How To Cook Chicken Breast
Here comes the best recipe to cook chicken breasts go hand in hand to the recommendations of USDA.
- Preparation Time: 20-25 Minutes
- Extra-virgin olive oil : as required
Preparation Method :
- Preheat the oven to 165* f. In a bowl, combine black sugar, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt and pepper. Clean the chicken thoroughly and coat with the seasoning throughout the meat. Coat it generously and scatter off the excess.
- Now place the marinade-chicken rubbed with extra-virgin olive oil and place on the oven.
- Start baking mode and remain until the chicken cooked-through or wait it spots 165*F. Almost 25 minutes taken for the process.
- Remove the dish out of oven let aside, for 5 minutes, wrapped in the aluminium foil. This resting period allow the meat blend with juice giving a tongue-licking taste. Enjoy, serving the chicken breasts garnished with parsley, optional.
How Long Do You Grill Chicken Breasts For
This is the biggest question that I get. It really does end up depending on how thick your chicken breasts are. If you flattened them, as discussed, theyre going to need about 4 minutes per side over direct medium-high heat . If your grill doesnt have a thermometer, heres how to find out what temperature its at.
After 4 minutes, you flip them over and do the other side for 4 minutes. This is going to get you nice parallel grill marks on your chicken. If you want crosshatched grill marks, after the first 2 minutes, turn the breasts 90 degrees and cook for 2 more minutes. Then flip and do the same thing on the other side, 2 minutes then turn, then 2 more minutes. But note that the crosshatched ones wont be as dark as the parallel ones. I therefore prefer to just do the 4 minutes per side without turning.
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Roasting A Perfect Chicken
The following steps for roasting a whole chicken will yield white and dark meat that is tender, succulent, and properly cooked.
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Should You Marinate Brine Or Rub Before Cooking Does It Affect The Cooking Time
Wet marinades and wet brining add flavor but can increase the cooking time for the skin on chicken. It takes longer for the skin to dry before it can brown.
Boneless cuts of chicken take the same amount of time, marinated or not.
Dry rubs for chicken will help the skin to dry and will not affect cooking time.
Keep in mind that good old salt and pepper are the simplest yet best grilling seasonings. The smoke from the charcoal while grilling will overpower more delicate flavorings like herbs. And, if you plan on slathering with sauce at the end, youll just mask the other flavors from the marinade or rub.
While this guide works well, it still comes down to what thermometer says. You cant rush quality.
I hope the information here helps you the next time you grill your chicken, whole or parts. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and I hope you found this article helpful.
Happy grilling!
How Hot Should Your Grill Be For Chicken

Now that youve chosen your chicken and know the ideal cooking temperature, you can move on to the next step: preheating your grill.
A cold grill will put the chicken undercooked. To avoid this, warm up the grill for about 10 minutes before you cook your chicken. Get the grill to about 375 to 425°F before placing your chicken on the grill.
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Tips For Grilled Chicken Breast Recipes
While I am no pro on the grill, Cassy is! Here are her best grilled chicken breast tips:
- Try to not mess with the chicken once theyre on the grill grates too much. If you constantly open the grill lid to peek and see if they have grill marks, you could cause uneven cooking which will just add time to your cooking process and can result in some uneven textures. Best is to follow the timing method we have here and then if you want to adjust the process, make notes and do it differently the next time .
- Dont be afraid to season your chicken directly on the grill grate. Ill usually season one side, place that side face-down, and then season the top while it sits on the grate. This saves on mess and allows for less fall-off during transfer.
- Make sure your chicken rests! If youve encountered dry chicken in the past, it could be that you didnt let it rest long enough. If when you cut into your chicken a lot of liquid seeps out onto your cutting board, you cut it too soon.
Get A Timer And Instant
Grilling chicken requires heavy-duty tongs, grill gloves, a timer, and an instant-read thermometer. While the tongs and gloves are important, the two must-haves are the timer and thermometer.
The mortal enemy of grilled chicken is over-doneness. Last week, a friend asked me how to grill chicken breasts that were not dried out and tough. I told her to go out and buy a thermometer and use the timer on her phone. Her feedback? Instant success!
Grill chicken to an internal temperature of 165º F. Cooked to anything greater robs the meat of its succulent moisture. This is especially true of the lean breasts. The timer keeps you on track, and the thermometer delivers perfectly cooked poultry every time.
Mike Lang
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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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Grilling Chicken Breasts On A Gas Grill
When using a gas grill, set your dial to medium to medium-high heat. You want the grill to heat up to about 350F degrees.
To add smoky flavor to your chicken breasts, use a wood chip foil pouch or smoke tube filled with Cowboy Smoking Wood Chips. I like pecan, hickory and apple flavors with chicken.
Place the foil pouch in the back of the grill over the heat. Once it starts smoking, add the chicken breasts to the grill.
Then, place the breasts on the grill top-side-down. Grill them for 3 minutes. Flip them and cook another 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 3 more minutes.
Then, flip them one final time and let them cook for another 3-5 minutes to that internal temp of 165F.
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How Do You Cook Chicken Breast On A Gas Grill
When cooking chicken breasts on a gas grill, it is important to follow the same steps as you would when cooking other types of meat. To cook chicken breasts well, start by heat the grill until it is hot.
then place the chicken breasts in the hot grill pan. Place your chicken breasts in the pan so they are close to each other and cover them with foil or paper towel.
Grill the chicken breasts for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through.
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How Long Do You Cook Chicken On The Grill At 400 Degrees
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.
This post was originally published in 2012. It has been updated with new information based on further testing.
In our constant quest to deliver the best of the best via the Serious Eats grilling column, with fancy recipes for dishes like homemade merguez sausage and peppered duck breast, its easy to lose sight of the basics. And theres one really basic basic that no grilling column should be without: grilled chicken breast.
Despite their ubiquity, chicken breasts are arguably one of the most difficult of the standard meats to grill. Its all too common of an occurrence to find yourself with dry, chewy, cardboard-y meat. This is all correctable, though, and chicken breasts can be fantastic on the grill it just takes a little know-how. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to grill chicken breasts, including how long to cook them and a couple easy tips to ensure you dont end up with tough, rubbery, dried-out grilled chicken.
How To Cook The Chicken On Your Gas Grill:

