Summer is in full swing and what screams Summertime more than grilling dinner outdoors! Grilled chicken is my favorite and so we’ve compiled the 43 Most Delicious Grilled Chicken Recipes for Summer!
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Grilling is one of my favorite ways to prepare dinner. It’s quick and simple and it tastes so delicious! Grilled chicken is one of my personal favorites for quick dinners and also for delicious leftovers. But just plain grilled chicken can get a little boring after a while. You want to spice things up! So with that in mind, we’ve compiled some of the best recipes for grilled chicken we could find just for you! We’ve got them all in one list so you don’t have to go searching! We’ve done the work for you! Let’s dig in and decide which recipe we want to try first!
What cut of chicken should I grill?
You can grill any cut of chicken! Boneless chicken breasts, bone-in chicken breasts, boneless thighs, bone-in chicken thighs, chicken wings, chicken legs, leg quarters, even the whole chicken… the sky is the limit! Cooking times will vary and bone in chicken will take longer to cook for sure, so you may have to adjust the cooking times on the recipes. I always suggest using an instant-read thermometer to make sure your chicken is fully cooked.
What temperature should my grill be on to cook chicken?
That depends on a lot of things! How long does the recipe call for? What’s the thickness of your chicken? How big is the piece of chicken? The temperature of the grill will vary from recipe to recipe. You may want to use direct heat zones and indirect heat zones. The temperature of your grill will also be determined by the thickness of the chicken breast. If it’s a super thick piece of chicken, you’ll need to grill lower and slower so that your chicken doesn’t burn on the outside only to be raw on the inside.
How can you tell when the chicken is done?
How to tell when grilled chicken is done is an age-old question that keeps a lot of people from grilling. There are a few ways to tell if your chicken is done. First and safest (and the best way), is a good meat thermometer (I like a digital thermometer). Chicken breast is done when the safe internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160*. I like to go to 165* for good measure. Put the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and make sure it registers 160* and it’s done! Proper temperature is super important with chicken. You don’t want to get food poisoning.
If you don’t want to use a food thermometer, you can poke the chicken and see how firm it is, along with using visual cues like slicing it open (Just a small incision) to make sure there are clear juices coming from the chicken and there is no pink juice still. Also, look at the color of the meat, chicken breast (white meat) should be totally white, no pink! Sometimes doing this will result in overcooked chicken and your meat will be dry due longer cooking time on the chicken. We don’t want that, we want juicy chicken!
Can you freeze grilled chicken?
Good news! Yes, you sure can! And it’s amazing! Just make sure you wrap your leftover chicken really well so you don’t get freezer burn. It’s got a shelf life of six months in the freezer. I like to freeze leftover grilled chicken in smaller portions so I can use them for a future meal, quick meals, and lunches like salads, wraps, chicken salad, or add them to pastas or soups! Heck, I’ll make extra chicken just so I can load the freezer up with leftovers!
To freeze the chicken I like to wrap it up in plastic wrap and then additionally put the chicken in an airtight container in the freezer. You can also put the wrapped chicken in plastic freezer bags too! Vacuum sealers work VERY well for freezer preservation of food too. I love mine! It sucks out as much air as it can and it gives the best results for no freezer burn in my opinion.
As a general rule of thumb, I just let the frozen chicken thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then I use it the next day. As always, when you dethaw meat, check for signs of spoilage and foul smell. (You don’t want to eat food that has bacterial growth! Danger Zone! No go!).
Helpful Grilling Equipment
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Before we dive into all the grilling, here are some super helpful tools for grilling!
Oven Mitts – This is a heavy and hot dish! Make sure you have good oven mitts to protect your hands!
Santoku Knife – You don’t have to go out and buy a nice knife. BUT, if you were in the market for a knife, this is the one I couldn’t do without, and the one I go for time and time again. It’s wonderfully and beautifully made. I’ve had this knife for over 10 years and it’s my favorite thing in my entire kitchen. You truly do get what you pay for in knives. These are made in Germany, but are widely sold in the United States now. You can go way higher in quality as well, this is just a starting point.
Cutting Board – I’ve had these for years and I love them. Mine are red! They are the perfect sizes, easy to store, and have a little groove around the edges to stop juices from flowing all over. This is the cutting board I go to time and time again when I’m cooking.
Tongs – I really like these tongs! Especially for slow cooker or instant pot meals. The rubber on the ends of the tongs prevents the tongs from cutting right through tender meat and vegetables.
Grilling Utensil Kit – Here are all the tools you need for a successful session!
