Ultimate Grilled Chicken Recipes

Fresh ideas for grilled chicken plus amazing recipes for brines, rubs, marinades, sauces and more.Download a FREE Cookbook of Our Best Grilled Chicken Recipes!Watch Video
Start Slideshow

1 of 24

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Jerk Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Jamaican jerk sauce traditionally uses Scotch bonnet peppers; here, we substitute jalapeños for a milder flavor. The jerk sauce serves as both a marinade and a sauce for meaty grilled chicken thighs. This healthy grill recipe takes just 30 minutes of active time, so as long as you plan ahead and factor in the marinating time it's perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or easy weekend BBQ.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 24

Grilled Chicken Taco Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Peppery arugula, grilled corn and a tangy lime vinaigrette give this healthy taco salad recipe a serious upgrade. This recipe is the perfect vehicle for using the crushed-up tortilla chips at the bottom of the bag.

3 of 24

Chipotle Chicken Satay with Grilled Vegetables

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Plan ahead before you prep the grill for this grilled chicken recipe: marinating the chicken in a mix of peanut butter, lime, and chipotle peppers results in tender meat and bold flavors.

Advertisement

4 of 24

Buttermilk-Brined Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy buttermilk chicken recipe has all the flavor of buttermilk fried chicken without the frying. Using salt in the brine to draw moisture into the chicken, buttermilk to tenderize and a heap of herbs for fresh flavor, this easy chicken marinade creates unbelievably delicious fried chicken.

5 of 24

Beer-Glazed Chicken with Grilled Vegetables

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Need a new chicken dinner idea? Try this grilled chicken and vegetable dish from chef Rick Bayless. Grilling the chicken and summer vegetables is a no-brainer, but in colder months, you may wish to move indoors and roast the chicken, along with some root vegetables. Whatever the weather, it's worth seeking out piloncillo for the beer glaze. This unrefined sugar used in Mexican cooking is made from evaporated cane juice. Its complex caramelized flavor balances any bitterness in the beer. Look for it in Latin markets and online.

6 of 24

Vertically Grilled Whole Chicken with Sweet & Spicy BBQ Rub

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This sweet and spicy barbecue rub recipe for chicken performs the double duty of giving chicken a burst of flavor while also creating a pleasant crust. The rub recipe makes enough to prepare 2 pounds of boneless chicken or 4 pounds of bone-in chicken, but you can easily double or triple the recipe and store the extra in an airtight container for up to 3 months so you can have it on hand throughout the grilling season.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 24

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Caper Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy grilled chicken breast recipe--a twist on chicken piccata--features a creamy white-wine-and-caper pan sauce that gets a burst of summer flavor from fresh grape tomatoes and basil. Pounding the chicken prior to grilling ensures even cooking and makes this easy dinner even faster. The piccata sauce would also be great with shrimp, firm white fish or pork.

8 of 24

Spatchcocked Chicken with Sweet & Spicy BBQ Rub

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this whole grilled chicken recipe, the backbone is removed and the chicken is flattened then grilled under the weight of 2 bricks--which enables it to cook quickly and evenly. The homemade rub recipe makes enough to prepare 2 pounds of boneless chicken or 4 pounds of bone-in chicken, but you can easily double or triple the recipe and store the extra in an airtight container for up to 3 months so you can have it on hand throughout the grilling season.

9 of 24

All-American BBQ Chicken Thighs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this healthy chicken thigh recipe, bottled barbecue sauce--often loaded with sodium and high-fructose corn syrup--is replaced with a homemade barbecue sauce recipe. Use the barbecue sauce to baste the chicken thighs while cooking--but if you want to also serve the barbecue sauce at the table, separate some before grilling to avoid cross-contamination.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 24

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Summer Corn Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chicken thighs are easy on the budget and great for grilling because they stay moist in the heat. Here, they are paired with a fresh corn and tomato salad for a simple summer dinner. When grilling skin-on chicken thighs, watch for flare-ups. Move the chicken away from the flames and reduce heat, if necessary, to keep it from charring.

11 of 24

Southwest Grilled Chicken Caesar

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this Southwestern spin on the classic Caesar salad, avocado stands in for raw egg and some of the oil in this rich, creamy dressing. Grilled spice-rubbed chicken makes it satisfying.

