How To Grill Chicken On A Gas Grill
Cooking boneless chicken breasts is seen as one of the easiest bbq skills to master. But slow down there, my grilling friend. There are a few tips that will help turn you from BBQ fan to BBQ pro. Heres how to grill chicken on a gas grill.
Grilled chicken recipes have long been a staple in our household. Its my favorite meat to cook in some way, with it taking center place in some of my best BBQ recipes. My fondest memories of summer involve cooking up beautiful chicken breasts on our terrace.
Dont get me wrong, I still love grilled burgers and steaks, but neither come close to chicken for me. Whether its simple chicken burgers or elaborate kebabs, theres a great grilled chicken recipe for any meat-eater.
But grilling chicken is something that isnt as easy as it looks. They can dry out really quickly, which is enough to leave any BBQ party flat.
Chicken can easily be cooked on a gas grill at 425°F/220°C. Just grill for 5 minutes on each side, or until the meats internal temperature hits 165°F/75°C.
The secret to a perfectly grilled chicken doesnt just lie in its time on the grill, but also the preparation time before. With pre-seasoning and brining as crucial a step as any.
Heres my step-by-step guide to show you how to grill chicken on a gas grill.
How To Grill Chicken Wings
There are several ways to grill wings, but first, lets look at the wing itself.
Wings can either be left whole or separated into drumettes and flats. With this method, I remove the wingtip, saving them with additional chicken parts for a future batch of chicken stock. Separating the wing creates more work on the grill, but in my opinion, it makes for easier eating one-hand eating especially when the other hand is clutching a beer.
Now, on to the grilling part!
What Is The Temp For Chicken Breast
Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest area of the breast youre aiming for a final temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the thermometer reading. Instead of using an instant read thermometer, you may alternatively cut into the thickest section of the chicken with a paring knife to ensure there is no pink flesh showing.
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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.
Chicken Thighs Vs Chicken Breasts
First, lets get into the details and different parts of a chicken. Between chicken thighs and chicken breasts, many people have a strong preference one way or another. But what are the main differences between these two cuts? And what does this mean for how you will approach cooking your chicken thighs?
Low in fat and high in protein, some people prefer chicken breast over dark thigh meat. Yet, due to the extra fat, chicken thighs dont stick as much to cooking surfaces, so you can cook them with less oil. The fat can also tenderize the thighs as they cook, creating a silky feel.
Chicken thighs are also a good source of zinc, which helps you maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin. Another benefit is that they are typically less expensive than other cuts of meat.
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Storage & Food Safety
Bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella can get you sick if you eat raw chicken. The bacteria will be killed if the chicken is cooked to at least 165 degrees F, but cautious handling of the raw meat during preparation is essential. Never wash or rinse raw chicken, and after handling raw chicken, thoroughly clean your hands, utensils, and surfaces. 10Both raw and cooked chicken should be stored in the refrigerator, where they will last a few days. Within two hours of serving, refrigerate or freeze any leftover chicken. Chicken, both raw and cooked, can be frozen for up to nine months.
Tips To Make Perfectly Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts On A Gas Grill:
- Invest in an instant-read thermometer
- Butterfly and pound chicken breasts to avoid overcooking and drying out of thinner portions this video provides a quick and easy method for butterflying and pounding
- For the juiciest chicken breasts, I prefer using a dry brine and adding flavorings just before grilling chicken breasts for the juiciest chicken.
- The issue with dry brining is that it takes at least 3-4 hours for the salt to penetrate the meat, so wet brining is best if youre short on time. We choose to wet brine more often because were impatient and sometimes grill on a whim.
- Heres the brine we typically use:
- 3 cups of orange juice
- 2 ounces of salt we use Morton table salt as it dissolves easier
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Mix all ingredients until salt is diluted and put in a large Ziploc bag or brining bag and let sit for no more than 2 hours. Season with your desired spice blend/rub after removing from the brine and drying the breasts.
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How Long To Grill Chicken Breasts
According to the USDA, all poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Using an instant-read meat thermometer is really the only accurate way to gauge your chicken’s doneness. But in the case that you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the chicken and ensure that the juices run clear. Here are the estimated grilling times for chicken breasts, based on an internal temp of 165 degrees F.
- Boneless chicken breasts: 7 to 8 minutes per side
- Bone-in chicken breasts: 15 minutes per side
How Long Does It Take To Grill Chicken Thighs On A Charcoal Grill
Chicken thighs with bones should be cooked for 14 20 minutes , or until they reach 165170 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant read thermometer. However, while the USDA recommends that chicken thighs be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safety, thighs are capable of withstanding greater internal temperatures without drying out.
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Intermediate Solution To Dry Chicken: Cook To 157f And Hold It
If you want even better chicken than you get from temping your chicken to 165°F , use the pasteurization tables to pick a lower temperature to cook to, and hold your chicken at that temperature for the appropriate amount of time.
With this method, you would pick a temperature from the chart, verify that the chicken has reached that temperature as you we discussed above, and hold it at that temperature for the appropriate time interval. I really like 157°F for my chicken, so Id hold it at that temperature for 31 seconds.
You can use the min/max function on your ChefAlarm® to monitor the temperature and make sure it doesnt dip during your holding time. In the above image, the min temp is 40°F. By pressing and holding the CLEAR button for a few seconds, the min/max will be reset to the current temperature. You can hist start on the timer and watch it for 31 seconds. You can then check the min temp to see if it dipped below 157°F .
How Long To Grill All The Different Cuts Of Chicken
Now that you know the safe temperature of cooked chicken, and how to check the temperature of your barbecue, lets take a look at how long it takes to grill the different parts and cuts of a chicken.