43 Delicious Grilled Chicken Recipes
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Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
Perfectly tender chicken is always a winning option and you can’t go wrong with this simple, eight ingredient grilled chicken recipe. This chicken and pineapple recipe offers such wonderful tropical flavors, as well as blending the sweet, tangy and savoury elements for a mouthwatering result.
Grilled Chili Lime Chicken (Gluten-Free, Paleo, Allergy-Free)
You’ll want this spicy and zesty recipe on the grill asap! Grilled Chili Lime Chicken that’s a delicious healthy entree for your next bqq or cookout! It’s gluten-free, paleo, and allergy-free; perfect for pleasing the crowd and awakening the taste buds!
Coriander Garlic Grilled Chicken + Green Goddess Sauce
The lemony tang of coriander with garlic, compliment smoky grilled chicken. Add a green goddess sauce to brighten this gluten-free, paleo entree further!
Experience the ultimate summer delight with our easy grilled BBQ chicken recipe. Juicy and flavorful, this foolproof recipe will make your outdoor dining a hit!
Grilled Vietnamese chicken breasts are crazy good & easy to make. The salty, sweet, sour, & slightly spicy marinade is an Asian-inspired basting sauce.
Shortcut Grilled Chicken Pizza is a shortcut recipe perfect for outdoor cookouts. This easy recipe for halfway homemade pizza starts with store bought pizza dough or Naan bread. Make it with Thai flavors or Southern BBQ pizza version. Once you’ve tried grilling a pizza, you may never go back to the pizza stone in the…Read More
Shortcut Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Tenders and Spicy Peanut Sauce both start with bottled marinade! The skewers of chicken strips are sweet and tangy and the sauce has just enough spiciness to measure up to any bowl of chicken wings for summer barbecues or game days. Not looking for a snack or appetizer? Serve these grilled…Read More
Pollo Asado al Carbon: Mexican Grilled Charcoal Chicken
Pollo Asado al Carbon, or Mexican charcoal chicken is one of our favorite grilled chicken recipes. Juicy chicken is marinated in citrus and chipotle before being grilled to perfection on your BBQ grill or over a live fire.
Juicy, tender, beer-marinated barbecue chicken served in a fluffy soft waffle topped with an herbed buttermilk ranch dressing and generous drizzle of honey. Rethink traditional chicken and waffles and go to the grill with my Honey Beer BBQ Chicken and Waffles.
Pesto and cheese stuffed chicken breasts, topped with a fresh tomato and basil cream sauce. Pesto Chicken with Basil Tomato Cream. This is a long time favorite, madeover for weeknight ease.
This Cornell Chicken Recipe is a legacy from the empire state of New York. Created nearly 100 years ago by a Cornell professor, it’s still as tasty as ever. Read this recipe from Platter Talk Food and Lifestyle Community and learn how to Barbecue Chicken on the grill.
Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken is perfect for a summer BBQ cookout! Mexican dinner recipe full of fresh bright flavors. Use chicken breasts, thighs, or legs. Gluten free, dairy free, keto low carb.
Grilled chicken breasts are the perfect spring and summer recipe. The Chicken marinates anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours and is tender, flavorful, and moist every time.
Pesto pasta salad with chicken is a quick, easy, and wildly flavorful pasta salad recipe! A great option for potlucks, picnics, BBQs, or as a light summer meal.
Easy Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken is tender & juicy… totally irresistible! This can be grilled (or baked) for the perfect summer meal or salad topper!
What type of grill should I use to cook my chicken?
The sky is the limit! Use whatever kind of grill you want! We have a gas grill at our house, but a charcoal grill is also delicious to use when grilling chicken! And a smoker can make some wonderful chicken, too! Make sure to follow grilling safety!
Is boneless chicken breast healthy?
It is! chicken breast is definitely part of a healthy diet, especially when you grill it! It’s a great way to choose a healthier option for dinner, that’s for sure! Chicken breast is an excellent source of protein and it’s heart-healthy too!
Wrap-Up: The 43 Most Delicious Grilled Chicken Recipes For Summer
So there you have it! Cooking chicken breasts can be flavorful and delicious! There are so many different ways to prepare a lovely and healthy grilled chicken dinner! Boneless skinless chicken breast never disappoints and it’s just delicious every time! Always remember to use proper food safety precautions for handling raw meat (Especially raw chicken), don’t leave your food out at room temperature for too long to prevent harmful bacteria, and make sure you have cooked your chicken to a safe temperature (160*!) and you’ll be enjoying chicken all summer long!
