Get perfectly juicy chicken on the inside and stunning grill marks on the outside by grilling your chicken at 400ºF over direct heat for around 15 minutes.
The key to grilled chicken recipes is the internal temperature. Make sure to grill until it reaches around 160ºF.
Grilled chicken is a summer staple in our house. Heck, even in the dead of winter when it’s snowing, we’re making grilled chicken breast (I have photo and video to prove it)!
My go-to recipe involves chicken breasts, a few seasonings, and grilling chicken over direct heat at around 400ºF until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.
We’ve got lots of grilled chicken recipes on Fit Foodie, so if you’re looking for a different cut try our other popular variations: grilled chicken legs, grilled chicken thighs, beer can chicken, or grilled spatchcock chicken.
What You Need for Grilled Chicken
- Chicken breast: we recommend boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe. If possible, buy chicken breasts that are similar in thickness so that they have similar cook times.
- Seasonings or marinade: this recipe keeps things very simple with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, however I love using a few teaspoons of our chicken seasoning or chicken dry rub. In addition, you use one of our chicken marinades or our epic grilled chicken marinade, for flavor too.
- Meat tenderizer + cutting board: while this isn’t always necessary to perfect grilled chicken, we recommend pounding out your chicken so it’s equal in size.
Top Tips for Grilling Chicken Breast
- Remove moisture before cooking
- Grill at 400ºF for around 15-20 minutes
- Cook until chicken reaches 160ºF
- Let rest for 10 minutes after grilling
Grilled Chicken FAQ
What goes good with grilled chicken?
Serve your grilled chicken breast with a baked potato, grilled asparagus, or a yummy broccoli salad recipe!
How do I grill the perfect chicken breast?
In order to make the best grilled chicken breast, we suggest heating your grill to 400ºF. Grill chicken for 5-7 per side and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
Should I pound my chicken before grilling?
The option is yours. We don’t personally pound our chicken before grilling because we love when a few edge pieces get nice and charred, but option to use a meat tenderizer to pound your chicken so that the entire thing is the same thickness.
How long to grill chicken breast?
Grill your chicken breast at 400ºF for around 15-20 minutes, flipping after 7-8 minutes. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
How to prevent your chicken from sticking to the grill?
We recommend spraying your grill grates with nonstick cooking spray right before before cooking. Alternatively, you can use a piece of tin foil with nonstick cooking spray.
How long does grilled chicken last in the fridge?
Your grilled chicken breasts will last up to 3-5 days in the fridge.
Should you let chicken rest after grilling?
Yes! By allowing your chicken to rest you not only 1. let it cool so you can eat it, but 2. the chicken continues to cook around 5ºF more and becomes extra juicy and moist.
Storage
Our biggest tip when storing grilled chicken breast is to let it cool completely before refrigerating, so that moisture doesn’t condense.
So, let it cool, transfer the leftovers into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
What to do with Leftovers
There are so many amazing recipes you can make with leftover chicken! Try a chicken salad, grilled chicken salad, a buffalo chicken wrap!
Serving Suggestions
Looking for meal inspiration to pair with your grilled chicken recipe? Check out some of our favorite grilled sides that you can pair with your chicken breasts: Grilled Asparagus in Foil, Baked Potatoes in Foil, Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Carrots, and Foil-Pack Grilled Red Potatoes.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes
We have so many amazing grilled chicken recipes on Fit Foodie Finds and we thought we’d highlight the most popular below. Enjoy!
Grilled Chicken Salad
There’s nothing better than a crunchy, topping-packed grilled chicken salad on a hot summer night.
Grilled Chicken Legs
Ever wonder how to grill chicken legs? Look no further because these are the BEST grilled chicken legs in all the land. We’ll teach you how to make the most amazing chicken dry rub and give you a step by step tutorial for the best grilled chicken legs recipe ever.
Easy Grilled Chicken Thighs
These are the best grilled chicken thighs because the skin gets nice and crispy on the outside while the inside is tender and juicy.
