These Grilled Chicken Recipes Might Utterly Revolutionize Your Cookouts (2024)

Table of Contents
Burn Barrel Chicken Burmese Chicken Wings Hawaiian-Style Grilled Chicken Chicken with Green Olives, Capers, and Tomatoes Grilled Wings with Agrodolce Grilled Chicken and Melon Salad with Crispy Shallots Grilled Chicken with Avocado Three Ways Chicken Tortas Za’atar Lemon Grilled Chicken Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken with Spicy Corn on the Cob and Grilled Lettuces Grilled Buttermilk Chicken Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Jalapeño Sauce and Potato Chips Grilled Chicken Cutlets Chicken Salad with Miso Dressing Grilled Chicken, Corn, and Spinach Salad with Smoky Paprika Dressing Grilled Chicken and Fennel with Orange Glaze Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Coconut Chutney Grilled Cilantro Chicken with Pickled Tomato and Avocado Salsa Grilled Thai Chicken Thighs with Spicy Broccoli Slaw Cashew Romesco Chicken Thighs Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Israeli Couscous BLT Chicken Burgers Grilled Chicken and Nectarine Salad Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings Tequila-Marinated Chicken Fajitas Yakitori Yakitori Chicken Paillard with Cucumber Avocado Salad Grilled Chipotle-Chicken Quesadillas Cilantro Chicken Lime and Pepper Grilled Chicken Breasts Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Romesco Sauce Wine-Brined Grilled Chicken Spatchco*cked Chicken Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts Grilled Chicken on Greens with Creamy Harissa Dressing Grilled Chicken Thighs with Sweet Onions and Peppers Grilled Chicken Thighs with Peas and Shallots Spice-Rubbed Smoke-Roasted Chicken Grilled Fusion Chicken FAQs

Chicken can often take a backseat to the other proteins you can grill up. And that’s understandable because let’s face it, sometimes grilled chicken can be bland and dry, which definitely doesn’t stand up to juicy brisket, ribs, kabobs, or even a fresh fish. But it’s all about how you prep and cook said chicken—and we’ve got some grilled chicken recipes below that will actually be standouts at your next barbecue.

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1 of 40© 2022 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Text © Matt Horn. Photography © 2022

Burn Barrel Chicken

“Grilled chicken is an excellent humble family meal, although the marinade in this recipe adds an incredible glaze worthy of a restaurant meal,” Matt Horn says in his cookbook,Horn Barbecue. “The brown sugar speeds up caramelization and deepens the flavor of the finished poultry.”

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2 of 40Thomas J. Story

Burmese Chicken Wings

A simple garlic-ginger paste creates a flavorful crust on the wings as they grill, so don’t brush off the excess before cooking.

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3 of 40Alana Kysar

Hawaiian-Style Grilled Chicken

With a dead-simple marinade, this chicken comes out tangy and sweet, with just the right hint of bitterness. The only trick is: turn it frequently, to keep the sugars from burning.

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4 of 40Greg DuPree

Chicken with Green Olives, Capers, and Tomatoes

A briny, flavorful marinade tenderizes and moistens the chicken and also serves as a dressing for the olive-tomato topping. Serve with sliced grilled potatoes if you like.

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5 of 40Thomas J. Story

Grilled Wings with Agrodolce

Don’t underestimate the power of a good wing, especially this sticky-sweet version. For a crowd, double or triple the recipe.

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6 of 40Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken and Melon Salad with Crispy Shallots

A sweet-and-savorymain-dish saladthat’s totally worthy of dinner guests.

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7 of 40Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken with Avocado Three Ways

Why settle for one use of avocados when you can pickle, purée, and grill them, all in one satisfying dish?

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8 of 40Thomas J. Story

Chicken Tortas

People flock to Santa Fe’s Pollo Asado for its mesquite-grilled chicken. The secret is the citrus and achiote seasoning, which co-owner Olivia Arizmendi learned from her sister in Mexico. They tuck the meat intotelerarollsand addpickled onions,hot sauce, and shreddediceberg lettuce. Mashedavocadomakes it even better.

