the chicken is still cooking or before resting will cause some liquids and moisture to drain out.
    • Test for firmness: Remove chicken from the grill. Once cooled slightly, press in the center with finger. It should have a little bit of give but also not be squishy feeling. Note: this method takes practice is the least accurate.

    Looking To Grill Other Cuts Of Chicken

    Ive got your back! Heres how to grill chicken drumsticks and thighs:

    For chicken drumsticks:

    • To grill: preheat your grill to medium high and lightly oil the grate. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 8 minutes, then flip, brush with the reserved marinade, and grill for an additional 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over one last time, brush again with the remaining marinade, and cook for 5 more minutes, or until no pink remains in the center of the chicken.
    • To bake: preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a oven-safe rack on a large baking sheet and grease with nonstick cooking spray so that the chicken doesnt stick to the pan. Place the drumsticks on the pan with the thicker part of the drumstick to the outside. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until cooked through.

    For boneless skinless chicken thighs:

    • To grill: preheat your grill to medium high and lightly oil the grates. Cook your chicken thighs for 6-8 minutes per side, flipping once. When the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F your chicken is done.
    • To bake: preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake your chicken thighs for about 25-30 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 165.

    For skin-on chicken thighs:

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    The Best Chicken For Grilling

    For the juiciest, most flavorful grilled chicken, use bone-in, skin-on pieces. Place the chicken on a paper towel-lined tray and pat it dry. This removes excess moisture, which prevents the skin from getting crispy. Remember to wash your hands and all equipment after handling raw chicken.

    Next, season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and allow the chicken to come to room temperature for 15 minutes. This helps it cook evenly and gives the salt and pepper a chance to work their magic. Keep in mind that sweet sauces like glazes and barbecue sauce shouldn’t be applied until the chicken is finished cooking. They will burn before the chicken is fully cooked.

    How To Grill Chicken:

    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs on the Grill

    1. Preheat the grill on high for 10-15 minutes, then use your grill brush to scrape any previous remnants off your grates.

    2. the fully thawed chicken breasts. A clean and easy way to marinate the chicken is to place it in a large plastic zip top bag, add your marinade and make sure your entire chicken breast is covered. In this particular instance, I used olive oil and added a few fresh basil leaves.

    3. Here’s how long to grill chicken on a gas grill. Once you have preheated your grill for 10-15 minutes, prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat at 425-450°F and get your iGrill probes inserted into the chicken.

    4. Place marinated chicken breasts on grill over direct medium heat.

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    Brine Before Grilling To Prevent Dry Rubbery Chicken

    Brining is simply submerging the chicken in a salt-water solution before grilling. This prevents the chicken from overcooking on the grill and also helps it get great grill marks, as the increased surface moisture and sugars brown quickly. Brining also keeps the interior of the chicken breasts juicy while grilling. Its one of the easiest ways to ensure success, but it does require extra time so plan accordingly.

    As little as 30 minutes of brining helps the chicken breast, but you can brine chicken breasts in a mild brine for eight to 12 hours.

    The Magic of a Marinade-Brine Hybrid

    This recipe calls for a quick mixture of honey, vinegar, and spices to be added to the brine and used as a glaze. This sort of hybrid marinade-brine adds flavor and color to the breast before grilling, and glazing them before serving makes them finger-licking good. You can skip this step, but dont skip the brining.

    How To Cook Chicken Thighs On A Gas Grill For Beginners

    How can you tell that summer has arrived? Well, the simplest way of knowing so is when everyone seems to be in the mood for barbecue.

    This is the time to satisfy all the cravings for some grilled chicken that you may have been holding back all year round due to several reasons.

    One of the favorite parts of the chicken for people to grill is the thigh. This is probably due to the higher meat-to-bone ratio, which makes them get ready to eat faster than other parts.

    Speaking of grilling, how you go about the process is more crucial than the recipe at hand. In this article, we are going to guide you on how to cook chicken thighs on a gas grill.

    It is a straightforward process, and we are going to guide you from the set-up to the preparation of the tasty meal.

    Contents

  • Final Thoughts
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    How Do You Grill Drumsticks Without Burning Them

    Chicken takes longer to cook than steak, but it is quite hard to manage as it is more prone to stick on the grill grates. That is why there are ways to cook drumsticks without burning them.

    To prevent the chicken drumsticks from burning, you can do some tricks when grilling. The first one is to prevent the chicken drumsticks from sticking to the grill grate when cooking.

    First, get a brush and make sure that there are no food residuals on the grill grate. Brush it thoroughly, get a paper towel, and spray some oil on the grill grates before wiping it.

    This is done before heating the grill so that the oil does not drip or burn away. The oil will help the drumsticks cook properly without the skin sticking onto the grill grates when heated.

    You can also wipe all sides of the chicken with oil before putting them on the grill. Its either that you can make an oil-based marinade and let the drumsticks soak first in the marinade.

    If that seems inconvenient or you do not want too many extra flavors in the chicken, you can do the oiled grill grates technique and then place a flame guard under the grill grates.

    Get Familiar With Direct And Indirect Grilling

    How to Grill Chicken Thighs – NoRecipeRequired.com

    Direct heat will get you great grill marks over a fast flame, while indirect will bring your meat to temperature. Direct heat means to cook the food directly over the heat source , while indirect cooking refers to cooking adjacent to the heat source. A combination of direct heat for prominent grill marks followed by indirect heat to cook the chicken to the correct temperature without drying it out makes for pretty, juicy chicken breasts.

    A digital probe thermometer is one of the best tools you can own for the grill. While youve already done a lot of work to ensure that those chicken breasts are cooked correctly flattening them for even cooking, brining for juiciness, and cooking over direct heat for grill marks you still want to be doubly sure the chicken is cooked through.

    Insert the probe thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and look for a temperature of 165°F. While you can safely remove the chicken at 160°F and allow for some carryover cooking, 165°F is the safest temperature to ensure the chicken is cooked completely.

    Read more: The Right Internal Temperature for Cooked Chicken

    How to Get Really Great Grill Marks

    Make the marinade.

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    How To Grill Chicken Breasts 101

    I dont know about you guys, but we grill A LOT in the summer. And more often than not, its chicken. We throw in the occasional pork chop or burger, but we do chicken quite a bit. I know grilling can be intimidating for a lot of people, so I thought I would break down how you cook several different kinds of chicken this summer you can learn more about grilling chicken thighs here and grilling chicken legs here now lets talk about grilling chicken breasts!

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