How Do You Grill Chicken Breasts Without Drying It Out
The key is to cook on direct heat for the first 8-10 minutes , but then switch to indirect heat for the last 5-7 minutes. ALSO do not leave it on the grill until it reaches an internal temp of 165 remove it from the grill when it is around 160 and then let it rest off the grill. As it rests, it will continue to cook and the temp can continue to rise nearly 10 degrees! So imagine if you did leave it on the grill until it reached 165? It would continue to cook and might reach 175 before you eat it! It would be over-cooked and dry.
Whats The Best Temp To Grill Chicken
Chicken is a popular dish that can be grilled at any temperature, but the best temp to grill chicken is usually around 350 degrees. This is because chicken doesnt cook as well at low temperatures, and also because it doesnt produce as many juices. Grill chicken at a high temperature to get the best result.
How Do You Grill Raw Chicken Breast
Grill chicken breasts over indirect heat, using a grill pan or Grill Grates. Use a hot grill pan or Grill Grates to cook the chicken until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Raw chicken breasts can be grilled in many ways boiled, roasted, or cooked on the stove. But one of the most common ways to cook raw chicken breasts is to grill them. Grilling produces a crispy exterior and a tender interior that is delicious and nutritious.
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Cooking Temperatures Thermometers And Food Safety
When it comes to checking the temperature of cooked chicken nothing can replace a quality digital, instant-read thermometer. They are highly accurate, fast and reliable.
I will touch on other methods to check for doneness if you dont have one, but nothing is better or safer. I STRONGLY recommend you have an instant-read digital thermometer before you cook your first piece of chicken! If you dont have one, check out our guide to the best instant-read thermometers.
Now that you have a thermometer in hand, you need to know the temperature of a properly cooked piece of chicken.
How To Grill Chicken Breasts
Pat your boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with a clean paper towel.
Season with either salt and pepper or with a fun seasoning!
Or, you can use a marinade of your choosing !
Ensure grill grates are clean and preheat grill to medium/medium-high heat.
Cook over direct heat for approximately 4-5 minutes per side. Then, move over to indirect heat for an additional 5-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees at its thickest point. Then remove from grill and let the chicken rest 5-10 minutes .
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A Quick Guide To Grilling Chicken
Before we get into how long to grill your chicken, use this primer to prep the chicken and your grill.
- Begin with refrigerated raw poultry. If frozen, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight in a rimmed tray or container such as a baking pan preferably with a lid.
- If desired, remove skin from the poultry.
- Use the list below to determine if direct or indirect grilling is best for your chicken cut.
- For a charcoal grill, place poultry on grill rack, bone side up , directly over medium coals. Grill, uncovered, for the time given or until the proper temperature is reached, turning once halfway through grilling.
- For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place poultry on grill rack, bone side down , over medium heat. Cover and grill for the time given below in our how long to grill chicken instructions below.
- Test for doneness using a meat thermometer. We recommend using an instant-read thermometer for the most accurate, quick results. The thermometer should register 165°F to 175°F, depending on the cut you’re cooking. If desired, during the last 5 to 10 minutes of grilling, brush with a sauce, such as this fan-favorite balsamic-barbecue sauce.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and tent with foil. Allow the meat to rest about 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
Trim The Chicken Breasts
Picking the right ingredient is always a key step to ensuring you end up with great results. Make sure you are buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts. These often come untrimmed in the package with minimal processing. You can also buy them trimmed .
If youre not a fan of trimming chicken, buying them hand trimmed from the butcher can be a great time saver, just be aware it will usually cost you a bit extra per pound. If you want to save yourself some money, trimming yourself is a great way to go! Remove any dangling pieces of fat, rib meat, connective tissues, or loose pieces of chicken meat to create nice, uniform breasts.
No matter if you buy trimmed or trim yourself, be sure that your chicken is fully defrosted before you attempt the next steps. Having chicken that is frozen in the middle can cause several issues during the marinating and grilling steps. My favorite way to defrost is to set the chicken in a zip top bag and then onto a plate and onto the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. Make sure your bag is open to allow the chicken to breathe while defrosting. Most chicken breasts will defrost within 24 hours in the fridge.
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Chicken Breast Nutrition Facts:
Chicken breast is a great source of lean protein and contains essential vitamins and minerals. One 3-ounce serving of cooked, skinless chicken breast contains approximately:
Calories: 165
Vitamin B6: 8% of the Recommended Daily Intake
Vitamin B3: 6% of the RDI
Selenium: 26% of the RDI
Phosphorus: 16% of the RDI
Potassium: 9% of the RDI
Zinc: 8% of the RDI
Vitamin A: 4% of the RDI.
