Top Grilled Chicken Recipes

August 14, 2007
Photo: Daniel Agee
Spice up grilled chicken breasts, wings, thighs, and more with homemade rubs, sauces, and flavor-packed marinades for a memorable meal. There's no better time than tonight for you to rev up your grill, light up the flames, and get to searing your favorite cut of chicken. Perfect for the whole family, grilled chicken dinners are an easy, tasty way to get food on the table. Embrace the smoky aroma and charred texture of your next grillling creation.
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Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe

The red onions develop a nice char on the grill, but they finish cooking and develop a depth and sweetness once left to steam. Drizzle any juices from the onion mixture over the grilled chicken. Fresh cilantro and zesty lime add a refreshing brightness to this light summer meal, perfect for the whole family. For a sensitive palate, use less or omit red pepper flakes.

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Korean Barbecue Spatchcock Chicken with Shishitos and Scallions

Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Korean Barbecue Spatchcock Chicken with Shishitos and Scallions Recipe

This impressive and vibrant meal comes together surprisngly quick thanks to the power of the grill and the power of spatchcocking. If you've never tried it before, spatchcocking is a technique that refers to removing the bird's back bone so that you can butterfly the whole chicken open. This technique is a guaranteed route to succulent meat, ultra-crispy skin, and a much quicker cooking time. 

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Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Tangy, fruity tamarind, popular in Latino and Asian cuisines, is the secret ingredient in our favorite new barbecue sauce for chicken wings.

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Chimichurri Chicken Thighs with Potatoes

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Chimichurri Chicken Thighs with Potatoes Recipe

An herb-packed chimichurri sauce makes this meat-and-potatoes main vibrant and exciting. Double the mixture and spoon it over grilled steak or fish on another night. For less heat in both the chimichurri and the potatoes, remove the seeds from the Fresno chile.

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Pollo Asado

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Food Styling: Fanny Pan; Prop Styling: Emma Star Jensen
Pollo Asado Recipe

In Mexico and Cuba, cooks marinate chicken in a mixture of cumin, oregano, garlic, and citrus to make it juicy and flavorful. Adding achiote paste, as cooks do in Mexico, adds depth and sweetness, but the chicken is good without it too. Wine pairing: Martin Ray 2014 Puccioni Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley).

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Buttermilk-Hot Sauce Brined Chicken

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Buttermilk-Hot Sauce Brined Chicken Recipe

The secret to extra moist grilled chicken is an overnight soak in a hot sauce-laced buttermilk marinade.

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Zaatar and Lemon Grilled Chicken

Photo: Thomas J. Story Styling: Emma Star Jensen 
Zaatar and Lemon Grilled Chicken Recipe
We love this live-fire version of a recipe from our archives because it gives camp chicken a complex flavor with minimal ingredients.

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Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Ginny Branch  
Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa Recipe
Drizzle a Tangy Strawberry Barbecue Sauce over this plate for the ultimate summery chicken dish.

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Herbed Wheat Berry and Roasted Tomato Salad with Grilled Chipotle Chicken Breasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Herbed Wheat Berry and Roasted Tomato Salad with Grilled Chipotle Chicken Breasts Recipe

The fresh flavors of the wheat berry tomato salad pair perfectly with the chipotle chicken in this dish. If preferable, you can substitute cooked farro or barley.

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Grilled Chicken with Spicy Corn on the Cob and Grilled Lettuces

Photo: Thomas J. Story
Grilled Chicken with Spicy Corn on the Cob and Grilled Lettuces Recipe
Russell Moore, chef and owner at Camino restaurant in Oakland, gave us this technique for grilling chicken breast--and it's the juiciest version we've ever had,

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Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr and Lindsey Lower    
Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad Recipe
All the fresh flavors of summer come together in Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad. The homemade buttermilk dressing balances the heat of the chicken and completes the meal.

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Grilled Lemon Chicken

Photo: Coral Von Zumwalt; Styling: Jeanne Kelley
Grilled Lemon Chicken Recipe
Simmer the chicken ahead of time so that all it needs is a few minutes on the grill. Squeeze the soft, juicy grilled lemons over the meat, or cut the lemons into pieces to eat skin and all.
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Grilled Chicken with Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Thomas J. Story
Grilled Chicken with Whiskey Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Dine well when you’re camping with this grilled chicken recipe featuring a make-ahead barbecue sauce and coleslaw. Once you get to the campsite, you can grill the chicken over a charcoal or wood fire in the grill.

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Grilled Chicken with Corn Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke
Grilled Chicken with Corn Cakes Recipe
Start with a package of cornbread mix and fresh corn kernels to make these homestyle corn cakes Top with grilled chicken, bacon and chopped arugula for a colorful one-dish dinner.

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Zaatar and Lemon Grilled Chicken

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Kevin Crafts
Zaatar and Lemon Grilled Chicken Recipe
Season grilled chicken thighs with a Mediterranean spice blend called zaatar that's composed of sesame seeds, thyme, marjoram and sumac. Look for it in the spice section of your supermarket or in a Middle Eastern market.
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Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Maple-Mustard Chicken Thighs Recipe
The sweetness of maple syrup and the tartness of two kinds of mustards create an amazing flavor combination for these grilled chicken thighs.

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Grilled Buttermilk Chicken

Photo: Con Poulos; Styling: Jeffrey W. Miller
Grilled Buttermilk Chicken Recipe
This creamy buttermilk mixture makes a great marinade for grilled chicken.

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Salt Slab Chicken al Mattone

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Salt Slab Chicken al Mattone Recipe
Pollo al mattone (chicken grilled under a brick) is one of Italy's great gifts to global barbecue. The weight of the brick gives the chicken a crisp, compact texture. If you love the traditional version, wait until you taste it grilled under a salt slab, which seasons the chicken while it cooks.
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Grilled Chicken with White Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Grilled Chicken with White Barbecue Sauce Recipe
For a flavorful twist on traditional barbecue chicken, serve spiced chicken breasts with a creamy, six-ingredient white sauce.

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Grilled Chicken with Sriracha Glaze

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Grilled Chicken with Sriracha Glaze Recipe
Instead of the usual barbecue sauce, brush bone-in chicken leg quarters with a sweet and spicy glaze made with hot chile sauce and mango jam for a great grilled chicken recipe. Cook the chicken over indirect heat so the glaze won't burn.

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Beer-Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Beer-Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Cooking chicken with beer and spices inside infuses the bird with a hint of spice and plenty of moisture for a juicy main dish. A simple cola sauce, made with liquid smoke, Worcestershire, and steak sauce, is the perfect finishing touch.
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Grilled Fusion Chicken

Thomas J. Story
Grilled Fusion Chicken Recipe
Grilled Fusion Chicken accents grilled chicken breasts with Southwestern flavors like lime, hot sauce, chipotle chiles, and tequila. The standout cream sauce makes this chicken dish special enough for entertaining, yet easy enough to prepare for family weeknight dinners.

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Jerk Chicken and Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine and Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Jerk Chicken and Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers Recipe
For a great tasting weeknight dinner with lots of bold flavor, try Jerk Chicken and Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers. The mini bell peppers will be a big hit, and the creamy filling will help tame the heat of the jerk chicken.

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Wonder Wings

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Wonder Wings Recipe
No Summer cookout is complete without these crispy, delicious wings. Be sure to serve with a delicious sauce to complete the experience.
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Jerk Chicken

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke
Jerk Chicken Recipe
Bring the Caribbean's heat and spice to your dinner table by basting the chicken with jerk sauce, beer, ketchup, and hot sauce. You only use a small portion of the beer in the sauce, so enjoy the rest with dinner.

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Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Photo: Squire Fox; Stylist: Justin Schram, Kenneth Hyatt
Grilled Chicken with Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce Recipe
This recipe garners nothing but rave reviews! The easy Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce seals the deal.

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Grilled Lemon Chicken with Tomato Salad

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Grilled Lemon Chicken with Tomato Salad Recipe
Bright, citrusy chicken is paired with a salad of baby heirloom tomatoes and feta cheese. This fresh, healthy meal is on the table in 30 minutes or less, making it the perfect excuse to fire up the grill (or grill pan) on a weeknight.
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Chicken Burgers with Peanut Sauce

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Chicken Burgers with Peanut Sauce Recipe
Savor the dynamic mix of spicy Thai chile paste and sweet and creamy homemade peanut sauce. Worked right into the patties, the spices give the chicken its robust flavor.

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Margarita-Brined Chicken

Margarita-Brined Chicken Recipe
Soak chicken in a citrus-and-tequila-spiked brine to infuse Latin flavors and keep the chicken moist as it cooks. Pat the skin dry before grilling, and start skin-side down to ensure it gets good and crispy.

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Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Ginny Branch
Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa Recipe
Traditional jerk recipes have you marinate the meat for a day or more. This dish lends huge flavor to the chicken with just an hour-long marinade.
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Tamil Chicken Wings

Tamil Chicken Wings Recipe
This Sri Lankan chicken dish features wings rubbed with lemon grass, cilantro, garlic, and turmeric. Serve with a simple cucumber salad for fresh summer flavor.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs with Peach-Lime Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Ginny Branch
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Peach-Lime Salsa Recipe
We love the combination of sweet peaches and fiery peppers; seed the jalapeño if you prefer a dish with hints of pepper flavor, minus the burn.

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Sweet Barbecue Chicken

BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER
Sweet Barbecue Chicken Recipe
Combine six basic ingredients for a sweet-and-spicy sauce that cooks in minutes. Apple juice and brown sugar complement the fiery flavors of chili powder and ground red pepper.
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Kansas City Barbecued Chicken

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Kansas City Barbecued Chicken Recipe
Get the most from grilled chicken when you use spice rub before grilling, and then baste with a ketchup-based sauce perked up with vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, and chili powder. Grilling over hickory wood chips also adds flavor.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs with Ancho-Tequila Glaze

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Ancho-Tequila Glaze Recipe
These chicken thighs are everything you're looking for when you hit the grill. Use amber agave syrup when making the glaze for a deeper flavor than the more light-colored varieties offer.

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Grilled Buttermilk Chicken

Grilled Buttermilk Chicken Recipe
Instead of soaking the chicken in a saltwater mixture to add flavor and juiciness (brining), this chicken is brined in a mixture of buttermilk, shallot, and spices. The chicken can soak in the brine a day ahead.
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Spice-Rubbed Roasted Chicken

Thomas J. Story
Spice-Rubbed Roasted Chicken Recipe
Achieve amazing flavor by rubbing a whole chicken with a paste of olive oil, herbs, and spices, then grilling it over flavored wood chips. An online reviewer noted that this is a great recipe for entertaining since it requires very little tending at the grill.