Grilled Chicken Recipes - Cooking Light

Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken

In this recipe, the chicken is first split and then butterflied (flattened), a technique that allows for quicker and more uniform cooking. Rather than cutting through the breastbone, flip the chicken over and use kitchen shears to cut down the backbone. Once the chicken is cut, it will open up and lie flat on the grill for even cooking.

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Oxmoor House

Grilled Chicken with White Barbecue Sauce

White barbecue sauce―featuring mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, and pepper―is a tangy alternative to a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. If serving it for a weeknight dinner to finicky eaters, you may want to cut back on the spices you put on the chicken, as they do generate quite a kick.

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Beer-Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce

While American ingenuity has produced a variety of beer-can roasters that hold the can in place and stabilize the tipsy chicken, a special roaster isn’t needed for this recipe. Instead, use the beer can as the third leg of a tripod; spread the drumsticks out to support the chicken. The flavors of the hickory wood chips and spice rub permeate the chicken from the outside. The beer infuses the chicken with flavor from the inside. The results will convince you that this unique cooking method is worth the effort.

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Oxmoor House

Grilled Herb-Coated Chicken Breasts

Chives vary in shape from grass-fine to pencil-thick. The thicker the chive, the more flavor it packs. In order to chop chives safely, hold chives in a bunch and place on a clean cutting board. With a sharp knife chop chives to desired size. Keep in the refrigerator until they’re ready to be used. The coating of chopped herbs on the tender chicken breast provides protection from the hot grill as well as subtle flavor.

View Recipe: Grilled Herb-Coated Chicken Breasts

Oxmoor House

Sizzling Chicken Fajitas

Sometimes the best fajitas are homemade. And these truly stack up to any local Mexican restaurant’s best. Easy to prepare and packed with flavor, this recipe is one you’ll turn to every time you get a craving for authentic fajita fare.

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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kebabs

The dark meat of chicken thighs stands up to the strong flavors of the marinade. If you have any leftover dressing, serve it as a dipping sauce.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Spicy Moroccan Chicken Skewers

Serve with hot cooked couscous. Give the couscous nutty flavor by toasting it in a hot pan before you rehydrate it.

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Photo: Randy Mayor

Tandoori Chicken Thighs

This dish pairs well with vegetables. Slice half an onion into wedges, and halve and seed six mini sweet peppers. Brush the veggies with a bit of oil, grill them, and serve with naan bread to round out the meal.

View Recipe: Tandoori Chicken Thighs

Photo: John Autry

Grilled Chicken with Cola Sauce

Grilled chicken gets a dose of delicious when rubbed with a smoky and sweet spice mixture and brushed with cola barbecue sauce. Don't forget to serve with a side of sauce.

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Photo: Charles Masters

Fantastic Bourbon Smoked Chicken

To reinforce the whiskey flavor in the brine and basting butter, recipe developer and global grilling authority Steven Raichlen says to use Jack Daniel's whiskey barrel chips for smoking—widely available in grill and gourmet shops. This bird is so wonderfully moist and flavorful, it doesn't need added embellishment.

View Recipe: Fantastic Bourbon Smoked Chicken

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken with Bourbon Peach Butter

The hands-on time for this recipe is minimal (about 15 minutes), but you'll need to allow 2 hours and 15 minutes to bake the Bourbon Peach Butter. Our hands-free oven method helps prevent the sugary fruit butter from scorching.

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Photo: Anna Williams

Tequila-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs

If you would rather not use tequila, you can substitute 1/3 cup pineapple juice. Start the grilling over direct heat to get good grill marks and charred bits, and then move to indirect heat to gently finish the cooking.

View Recipe: Tequila-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs

Photo: Anna Williams

Yakitori

A teriyaki-like sauce adds tons of flavor to grilled chicken. Serve with rice or rice noodles and steamed baby bok choy.

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Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

Jerk Chicken and Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

This fantastic summertime dinner brings all of your favorite flavors to the table. Serve with Grilled Garlic Bread for a complete meal.

For the Grilled Garlic Bread: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Combine 1½ tablespoons olive oil and 2 minced garlic cloves in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 8 seconds. Brush both sides of 4 (1½-ounce) slices French bread with oil mixture. Place bread on grill rack; grill 1 minute on each side.

View Recipe: Jerk Chicken and Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

Photo: Johnny Autry

Garlic-Chipotle Chicken Tacos

To save time, this recipe utilizes chicken cutlets that cook up in a flash on the grill. Serve with Avocado and Orange Salad for a refreshing side dish.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Lemon and Sage Chicken

We leave the skin on for moisture while grilling, then discard before serving.

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Photo: Randy Mayor

Grilled Spice-Rubbed Whole Chicken

Cooking a whole chicken is easier and more delicious than you might expect. Skip the store-bought variety and try this whole chicken recipe tonight.

View Recipe: Grilled Spice-Rubbed Whole Chicken

Photo: Randy Mayor

Marinated Chicken Cooked Under a Brick

The weight of foil-covered bricks helps the chicken cook evenly, leaving the breast moist and tender while the legs cook fully.

View Recipe: Marinated Chicken Cooked Under a Brick

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Root Beer-Can Chicken

This is a family-friendly take on beer-can chicken in which we use an opened root beer can to support a whole bird on the grill. The liquid inside the can adds moisture, resulting in succulent, tender meat. Complete the meal with roasted red potatoes and a sweet-tart broccoli slaw.

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Photo: Randy Mayor

Chicken Breasts with Tomatoes and Olives

Kalamata and picholine olives add salty savor. Serve over couscous, with dressed greens on the side.

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Photo: Oxmoor House

Quick Barbecue Chicken

Rub chicken breasts under the skin with the spice paste, and grill for a simple, delicious late-summer dinner. Leave the skin on the chicken as it cooks so the breasts will remain juicy, and discard skin just before serving.

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Photo: John Autry

Hawaiian Chicken

Take a mental vaction to Hawaii as you enjoy this grilled chicken marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce and ginger.

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Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts

This versatile stuffed chicken breast dish is easy enough for a weeknight supper but elegant enough for company.

View Recipe: Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Grilled Chicken with Mango-Pineapple Salsa

Top grilled chicken breast halves with a sweet-and-spicy tropical salsa of fresh pineapple, mango, jalapeño peppers, and cilantro. Serve over rice for an easy one-dish meal.

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Photo: Anna Williams

Curry Chicken Wraps with Nectarine Chutney

Add a bit of exotic flavor to a basic grilled chicken wrap by marinating the chicken in a yogurt-curry mixture and topping the chicken with mango chutney, ginger, and fresh mint.

View Recipe: Curry Chicken Wraps with Nectarine Chutney

Photo: John Autry

Chicken Fajitas

These chicken fajitas get their flavor from a homemade marinade featuring dark Mexican beer, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. They can be prepared on the stovetop with a grill pan as directed, or outside over a charcoal or gas grill.

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Photo: Randy Mayor

Chicken Shawarma

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish of garlicky meat or poultry served on pitas. This chicken version is flavored with a savory yogurt sauce.

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Photo: John Autry

Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs

Speed up prep on this chicken main dish by marinating only 30 minutes. Serve with cabbage-carrot slaw.

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Photo: John Autry

Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with Beet Salad

Tamarind lends the marinade a pleasant sweet-sour note. However, you can substitute 2 tablespoons lemon juice if tamarind paste isn't available.

View Recipe: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with Beet Salad

Photo: John Autry

Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad

For less heat in the dish, use regular chili powder in place of chipotle chile powder.

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad