How to grill chicken breast like the pros

HOW TO GRILL CHICKEN BREASTS

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Grill Chicken On Gas Grill

Perfectly Grilled Chicken Breasts

Grilled chicken is an American BBQ classic. When prepared and cooked correctly, this simple meal is also one of the most delicious. Who doesn’t love a perfectly prepared, juicy, tender chicken breast while hanging outside at a BBQ? There are a few things to take into consideration when you include grilled chicken on a cookout menu: the seasoning, the temperature of the grill, and how long it’s cooked. Sounds simple - and it can be - but it any misstep on any of the three crucial steps can lead to disappointment. Check out our tips for perfectly seasoned, grilled chicken breasts. 

Ingredients for the Perfect Grilled Chicken Breasts:

  • 1-3 medium/large sized chicken breasts (depending on how many people you are serving)
  • Any sort of simple marinade:
    • Italian dressing - 
    • bbq sauce - if you’re looking to add some heat
    • olive oil - for a simple, tender taste

Prepare the Grill:

The first step is the most important one: grill preparation. Only a clean, well heated grill can cook the best grilled chicken breasts. To prime your grill for work: preheat it for 10-15 minutes. Once fully heated, use a grill brush to scrape any remnants from previous cookouts off your grates so they’re clean and ready to go.

 Fully grilled chicken breasts - How to grill chicken breasts

Marinated chicken breast on the grill

Prepare the Chicken Breasts:

Marinate the fully thawed chicken breasts. A clean, easy way to marinate the chicken is to place it in a large plastic zip top bag, pour in the marinade and make sure the entire chicken breast is fully submerged. Marinate for at least a half hour, or, to really get full flavor, marinate overnight. 

Grill the Chicken Breasts:

It’s show time: place your marinated chicken breasts on your pre-heated grill over direct medium heat at 425-450°F. Get your iGrill meat probes inserted into the chicken to check for internal temperature.

How Long You Should Grill the Chicken Breast:

While all grills are different, most of the time you’ll be golden if you grill your chicken breasts for about 9-10 minutes, flipping the chicken breasts over at the halfway point so you get beautiful, even sear marks on each side of the chicken. Presentation is key!

Check the Temp!

Check the internal temperature of the chicken using the iGrill meat probe. Once the internal temp is 165°F, remove your perfectly juicy, tender, and seared chicken breasts from the grill. Allow them to sit for a few minutes to cool slightly and seal in the juices before serving.

Grilled chicken is best served with a complimentary side, like a cold pasta or some seasoned grilled veggies. Have your guests pull up a seat on a picnic bench, grab a cold one, and enjoy your hard work!

FAQs for Grilling Chicken Breasts:

  • How long should I grill a chicken breast?
    • Grill chicken breasts for around 9 to 10 minutes, flipping them over halfway through.
  • How long do you grill chicken on each side?
    • Grill chicken breasts for around 5 minutes on each side.
  • What's the perfect grilled chicken temp?
    • Internal temperature of chicken breasts should be 165°F.
  • How hot should your grill be for chicken?
    • Heat your grill to between 425 and 450°F for chicken breasts.