Grilled Chicken Breasts (2024)

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If you love grilled chicken breasts – but you’ve had a hard time making sure they stay juicy and don’t dry out – or want to amp up the flavor, instinctively know how long to grill chicken breast, and find new marinade ideas, this foolproof recipe is your new best friend!

Perfect for salads, pasta, as a main dish, or in sandwiches – this is one meal every home cook needs in their rotation!

Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.

We add lots of tips in our recipe – so you can make this dish, understand why it works and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help home cooks of any skill level better understand the processes we use and why!

How Long To Grill Chicken Breasts

This recipe is more of a method than a “recipe” – we’re breaking down the important steps for cooking chicken breasts – so you have all the tools you need to make grilled chicken breasts perfectly, every time.

One of the most important parts of grilling chicken breasts, which are very low fat, is to not overcook the chicken.

Overcooked grilled chicken is tough, dry, and bland – but you’ll quickly know by the appearance and texture of chicken if it’s cooked (always probe to be sure) after making this dish a few times.

How to Grill Chicken Breasts

To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts: Chicken breasts serve as the main protein component of the recipe. They are lean and versatile, providing a blank canvas for the flavors to shine. Chicken breasts become tender and juicy when properly grilled.
• Italian Dressing: Italian dressing acts as both a marinade and a flavor enhancer. It brings a combination of herbs, spices, vinegar, and oil, adding tanginess and depth of flavor to the chicken breasts. The dressing helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with a delicious Italian-inspired taste.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder contributes a rich and savory flavor to the chicken breasts. It adds depth and aroma without the need for fresh garlic. Garlic powder also enhances the overall taste profile of the dish and pairs well with the other ingredients.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce brings a savory and umami flavor to the chicken breasts. It adds depth and richness to the marinade, balancing the tanginess of the Italian dressing. Soy sauce also helps to tenderize the meat and creates a delicious caramelization when grilled.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Salt and black pepper are essential seasonings that enhance the taste of the chicken breasts. They help to bring out the natural flavors and add a touch of seasoning. Salt helps to tenderize the meat and balance the overall seasoning, while black pepper adds a subtle kick.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

• Marinate. Put chicken breasts in a large zip bag and cover with Italian dressing, garlic powder, and soy sauce. Gently squeeze the air out of the bag. Shake bag so all the chicken is covered with dressing. Place the bag in a bowl and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat. Pre-heat and clean grill- rubbing ½ an onion on the hot grill cleans and flavors the grates.
• Grill. Remove chicken from bag with marinade.Season with salt and pepper.Cook chicken on medium high heat until 165 internal temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Serve. Enjoy when hot, or refrigerate and use for s sack-lunch.

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Grilled Chicken Breasts

Start with Quality Chicken Breasts: Choose fresh, high-quality chicken breasts that are of uniform thickness. Look for organic or free-range chicken if possible, as they tend to have better flavor and texture.

Tenderize the Chicken: Before grilling, you can tenderize the chicken breasts by lightly pounding them with a meat mallet or a rolling pin. This helps to break down the muscle fibers, making the chicken more tender and juicy.

Preheat the Grill: Make sure your grill is preheated to the appropriate temperature before adding the chicken. For chicken breasts, medium-high heat (around 375-400°F or 190-200°C) is usually ideal. Preheating ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and helps to create those desirable grill marks.

Oil the Grill Grates: Prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill by oiling the grates. Use tongs and a folded paper towel dipped in oil to lightly coat the grates before placing the chicken on them.

Use the Two-Zone Grilling Method: Set up your grill with both direct and indirect heat zones. Start by searing the chicken breasts over direct heat for a couple of minutes on each side to create a flavorful crust. Then move them to the indirect heat side of the grill to finish cooking more gently. This helps to avoid excessive charring and allows the chicken to cook more evenly.

Cook to the Right Internal Temperature: Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken breasts. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Avoid overcooking, as this can lead to dry chicken. I’ll often remove chicken from the grill at 155°F as it will carryover cook the final 10 degrees as the chicken rests before slicing.

Let it Rest: Once the chicken breasts are done, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in moist and flavorful chicken.