We cover all the cuts from whole chickens down to thighs and wings, with some expert notes and tips to be mindful of for each.
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Step by step directions showing how to make perfect grilled chicken breast! Tips for the juiciest grilled chicken with just three simple steps, and a classic spice rub!
It took some experimentation to find the best method for juicy grilled chicken, we’ve finally cracked the code! We’re sharing three crucial steps to achieve the juiciest grilled chicken…every time!
No more dry, tough, overcooked chicken! Best of all, this chicken cooks up in a flash, and is so delicious for your next BBQ, served with our suggested side dishes!
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The Juiciest Grilled Chicken Breasts
By Christie Vanover | Published August 31, 2021 | Last Updated July 11, 2022
Disclosure: Im sharing this as a proud Cowboy Charcoal ambassador. The post is sponsored. Opinions are my own.
I went through numerous chicken breasts in my test kitchen to come up with the juiciest method for grilled chicken breasts. I tested the recipe on multiple types of grills and include instructions for them all in this post.
I recommend reading the trimming and brining sections of the post and then following the method for the type of grill that you have.
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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!
How Do I Use A Meat Thermometer For Chicken Breasts
If you are using the CheftsTemp QuadXPro oven safe thermometer probes, simply insert them from the top of the breast to the middle of the thickest part. If you are using one of our instant read thermometers insert the probe into the thickest part of the breast for a quick accurate reading while cooking. Chicken breast is a lean cut of meat and can dry out quickly if overcooked. Always cook your chicken to a final temperature of 165°F .
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Tips For Grilling Chicken Breasts
- Pound to even thickness: Pounding the boneless, skinless breasts to an even thickness will help the meat cook more evenly, so you don’t have the extremes of raw and dry.
- Marinate the chicken in an acidic marinade made with lime juice. It’s almost like using buttermilk, but lime flavored. The acid helps tenderize the meat for grilling.
- Work with chilled meat: Since the chicken breasts have been formed into rather thin cutlets, take them directly from the refrigerator to the grill. That way, they don’t overcook in the time it takes to get nice grill marks on them.
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The temperature of your grill should be approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit in its whole. This ensures that your chicken will be juicy and tasty from beginning to end! Check the temperature of your chicken breast while it cooks by inserting a good internal thermometer into the thickest section of the breast.
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How Do You Grill Chicken Breast On A Gas Grill
Preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat, approximately 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit, before grilling the meat. Grill the chicken on a lightly greased grill surface. Close the cover and cook for 8 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned and sear marks appear on them. Cook for another 7-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165° F, after rotating the chicken and covering it with a lid and turning the heat down to medium.
How To Make Juicy Flavorful Grilled Chicken Breast
Begin by combining the brine/marinade ingredients in a ziplock bag, including two tablespoons oil, two tablespoons water, two cloves smashed garlic, one teaspoon sugar, one teaspoon salt, and 12 teaspoon pepper. Trim the chicken breasts and place them in the brine. Preheat the grill to its highest setting. Cook for around 10-12 minutes without interfering. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 140°.
- Make the marinade by mixing all of the ingredients together. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients
- put aside. Preparing the brine is important. Place the salt and water in a large ziptop bag and shake vigorously until the salt is completely dissolved.
- pound the chicken to a thin consistency. Prepare the marinade for the chicken. Prepare the grill by chopping the vegetables. Pat the chicken dry before grilling it over direct heat.
- Grill the chicken over indirect heat.
- Give the fowl some time to rest.
Make the marinade by mixing all of the ingredients together. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients put aside. Preparing the brine is important. Place the salt and water in a large ziptop bag and shake vigorously until the salt is completely dissolved. pound the chicken to a thin consistency. Prepare the marinade for the chicken. Prepare the grill by chopping the vegetables. Pat the chicken dry before grilling it over direct heat. Grill the chicken over indirect heat. Give the fowl some time to rest.
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How Do You Cook Thick Chicken Breast On The Grill
Close the cover of your preheated grill and place the chicken breasts on top of it. The lid of your grill must be kept covered while your chicken cooks to ensure that no heat escapes throughout the cooking process. Grill your chicken breast for 6-8 minutes on one side, depending on how thick it is. After 6-8 minutes, turn the chicken breast over and cook for another 6-8 minutes on the other side.
How Long Should I Grill Chicken At 375
The temperature of 375 degrees is a decent rule of thumb. Not all chicken breasts are made equal some are larger and thicker in comparison to other types of chicken. However, an 8-ounce chicken breast should be cooked for around 30 minutes at 375 degrees. The juices from your chicken breast will flow clear when it is fully cooked through.
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Should You Marinate Chicken Breasts Before Grilling Them
What I actually like to do the most is to add garlic powder to the brine mixture. You can also add black pepper and other seasonings too. In that way, youre adding flavor like a marinade would while brining.
The only thing to note is that you dont want to leave the chicken in the brine anywhere near as long as you would in a marinade. The most youd want to leave them in there for is 3 hours or 5 hours . Then take them out of the brine and refrigerate them dry until youre ready to cook them.
If you would prefer to not brine your chicken breasts, you can do a marinade instead.
How To Setup Your Grill For Chicken Breast
Defined grilling marks on the chicken depict a level of professionalism and attractiveness. So how do you achieve these gorgeous marks when you grill your chicken breast?
You need to heat the surface with high heat. But you dont want to overcook it as well. So, preheat the grill on high heat and lower the temp to medium-high before placing the chicken breast on it.
Ensure you turn the chicken frequently to prevent an overcooked side, while the grill gradually pushes the chicken to your target temperature.
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