Grilled Chicken Breasts (Easy and Juicy!)

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Some people associate grilled chicken breast recipes with dry chicken, not dark meat, e.g. Roast Chicken Legs and Grilled Chicken Thighs, but not necessarily so! if you get it right, Grilled Chicken Breast Can be just as juicy and delicious. The key is to have a good marinade and know how long to cook the chicken breasts so they are perfectly tender and not overcooked. I’ve got lots of tips and tricks for you, and a handy schedule so you don’t have to overcook again!

Ingredients and Substitutes

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for grilled chicken breast, the role each ingredient plays in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements, see recipe card below.

chicken breast:

This grilled chicken breast recipe is tried and true for boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can use any size – just use the schedule below. The marinade will also work for bone-in chicken pieces, but grilling times will vary.

Grilled Chicken Breast Marinade:

• olive oil – This is the base of the marinade. I prefer regular olive oil to extra virgin because of its higher smoke point. Avocado oil or any heat resistant cooking oil will work too.
• lemon – The acid in the lemon juice tenderizes the chicken. Since you need juice and lemon zest, you need fresh lemons. Limes also work here.
• dijon mustard – Add flavor. You can also use yellow or spicy brown mustard if you prefer.
• Honey – Adds subtle sweetness and balances acidic lemon juice.You can use regular honey or unsweetened honey.
• garlic – I used minced garlic, but you can also use minced garlic. Just make sure to scrape it off before cooking as it will burn on the grill.You can also use 1/2 tsp instead garlic powder.
• spices – smoked paprika (or sweet paprika works), onion powderSea Salt And Black Pepper.
• dried herbs – I used dried thyme leaves and dried oreganobut you can use any dried herbs you have on hand, such as basil or rosemary. italian seasoning The grilled chicken breast marinade is also delicious! You can try fresh herbs if you want, but I didn’t because they burn more easily.

How to Grill Chicken Breasts

This section shows how to cook a chicken breast on the grill, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique to help you get a visual sense of it.For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see recipe card below.

1. Make the marinade. In a small bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, honey, crushed garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, sea salt, and black black pepper.
2. Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in a large ziplock bag. Pour marinade over chicken seal and bag, then move chicken to coat evenly. refrigeration.

3. Grill. Clean the grill and preheat the grill (or bakeware) to medium to high temperature. Place the chicken breasts, smooth side down, on the grill over direct heat. Grill, flipping once, until cooked through. (See grilling times below, depending on the size of the chicken.)
4. rest. Transfer the chicken to a plate or cutting board and let rest before slicing and serving.

How Long to Roast Chicken Breasts?

Grilling time for chicken breasts will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts. For an 8-ounce chicken breast, cook 6-8 minutes per side, or until its internal temperature reaches 165°F. If you want them to be juicy, remove from the grill when they’re a few degrees cooler to allow the internal temperature to rise. The temperature will rise to 165 while resting.

For other sizes, follow my grilled chicken breast schedule, below:

What temperature do you bake chicken breasts at?

The ideal grilling temperature for chicken breasts is medium-high (approximately 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit). This high heat helps to sear the chicken quickly, which helps lock in moisture and keep it from drying out.

Tips for the Best Grilled Chicken Breast

I spent a lot of time testing this grilled chicken breast recipe to make sure it was juicy! Follow these tips for great results every time:

• Choose pieces that are uniform in size. If your chicken breasts are the same size, they will be easier to grill because they will cook at the same rate.
• The marinade is key. Since chicken breasts are so lean, baked chicken breast recipes can easily dry out. One of the best ways to prevent this is to use a marinade like this recipe.Alternatively, you can use brine instead of chicken, like I do in my Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe.
• Marinate for the appropriate time. The minimum time is 30 minutes, but a longer marinating time is better. Just don’t leave it longer than 24 hours or the chicken will turn mushy.
• Preheat grill. This is important with any chicken cut to reduce the chance of sticking, but it’s especially important for grilled chicken breast recipes, since starting with a lower heat means they’ll take longer to cook and are more likely to dry out.
• Bake the display side first. This is the smoother side of the chicken breast. The grill marks tend to be slightly better on the first side.
• Do not move the chicken. If you want nice grill marks, keeping the chicken in one place and only moving and flipping is the best way to achieve this.
• Don’t flip too quickly. If the chicken sticks, either the grill isn’t hot enough or the chicken needs to cook longer before flipping.
• Use a meat thermometer. Even with a brine or marinade, the biggest influence on the juicy results is the time the chicken breasts are grilled. You can use the schedule above, but since grills vary, the best way to know how perfect it is is with a thermometer.You can use the regular Instant Read Thermometerbut my favorite is probe thermometer Because it beeps when your chicken is ready. Cook until it reaches 165°F, but it will be juicier if removed from heat when it is a few degrees lower, as the internal temperature rises a few degrees while standing.
• Don’t forget to rest. To ensure juicy grilled chicken breasts, it’s important to rest after removing from the heat. This allows the juices to settle.
• Slice against the texture. like cutting roast steak Going against the grain, this helps break down the muscle fibers and makes the chicken more tender.

