How Long to Grill Chicken Breasts
April 22, 2018
How long do you cook Chicken Breasts on the grill?
How long do you have? If you have spent anytime on Tailgate Master you have probably learned we like to take our time when grilling. “Low and Slow” is the normal rule to juicy and delicious tailgating food (plus you can get more than one adult beverage in while you are minding the process). Knowing the right grill temperature for chicken can make the difference between a juicy, flavorful hunka-hunka beautiful chicken, and an overcooked, dry disaster.
We prefer our perfectly grilled chicken to be cooked slowly over indirect heat and reach an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. (remember: cook to TEMP not TIME) That being said, there are several different grilling methods you might use depending upon the thickness of your chicken breasts and how much time you have. Oh and just for the record, the following recipe techniques assume you are using a boneless, skinless, non-frozen chicken breast, fresh from the cooler.
Chicken Breasts seasoned and ready for the grill
Grilling Chicken Breasts Recipe Step by Step
1) Season or marinade your chicken breasts at least 20 minutes before grilling and leave in cooler until ready to grill
2) oil your grill grates, then preheat grill
3) place on grill for desired time turning once at the half way point. (Note: Time will very depending upon thickness of cut and temp of your grill, see methods above for suggestions).
4) Now move your chicken to the hottest part of the grill (directly over coals) for 2-3 minutes.
5) Make sure internal temp reaches at least 165° F
6) Remove from grill, cover and allow to rest 3 minutes before serving.
The “I’m in a Hurry to Get Things Done” method
1) Preheat your grill on high for 10-15 minutes, take this time to scrape any previous remnants off your grates with a grill brush.
2) Prep your chicken breasts with your favorite seasonings or marinade. I used olive oil and added a few dashes of “Tears of Our Rivals” premium grilling spices which adds enhances the taste perfectly.
3) Once you have preheated your grill to 425-450°F. Place seasoned chicken breasts on grill (bone side up / “pretty” side down) over direct medium heat.
4) Grill for about 9-10 minutes…. flipping the chicken breasts at the halfway point.
5) Check the internal temperature of the chicken using a cooking thermometer. Once the internal temp is 165°F, remove from grill and let cool.
Looks Like We Are Almost at the Half-Way Point – Get Ready to Flip
The “Sear First” method
1) Preheat your grill on high for 10-15 minutes.
2) Prep your chicken breasts with your favorite seasonings or marinade. I used EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and lightly seasoned with Tailgate Master “Tears of Our Rivals” wink wink.
3) Once you have preheated your grill to 350-360°F. Place seasoned chicken breasts on grill (bone side up / “pretty” side down) over direct high heat (directly above the coals if you are using charcoal).
4) Sear the breasts for about 3-4 minutes per side, flip once, until you have a nice golden brown color.
5) Move chicken breast to the “cool side” of the grill, indirect heat, and allow to cook another 10-15 (about 25 minutes total… again… we are cooking to temp, the time is just approx.)
5) Check the internal temperature of the chicken using a cooking thermometer. Once the internal temp is 165°F, remove from grill and let cool.
The “These are HUGE BREASTS and I want to make sure they are GRILLED PERFECTLY” method
1) Preheat your grill on high for 10-15 minutes, take this time to scrape any previous remnants off your grates with a grill brush.
2) Prep your THICK AND JUICY chicken breasts with your favorite seasonings or marinade. Guess what, I skipped the olive oil this time and used some non-stick grilling spray and I also used a generous amount of “Tears of Our Rivals” premium grilling spices… ’cause they they add awesome. 😉
3) Once you have preheated your grill to 250-260°F. Place seasoned chicken breasts on grill (bone side up / “pretty” side down) over indirect heat.
4) Grill for about 40-50 minutes…. flipping the chicken breasts at the halfway point.
5) Check the internal temperature of the chicken using a cooking thermometer. Once the internal temp is 155°F, move directly over heat to sear, then flip and sear the other side.
Thick, Plump, FAN-Tastic
Optional and Awesome
If you want to apply a BBQ sauce or glaze to the chicken breasts (highly recommended), do it during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Slather a layer of barbecue sauce one side of the chicken, close the lid for 5 minutes to let the sauce bake on, then open the lid, turn the breasts, then add more sauce, close the lid, wait 5 more minutes and remove from heat. Rest 3 minutes and DONE!
How do I know when my Chicken Breast is done?
The only perfect method is to use a digital thermometer to test the internal temperature as measured in the thickest part of the breast. The USDA recommends that you cook to 165 F and then allow to rest for at least 3 minutes.
For more tips on Chicken … check out this post: Grilling Perfect Chicken.
Thank You!
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Oh… and as long as you are here, you might also enjoy the following related topics:
How to Grill the Perfect Steak | Tailgating Checklist | Chicken Recipes | More Tailgating Tips
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