Marinate for Flavor and Moisture: Marinating the chicken breasts prior to grilling can infuse them with flavor and help retain moisture. Use a marinade that includes acidic ingredients like citrus juice, vinegar, or yogurt, as these can help tenderize the meat and keep it moist.

How to Marinate Grilled Chicken. One of the most important things to do to make sure your chicken never dries out, for juicy, tender, and crave-able grilled chicken is marinate your chicken before grilling. Marinating your grilled chicken should not be skipped – it helps lock in tons of flavor and chicken’s natural juices so you’re not stuck with dry grilled chicken.

• Poke holes in the chicken with a fork or knife.
  • This allows the marinade’s flavor to sink in to the chicken better.

• Keep marinating chicken in airtight container.
  • Food safety is incredibly important when cooking chicken – keep your chicken refrigerated until use.
• Refrigerate marinating chicken for at least 2 hours.
  • Chicken marinade will flavor your chicken after about 2 hours in the marinade – you can grill after just two hours and still have tons of flavor.
• Refrigerate marinating chicken for up to two days.
  • Chicken can be left in an airtight container in the refrigerator while marinating for up to two days.

• For extra juicy chicken, grill in foil pouch with marinade.
  • Making a foil pouch for your chicken breasts in a little extra marinade and sealing it up before throwing it on the grill will give you incredibly juicy and tender chicken.
• Don’t use leftover marinade.
  • Food safety, yo.
  • But really – don’t use the marinade your raw chicken has been in on other dishes to cut the risk of cross contamination and salmonella.

Does Grilled Chicken Freeze Well. Grilled chicken freezes really well with a couple of tips and tricks:

• Don’t cut up chicken before freezing.
  • If you’re grilling whole chicken breasts, don’t cut them up when freezing to keep the surface area open to freezer burn less.
• Freeze chicken breasts individually to “set”.
  • We want to prevent chicken from sticking together in the freezer – since chicken frozen solid together will thaw a lot less evenly.
  • To freeze individually, place on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop chicken breasts onto parchment paper and freeze until “set” – about 3-6 hours in the freezer.
  • When chicken has initially frozen, remove from baking sheet and add to ziploc or vacuum sealed bag and freeze up to one month.
• Remove any extra air from container or bag when freezing.
  • To prevent freezer burn, be sure to remove as much extra air in the bag as you can.

FAQs

What to Serve With Grilled Chicken Breasts

We love top top grilled chicken with Tahini Sauce and Zhoug (Skhug) Sauce – or an Easy Peanut Dipping Sauce for a bit of fresh flavor after grilling!

Grilled Vegetables: Consider grilling an assortment of vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, or asparagus. Grilled vegetables provide a tasty and nutritious accompaniment to the chicken.

Salad: A fresh and vibrant salad can be a refreshing complement to grilled chicken. Opt for a green salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and your choice of dressing. Alternatively, a Greek salad with feta cheese, olives, and a tangy vinaigrette can be a great choice to match the flavors of grilled chicken.

Roasted Potatoes: Roasted potatoes are a classic and hearty side dish that pairs well with grilled chicken. Season them with herbs and spices, like rosemary or garlic, for added flavor.

Rice or Quinoa: Serve grilled chicken with a side of fluffy rice or quinoa. You can prepare them plain or add ingredients like herbs, vegetables, or nuts to elevate the flavors.

Pasta Salad: Create a refreshing pasta salad with cooked pasta, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing. It’s a versatile side dish that complements grilled chicken nicely.

Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw provides a cool and crunchy contrast to the smoky flavors of grilled chicken. Consider a classic coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing.

Grilled Corn on the Cob: Take advantage of the grill by grilling corn on the cob. The charred and sweet flavors of grilled corn pair exceptionally well with grilled chicken.

Salsa or Chutney: Prepare a fresh salsa or chutney using ingredients like tomatoes, onions, cilantro, or mango. These vibrant condiments add a burst of flavor to grilled chicken.

Bread or Rolls: Serve grilled chicken alongside some crusty bread or rolls. They can be used to make sandwiches or served on the side for dipping in sauces.

Fruit Salad: A refreshing fruit salad with a mix of seasonal fruits can be a light and refreshing side dish to balance the richness of grilled chicken.

You can find our entire side dish recipe index here.

Find our BBQ style sides here.

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