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9 of 40Thomas J. Story

Za’atar Lemon Grilled Chicken

Put the Mediterranean seasoning blend called za’atar to work to give camp chicken a complex flavor with minimal ingredients.

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10 of 40Jennifer Causey

Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Tangy, fruity tamarind, popular in Latino and Asian cuisines, is the secret ingredient in one of our favorite barbecue sauces for chicken wings.

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11 of 40Thomas J. Story

Grilled Chicken with Spicy Corn on the Cob and Grilled Lettuces

Russell Moore, chef and owner at Camino restaurant in Oakland, gave us this technique for grilling chicken breast—and it’s the juiciest version we’ve ever had, protected from overcooking by the bones and skin. “Don’t cook it too fast,” he adds. “You don’t want it burnt outside and raw inside.”

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12 of 40Erin Kunkel

Grilled Buttermilk Chicken

The perfect picnic chicken! Soak chicken in a buttermilk brine for extra moist and tender results, and add subtle Indian-inspired spices for a go-anywhere feast that’s miles from boring.

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13 of 40Thomas J. Story

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Jalapeño Sauce and Potato Chips

J. Kenji López-Alt, author ofThe Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, adapted this sandwich from recipes by his Serious Eats colleague Daniel Gritzer. It’s an excellent way to use grilled-chicken leftovers. López-Alt chooses a soft, mild bun that lets the fillings shine and adds crunch with potato straws—an ingredient borrowed from cooks in Colombia, who put them on hot dogs.

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14 of 40Thomas J. Story

Grilled Chicken Cutlets

Half of this intense, hearty vinaigrette goes on the chicken right before it’s cooked—less a marinade than a “pre-sauce”—and the other half gets drizzled onto the grilled chicken, creating layers of flavor without a long marinating time.

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15 of 40Thomas J. Story

Chicken Salad with Miso Dressing

After cooking chicken cutlets, throw corn on the still-hot grill to use in this unusual, delicious salad.

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16 of 40Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken, Corn, and Spinach Salad with Smoky Paprika Dressing

The paprika delivers great smoky flavor in this main-dish salad.

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17 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Grilled Chicken and Fennel with Orange Glaze

Quickly cooked chicken breasts get special treatment when served over fennel and onions charred on the grill.

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18 of 40Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Coconut Chutney

Designed for cilantro fans, this Indian-style chutney gives chicken breasts loads of flavor and keeps them moist in their parchment-paper packets.

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19 of 40Peden & Munk

Grilled Cilantro Chicken with Pickled Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Marinate chicken breasts in lime, cilantro, and chicken, then grill and top with an absolutely addictive sweet and spicy tomato avocado salsa. This dish will knock your socks off.

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20 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Grilled Thai Chicken Thighs with Spicy Broccoli Slaw

If you can’t find packaged broccoli slaw, whirl broccoli stems in a food processor, using the grater attachment. Throw in a carrot and some red cabbage if you like.

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21 of 40Iain Bagwell

Cashew Romesco Chicken Thighs

Made with cashews, this romesco has a silkier texture and sweeter flavor than the classic sauce made with almonds.

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22 of 40Iain Bagwell

Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Israeli Couscous

These crowd-pleasing kebabs get an Indian kick from a marinade of curry, garam masala, and yogurt. Israeli couscous on the side is a nice change from typical pasta salad.

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23 of 40Annabelle Breakey

BLT Chicken Burgers

Poultry burgers have a reputation for being dry and bland. Not these: Jazzed up with sharp cheddar, parmesan, and garlic―then topped with crisp bacon, juicy tomatoes, and lettuce―they’re boldness in a bun.

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24 of 40Lara Hata

Grilled Chicken and Nectarine Salad

A taste of summer in a bowl: barbecued chicken, sweet nectarines, tangy goat cheese, crisp salad greens, and toasted pecans.