In addition to its nutritional benefits, research suggests that consuming lean poultry is associated with a lower risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, because of its nutrient profile, chicken breast can be a beneficial addition to any healthy eating plan.
*Note: Nutrition information is for one 3-ounce serving of cooked, skinless chicken breast without added salt or fat. The nutrition facts may vary slightly depending on the type of chicken and cooking method used.
How To Grill Chicken Breast
If youve made it this far in this grilled chicken tutorial, yahoo! Its time to grill your chicken. This easy tutorial is specifically for grilled chicken breast.
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Grill Over Indirect Heat
I know our tendency when grilling is to cook hot and fast from start to finish, but we can tear a page out of the low and slow playbook to really improve the overall texture and tenderness of our grilled chicken breast. The key is to bring the chicken up to temperature over indirect heat. This means you have direct heat going on half of your grill and no heat on the other half.
Your chicken breasts are going to be grilled on the indirect heat side of your grill where the heat is circulating and cooking the chicken without charring the outside edges of the chicken or burning those thin ends to a crisp before the middle is done. Your overall grill temperature should be hovering around 350 degrees F. This means you will have juicy, flavorful chicken from edge to edge!
Use a great internal thermometer in the thickest part of your chicken breast to check the temperature of your chicken as it cooks. I recommend an instant read thermometer from ThermoWorks. Your target temperature for this indirect cooking step is 150-155 degrees F before moving on to the next step. If you can keep your grill temperature at 350 degrees F, depending on the size of your chicken, this should take about 20-25 minutes.
What Temperature Do You Cook Chicken On A Griddle
The right temperature to cook chicken on a griddle is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. However, which temperature to use depends on the griddle unit youre using. It is the ideal temperature to ensure your chicken takes a relatively short cooking time, stays juicy and moist, and does not dry out.
Electric griddles usually have a constant temperature set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is the case with your appliance, you have nothing to worry about as it will cook your chicken just fine.
But if your griddle allows you to set the temperature, we suggest using 350 degrees F to ensure you obtain perfectly cooked chicken.
What if you dont have an electric griddle? Well, in this case, you should consider using medium-high heat for cooking your chicken. But it would help if you kept an eye on how this heat level cooks your food.
If you think the chicken is getting cooked too fast on the outside, youd want to bring down the heat slightly.
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Possible Substitutes And Variations For This Recipe
- Use chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts .
- Try other herbs in place of they thyme such as basil, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, dill, or oregano.
- Substitute fresh herbs for dried and use 1 Tbsp to 2 Tbsp depending on the herb .
- Increase flavor by adding spices such as sweet or smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or onion powder.
- For lemony chicken use 1 Tbsp lemon zest or you could even use lemon juice in place of chicken broth but dont marinate longer than a few hours for a better texture .
- Sugar or maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- In a pinch water can be used in place of chicken broth, like as done in a standard brining solution.
- Extra virgin olive oil can be used in place of regular refined olive oil if you want a little more flavor from this ingredient.
How To Tell When Chicken Is Done
The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit in order to be safe to eat.
It is important to use an instant-read thermometer to measure the temperature, as it will give you an accurate reading.
The chicken will also continue to cook after it has been removed from the grill, so make sure you allow for sufficient resting time.
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Cook Briefly And Check For Doneness
In my experience, it takes chicken breasts only a few minutes per side over direct, medium-high heat to both brown and get cooked through at the same time. That being said, it’s a good idea to always use a two-zone firewith all the coals piled on one side of the charcoal gratein case the chicken browns before it’s done cooking through. This way, if need be, you can finish the chicken up on the cool side of the grill, covered, and avoid burning the breasts.
We almost always recommend using an instant-read thermometer when cooking meat, to judge doneness perfectly each time. You can try to use one here, too, but the truth is that with thin cutlets like pounded chicken breasts, it’s very difficult to get an accurate measurement of the temperature at the coolest part: Mere millimeters away from that part, the chicken can be much hotter.
A better way is to determine doneness by sight. If you’re unsure, just make a small incision in a breast, which will allow you to peek into the center to see if it’s cooked through or not.
If you do want to try to take the temp, 150°F is your goal. That’s a bit lower than the 165°F recommended by the FDA, but if you go as high as the FDA says, you’ll be guaranteed dry chicken breast.