- Do NOT close the lid on your grill
- Cook chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes per side
- Turn chicken frequently to cook evenly on both sides and pay attention to hot spots on the grillyou may see some pieces of chicken start to blacken. While it may look appealing, it will become dried out and crunchygross!
- Keep one of your burners on a lower temperature so you can transfer chicken thats cooking too quickly and slow the burning so it doesnt dry out the meat
- Do NOT overcook! I recommend removing the chicken when the internal temperature hits 157-160 degrees Fahrenheit and covering with foil so the carryover cooking brings it up to the USDA minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
We have posted some great recipes over the years, so follow the tips above and find a recipe below you like and enjoy some delicious chicken!
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How To Grill Chicken Perfectly: Conclusion
Grilled chicken is a delicious and healthy way to eat. And since its so simple to do at home, you dont have to eat out as often. Remember to always check the grilled chicken temperature is 165°F
Now that you know how to grill chicken, your friends and family will be begging you to cook for them again and again!
Tips For Grilling Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Heres what youll need to prepare the grilled chicken breasts:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts whether you have large chicken breasts or smaller breasts doesnt really matter as long as you follow a simple technique to ensure even cooking time.
- Olive Oil adds flavor and helps the seasoning adhere to the chicken.
- Seasonings Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper are all that are needed to make delicious grilled chicken breasts that are perfect as a main protein served with sides, served on sandwiches or sliced and served on salads.
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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.
When Do You Add Sauce To Chicken
Tangy barbecue sauce is truly the taste of summer. Apply it too early, though, and youll end up with a sticky, burnt mess. Since most barbecue sauces, especially those from the grocery store, are high in sugar, they tend to burn quickly.
Save the sauce for close to the end about 10 minutes before the chicken is ready to come off the grill to get it nice and caramelized. And, of course, you can always get even saucier once the chicken is ready to eat.
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Cooking Chicken In A Pan
If youre cooking your chicken in a pan, follow this chicken temperature chart to find the best heat for cooking whichever cut youre using.
Chicken should always read between 165°F and 175°F on a meat thermometer. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness when cooking chicken in a pan.
Chicken Part | ||
---|---|---|
5 minutes on one side, flip, 3-5 minutes on opposite side | ||
Bone-in Chicken Thighs | 20-30 minutes uncovered skin-side down flip, cook 20 more minutes | |
Boneless Chicken Breasts | 5-7 minutes on one side, flip, 5-7 minutes on opposite side | |
Bone-in Chicken Breasts | Sear 5 minutes on one side, flip, cook 45-50 minutes | |
Chicken Wings | High heat reduced to low | Sear 2 minutes per side, reduce heat, cover, cook 20 minutes. Flip 2-3 times while cooking. |
Chicken Legs | Medium heat | 15-20 minutes on one side, rotate, cook another 15 minutes, then rotate a final time and cook a final 15 minutes |
Chicken Tenders |
How Long Do You Cook Chicken Breast On The Grill And What Temperature
A well-prepared chicken breast will cook in around 20 minutes on a hot grill with the surface temperature set at 450°F for the majority of them. Breasts that are smaller may be a little shorter, and breasts that are larger may be a little longer. Never cook by the clock alone always cook until the ultimate safe internal temperature of 165° is reached.
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What If I Dont Have A Ninja Foodi Grill
Make this grilled chicken anytime. Feel free to also toss it on your outside grill if you dont own a Ninja Foodi. It will work the same. I find that pellet grills and propane are nice since you can control the temperature a bit more than a wood fire. Either way, you can still cook this without a Ninja Foodi Grill.
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What Temp Should Grilled Chicken Breast Be

It is the most accurate method of determining when the chicken is done. The ideal internal temperature for dark meat is 165 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas for white meat it is 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, if you dont have access to an instant-read thermometer, you may always make a little incision into the centre to ensure that it is just about opaque in the middle.Roasting chicken breasts at a high temperature brings out the greatest flavor. This permits the meat to cook fast while yet retaining a significant amount of moisture. Lower temperatures result in longer cooking times and a greater likelihood of dry chicken, neither of which are desirable.
Contents
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What Temperature Do You Pull Chicken Off The Grill
As previously said, chicken must be properly cooked before it is considered safe to consume. In light of the fact that both time and temperature have an impact on the safety of a chicken, we recommend pulling the flesh at 155°F and then tenting it with foil to keep the temperature constant for a few minutes after that.
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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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Grilling Bbq Chicken: Preheat Your Grill
Now that youve chosen your chicken and know the ideal cooking temperature, you can move on to the next step: preheating your grill.
A cold grill will put the chicken undercooked. To avoid this, warm up the grill for about 10 minutes before you cook your chicken. Get the grill to about 350 to 400 degrees before placing your chicken on the grill.
How Long Does It Take Chicken Breasts To Cook In The Oven
At 350 degrees Fahrenheit, boneless 4-ounce chicken breasts should cook for 20 to 30 minutes, says FoodSafety.gov. Bone-in chicken breasts, between 6 to 8 ounces, should stay in the oven for a bit longer at 30 to 40 minutes. The U.S. governments food safety poultry roasting guide recommends adding 15 to 30 minutes for any stuffed poultry.
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