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25 of 40Leo Gong

Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings

Finger-lickin’ sweet replaces blazing buffalo as the flavorings for these tasty wings.

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26 of 40James Carrier

Tequila-Marinated Chicken Fajitas

Tequila, orange juice, lime juice, and chipotle peppers add kick to this Mexican outdoor dinner party favorite.

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27 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Yakitori

Your family will love these extra-tasty chicken skewers, our version of a popular Japanese street food.

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28 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Yakitori Chicken Paillard with Cucumber Avocado Salad

The Japanese dish chicken yakitori is traditionally made on skewers, but grilling thin chicken breasts instead is even more weeknight-friendly. Marinate a day ahead for extra flavor.

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29 of 40Dan Goldberg

Grilled Chipotle-Chicken Quesadillas

Stuff your quesadillas with sour cream, spicy chipotle peppers, and grilled chicken, and you’ll have a new family favorite. Grilling adds a mildly smoky note, the perfect complement to big flavors like lime, cilantro, and chile.

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30 of 40Karen Steffens

Cilantro Chicken

Fresh cilantro, lime juice, honey, and garlic add zip to this simple, healthy main dish.

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31 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Lime and Pepper Grilled Chicken Breasts

Simplicity on the grill: This super-easy recipe puts a tasty spin on grilled chicken breasts, flavored with a hint of lime and a punch of pepper.

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32 of 40Leo Gong

Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Romesco Sauce

A sweet and salty sauce of roasted red peppers, nuts, and garlic tops this luscious chicken dish.

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33 of 40James Carrier

Wine-Brined Grilled Chicken

Give your chicken a 24-hour bath in dry white wine―it’s the key to this simple recipe’s delicate flavor.

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34 of 40Iain Bagwell

Spatchco*cked Chicken

“Spatchco*cking” a chicken means splitting the bird down the back and flattening it out so it cooks more evenly and quickly (it’s also known as butterflying). This version is rubbed with flavorful Dijon mustard and a mixture of dried and fresh herbs.

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35 of 40Dan Goldberg

Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts

Grill the perfect chicken breast―crunchy skin and tender meat―with a simple, foolproof method: Salt it beforehand to keep the meat moist, and give it a final toast over direct heat to crisp the skin up. Perfect results, with only two ingredients!

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36 of 40Annabelle Breakey

Grilled Chicken on Greens with Creamy Harissa Dressing

This chicken salad gets its wow factor from a dressing spiked with harissa, a Tunisian chile sauce. Cool yogurt balances the heat.

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37 of 40Lisa Romerein

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Sweet Onions and Peppers

Sweet, slow-cooked onions and red peppers, laced with Port, capers, and thyme, make grilled chicken thighs your summer blockbuster.

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38 of 40Aya Brackett

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Peas and Shallots

The Kitchen, in Boulder, CO has a wine and beer bar upstairs with 100 beers as well as dishes from a wood-fired oven; this is one of them.

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39 of 40Thomas J. Story

Spice-Rubbed Smoke-Roasted Chicken

The classic roast chicken moves onto the grill, and a spice rub gives it extra kick.

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40 of 40Thomas J. Story

Grilled Fusion Chicken

Spicy, garlicky cream sauce makes this chicken special enough for summer entertaining.

These Grilled Chicken Recipes Might Utterly Revolutionize Your Cookouts (2024)

FAQs

Why is grilled chicken better? ›

Grilled Chicken is better for the body because it loses its fat during the cooking process. The fat will drip off the meat during the cooking process. This cooking method also provides iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc to the consumer. Frying chicken will cause it to lose these essential vitamins.

How to season chicken like a restaurant? ›

Dry rub or marinade: Applying a dry rub or marinade to the chicken before cooking can add flavor and mimic the taste of grilled chicken. Try using a blend of herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, paprika, and cumin, to add a smoky flavor.