Do You Grill Chicken With Lid Open Or Closed
Grilling can be a great way to cook meat, but it can also be dangerous if not done correctly. To keep meat moist on the grill, you will need to follow some basic tips.
Grilled meat can be either dry or wet. The key to keeping meat moist on the grill is to use a good cook-off sauce.
Additionally, using a indirect heatsource is key to preventing sticking and ensure even cooking.
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How Long To Grill
Generally, about 20 minutes of the grill temperature is correct. Smaller breasts may be a bit less, and larger ones may be a bit longer. Remember to never cook by time alonecook to the final safe internal temperature of 165°.
The exact time will vary by the grill and the thickness and starting temperature of the meat. The chicken should rest off the heat for about 5 minutes before serving. If longer, tent lightly with foil to keep warm.
You can cook faster if you use a higher temperature, but your chicken will have an overcooked surface and be less tender and drier.
How To Grill Chicken Breast On A Gas Grill
- Coat both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper or desired seasonings. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat, or 350-400° F.
- Lightly grease grill surface and add chicken. Close lid and cook 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks.
- Rotate chicken, close lid, reduce heat to medium, and cook 7-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F.
- Remove chicken breast from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
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How To Season Chicken Breasts For The Grill
The brine solution is already adding great flavor to the chicken breast meat, but youll want to add a couple more things to the exterior to get that great barbecue texture and color.
To keep the chicken breasts from sticking to the grill, rub them with a drizzle of olive oil. Then, add a light dusting of Christie Vanovers Chicken Rub to give them a beautiful ruby color.
Cooking Times For Meat
When cooking meat with your George Foreman grill, I recommend going with boneless meats for even cooking. Here are the different cooking times for several types of meat:
- Steak: 4 to 7 minutes for medium rare.
- Chicken Breasts: 4 to 6 minutes
- Fish Fillets and Fish Steaks: 2 to 3 minutes for half inch fillets
- Ground Beef Patties: 5 to 8 minutes
- Ham: 3 to 5 minutes
- Sausages: 4 to 6 minutes
- Lamb Chops: 6 to 8 minutes
- Pork Chops: 6 to 8 minutes
- Pork Tenderloin: 6 to 9 minutes
- Shrimp: 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 4 minutes
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What Temp Should I Grill Chicken Breast
Preheat gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat or 350-400 ° F. Lightly grease grill surface area and include chicken. Close cover and cook 8 minutes, or up until bottoms are browned with sear marks. Rotate chicken, close cover, decrease heat to medium and cook 7-10 minutes more, or up until internal temperature level reaches 165 ° F.
How Can You Tell When Grilled Chicken Breast Is Done Without A Thermometer
The safest, and only foolproof, way to check if chicken is at a food-safe temperature is with a meat thermometer.
If you dont have a meat thermometer, you can test doneness by cutting into the thickest part of the chicken. If the meat is completely white and the juices run clear, the chicken should be done cooking. However, this can cause your chicken to dry out and doesnt prevent overcooking the chicken.
Grilling up a different cut? Heres a quick guide to chicken cooking temperatures:
| Type of Chicken Breast |
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How Do You Grill Bone
The dry rub should be used to season the chicken. Preheat your Weber gas grill on Low for 15-20 minutes, depending on its size. Grill the breasts for 10-15 minutes per side, turning halfway through. Preparation time is typically 45-50 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 165F has been attained.
Gas Grill Chicken Breasts
For the next step, it is time to heat up and prepare the grill for cooking. I like to pre-heat the grill with the lid closed on a high temperature setting.
Once the grill is hot, use a grill brush to clean the grill grates. The grill is now ready for the chicken.
Every grill is different so it is important to become familiar with your particular grill. Adjust the heat settings so that you get the grill temperature to a constant medium-high heat at 350°F.
Once again, the best way to maintain temperature is to have a grill thermometer.
When the heat is where it needs to be at the preferred temperature range, add the chicken breast to the grill over indirect heat using grill tongs.
How long to grill chicken breast on gas grill?
Grill the chicken breasts seven to eight minutes per side. Allow the chicken to cook so it gets those nice grill marks on the meat. Theres no need to flip back and forth.
This would be the same process if you happen to be cooking on a charcoal grill.
Im going to mention it yet again that the cook time will vary depending on how thick your chicken breast are.
Cooks Note: Skipping the step of preparing the breast will result in longer cooking times, uneven cooking and possibly dry chicken.
The chicken is done when the meat feels firm if you press it with the tongs and the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F. To ensure doneness, check the the thickest part of the chicken with an instant read meat thermometer.
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