12 of 24

Jerk Chicken with Coconut Rice & Peas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Add some flavor of the Caribbean to your weeknight dinners with this healthy and easy jerk chicken recipe. The chicken is cooked on a grill pan rather than an outdoor grill--make sure the pan is well-heated before adding the chicken to achieve the crisp char you would get from an outdoor grill. A simple side of coconut rice and peas completes this satisfying and nutritious meal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 24

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Mediterranean Couscous

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fennel adds a nice flavoring to the marinade in this Mediterranean-inspired chicken souvlaki dish. The kabobs are perfectly paired with a veggie-packed, yogurt-dressed Israeli couscous.

14 of 24

Grilled Ancho Chicken Breasts & Apricot Salsa

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this healthy grilled chicken recipe, ancho chile powder adds a rich, mild flavor to lean chicken breasts. If you can't find ancho chile powder, feel free to use mild chili powder in its place. A vibrant salsa with avocado and grilled apricots, nectarines and/or peaches completes the pretty picture. Grilling not-quite-ripe stone fruit is a mouth­watering way to bring out its natural flavor and sweetness--plus, the fruit is grilled right alongside the chicken, making for a quick recipe.

15 of 24

Grilled Chicken Wings with Carrots & Celery

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These grilled chicken wings get that wonderful mix of sweet and spicy flavors from honey and harissa. Most grills cook unevenly, so it's important to keep these wings moving around to ensure crispy skin without burning. Traditional chicken wing sides--carrots and celery--cook right alongside the chicken for a quick dinner on the grill.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 24

Grilled Chicken with Blueberry-Lime Salsa

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

One lime does double duty in this healthy chicken recipe. The zest adds a citrus punch to the rub for the chicken, and the lime segments are combined with blueberries for a tart and refreshing salsa. Add more chile if you like it hot.

17 of 24

Chicken & Sweet Potato Grill Packets with Peppers & Onions

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cook your whole meal in a packet on the grill with this easy veggie-loaded recipe. The Mexican-inspired seasoning makes the chicken and veggies taste great served with warm tortillas and your favorite taco toppings for a healthy dinner.

18 of 24

Grilled Chicken with Cucumber-Radish Salsa

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fresh salsa dresses up grilled chicken--or any other meat for that matter--in this healthy chicken dinner recipe. Want an island vibe? Swap mango for the cucumber and lime juice for the rice vinegar.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 24

Chicken and Vegetable Souvlaki with Barley Pilaf and Tzatziki

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This recipe combines two popular components of Greek cuisine: souvlaki and tzatziki. Souvlaki consists of skewered, grilled meat, and tzatziki is a yogurt-based sauce traditionally served with grilled meats.

20 of 24

Asian-Style Brined Chicken Hindquarters with Sesame-Cilantro Pesto

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Brining the chicken before grilling ensures that it's juicy and tender. A sesame-cilantro pesto, with ginger, mint, and crushed red pepper, is the perfect topping for this Asian-style main dish.

21 of 24

Spicy Tunisian Grilled Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This spicy rub of coriander, caraway and hot pepper is lovely on grilled chicken, as we use it here, or try it on pork tenderloin or salmon. If you prefer your food less spicy, reduce the amount of crushed red pepper.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 24

Thai Wit-Glazed Grilled Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This chicken's sticky, citrusy glaze is a flavor-packed combo of Belgian wit beer, coriander and orange--plus it gets a Thai-inspired spin from lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. Use a bottle from your favorite brewery or opt for easy-to-find Blue Moon Belgian White (and have a few extra bottles on hand to drink with it!).

23 of 24

Persian Grilled Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy grilled chicken recipe owes its tenderness to an overnight soak in a yogurt-lemon juice marinade and its soulful flavor to saffron and onion. A healthy drizzle of saffron-infused butter before serving adds an extra layer of richness. Serve with aromatic rice with pistachios and torshi, Central Asian pickles available at Persian and Middle Eastern grocery stores.

24 of 24

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cucumber-Mint Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The cumin-and-coriander rub in this grilled chicken thigh recipe pairs deliciously with a minty cucumber salad. Chicken thighs can vary widely in size. Ask your butcher to hand-select 4 large thighs for this recipe. If you can only find small chicken thighs, cook 2 per person and reduce the grill time slightly.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from http://www.eatingwell.com