Is grilled chicken low and slow or hot and fast? ›

If you cook the chicken on too hot a grill, the skin will burn before the flesh cooks. Medium-low is the best temperature on a charcoal grill, and medium on a gas grill. This way, you'll crisp the skin and avoid flareups. Dark meat on the bone is more flavorful and will stay juicier on the grill.

What are the drawbacks of grilled chicken? ›

Grilling chicken with a high-fat marinade or seasoning, such as barbecue sauce, can increase its calorie and fat content. Additionally, grilling at high temperatures can form harmful compounds that may increase the risk of cancer.

Is it OK to eat grilled chicken everyday? ›

Chicken is a healthy food (as long as it's poached, baked or grilled), but that doesn't mean you should eat it every single day. As both dietitians have explained, eating a wide variety of foods is the best way to give your body the nutrients it needs.

How to grill chicken like a pro? ›

Let the breasts sear on the first side until they release naturally, about 2 minutes, then flip and do the same, then flip every minute until they hit temp to keep them cooking evenly and hopefully prevent the outside from getting leathery.

How long should you grill chicken? ›

Time, Temperature and Technique
  1. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. Time: 5 to 6 minutes per side. ...
  2. Chicken Tenders. Time: 2 to 3 minutes per side. ...
  3. Chicken Wings. Time: 15 to 20 minutes. ...
  4. Drumsticks. Time: 30 minutes. ...
  5. Thighs (Bone-In) Time: 30 to 40 minutes. ...
  6. Boneless Skinless Thighs. ...
  7. Skip the Guesswork. ...
  8. Use Direct and Indirect Heat.

How healthy is grilled chicken? ›

It's low in calories, low in fat and has a high nutritional value. Grilled chicken is also a great source of protein. People who get enough of this nutrient are more likely to maintain muscle mass and support a healthy metabolism. No wonder why chicken can follow you from infancy to adulthood!

What brings out the flavor in chicken? ›

Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It's best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

It is very important to marinate chicken whenever you plan to cook with high, direct heat such as grilling or pan searing, as these techniques tend to dry out the meat as it cooks. A marinade is an acidic solution that gets a head start on breaking down the structure of a protein before it is cooked.

Why does grilled chicken taste better than baked? ›

This is a chemical reaction that happens when meat is cooked at high temperatures, usually over 300 degrees Fahrenheit. When the amino acids in the meat react with the sugars, it creates hundreds of new flavor compounds, giving grilled meats that unique flavor that you just can't get from other cooking methods.

Does grilled chicken taste better than baked? ›

Grilled chicken often tastes better than baked chicken for several reasons: 1. **Flavor infusion**: Grilling chicken over an open flame allows it to absorb the smoky flavor from the grill, adding depth and complexity to the taste.

How do you grill chicken breasts without drying them out? ›

How do you grill chicken breast without drying it out? Brining is the secret to juicy grilled chicken breasts. It requires a bit of extra time, but the soak in the a brine helps to tenderize the meat, which makes it less tough once it's grilled. Also, a brine is a great way to add flavor if you want.

Why is grilled chicken healthier? ›

When creating a healthy diet plan, grilled chicken is almost always a staple. This is because grilled chicken is lean and contains far less fat and calories than other types of meat. Eating it regularly can help you lose weight, especially when you swap it out for fattier meats like beef or pork.

Why is grilled chicken better than baked? ›

Baking tends to give food a more delicate texture and taste. Grilling, on the other hand, produces a bolder flavor and allows fat to drip off the meat, reducing its calorie count. However, baking can be just as healthy as long as you don't add oil, butter and other fats.

Why is grilled chicken better for you than fried chicken? ›

Low in Fat

With about 5 grams of fat per 5 oz serving, grilled chicken triumphs over its fried counterparts. Grilling is the better option for avoiding unhealthy fats. This makes it an excellent option if you're watching your fat intake but still relish a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Why do bodybuilders eat grilled chicken? ›

Lean meat like turkey and chicken are fantastic foods for building muscle as they contain a high amount of protein and not much else; they have a very low carb and fat content and no nasties if they are not overly processed.

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