storage instructions

• shop: Store leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Meal Prep: You can make the marinade a few days in advance and/or marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking.You can also grill chicken breasts ahead of time and portion them out in meal prep containers healthy side dishes Easy lunch!
• Reheat: Chicken breasts can easily dry out when reheating, so be careful not to overheat. My favorite way is to put it in a baking dish with a little broth on the bottom, seal it with foil, and heat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (The broth will steam to keep it juicy.) You can also reheat the chicken breasts over indirect heat on the grill, or in the microwave on medium power (cover with a damp paper towel to keep moist).
• freeze: Store the chicken in a zip lock bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Breasts

There are so many ways to use this grilled chicken breast recipe!They can be main dishes and side dishes, placed in salad, even in recipes that call for cooked chicken. Here are some ideas:

• salad – you can’t go wrong Grilled Chicken Salad!You can also use it for Cobb Salad or Chicken Caesar Salador to make a side salad such as Spinach Strawberry Salad or Arugula Salad, into a meal.For a picnic-style healthy side, try Cauliflower Potato Salad.
• vegetable – Now that you’re cooking chicken breasts on the grill, you might as well go on the grill and make some quick Grilled Asparagusbid Roasted Broccoli crispy on the edges, or my favorite grilled eggplant.you can also try some Air Fryer Green Beans If you want to have your main and side dishes ready at the same time.
• Potato – for a hands-off cooking option while roasting potatoes on the grill, or grilling chicken breasts outside, try Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or classic baked beans.
• sauce – This chicken is juicy on its own, but if you want to add some sauce, try BBQ sauce (I like Sugar Free BBQ Sauce), Passionate Argentinian Chili Sauceeven sesame paste.
• Soups and Casseroles – Toss the leftover grilled chicken breast in Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole or Buffalo Chicken Soup.

More Roast Chicken Recipes

And what better way to celebrate summer than by cooking dinner on the grill? Try these other roast chicken methods:

Grilled Chicken Breasts (Easy and Juicy!)

Makes perfectly juicy grilled chicken breasts! With an easy marinade, technique, and schedule, this recipe makes roasting chicken foolproof.

Prepare: 10 minute

chef: 15 minute

marinating time 30 minute

all: 55 minute

Serving Size: 4 (Adjust according to recipe ratio)

raw material

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instruct

Click on the time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while cooking.

1. In a small mixing bowl, brush Combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, honey, crushed garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper.

2. Place chicken breasts in a large plastic bag, add marinade and seal. Move the chicken so that it is well coated with the marinade.Refrigerate at least 30 minutesor up to 24 hours.

3. Towards the end of marinating time, preheat to grill or bakeware to moderately high temperature (~400°F (204°C)) at least 10 minutes.

4. When the grill is hot, remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and shake off any excess. Place the chicken breasts, smooth side down, on the grill over direct heat.For an 8-ounce chicken breast, cook until 6-8 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). See the post above for tips and cooking times for other sizes of chicken breasts.

5. Once the chicken breasts are cooked, remove them from the grill and let them rest 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

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recipe notes

Serving Size: 1 grilled chicken breast

Nutritional Information Use 1/3 of the marinade (discard the rest) and unsweetened honey.

nutrient content

Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.

calories 306

fat 10.5 grams

protein 48.5 grams

total carbohydrates 2.4 grams

net carbs 1 g

fiber 1.4 grams

sugar 0.5 grams

Nutrition Facts are provided as a courtesy. Questions about calculations or why do I get different results?see our nutrition policy.

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