Knowing how long to grill chicken is the real game-changing factor that sets a learning chef apart from an expert.
The easiest to cook and everyone’s favorite meal all year round is chicken. Whether you fry it, bake it or grill it, everyone devours it. However, to bring out the delicious aroma of barbecue, grilling the chicken is the best method. But, the downside is that if you do not know how long to grill chicken, you may burn it.
To ensure that you do not feed burnt or undercooked chicken to your guests, you need to learn precisely how long to grill chicken. Worry not; even if you are not an expert, you will be able to grill chicken perfectly with all the information that I have shared in this article.
How Long To Grill Chicken
Preparing Chicken For Grilling
This goes without saying that you can not just take a raw piece of chicken and add it to the grill just like that. If you do not marinate and season the chicken properly, you will be stuck with a bland chicken. The simplest way to ensure that your chicken is full of flavors is to marinate it for a minimum of four hours before grilling. Pop the chicken pieces in a bowl and add a marinade of your liking. Mix it thoroughly, make sure every piece is covered, and then cover the bowl and put it in the fridge. You can also use a ziplock bag instead of a bowl.
Different Cuts Of Chicken
Every food lover knows that chicken can be grilled in many forms, in whole form, as well as separate pieces in the form of different cuts. A few major cuts of chicken include chicken breast, wings, thigh, and leg, etc. There is also the option of boneless chicken cut and boned chicken cut, so basically, you get many options of various cuts.
Each cut requires a different amount of time on the grill to be cooked to perfection. Moreover, the pieces with bones require more time than the boneless cuts. Along with time, the weight of the chicken and the temperature of the grill is also essential in grilling different cuts of chicken.
Preheating The Grill
Before you pop your chicken cuts on the grill, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The first is to always make sure that the grill is thoroughly clean. Another essential part is to preheat the grill. If you do not preheat the grill, the chicken pieces will stick to the grates, which will result in a huge mess. Preheat the grill 10 – 15 minutes before cooking and wait till the temperature reaches 350° F to 400° F. Once the temperature is reached, your grill is ready for cooking chicken.
Required Time For Each Cut
Boneless Chicken Breast
The first thing that you need to do to make sure your chicken breast is grilled to perfection is set the temperature of the grill at 350° F. Once the temperature is set, and the grill has been preheated, then you need to cook the boneless chicken breast for about 8 to 12 minutes. This time span applies for the chicken breast that weighs somewhere between 6 to 8oz.
Chicken Breast With Bone
If you are cooking a chicken breast with bone that weighs between 10 to 12 oz, then you need to cook it for longer than the boneless piece. The temperature will be the same, i.e., 350° F. At this temperature, you will cook the chicken for 30 to 40 minutes. Make sure to flip the chicken properly to ensure both sides get cooked.
Wings
Like other pieces, you need to preheat the grill for about 10 minutes for grilling chicken wings. Then add the pieces of wings on the grill and let them cook for 7 to 8 minutes from one side before flipping. After 7 to 8 minutes, flip the wings and let them cook for the same amount of time on the other side.
Whole Chicken
To grill a whole chicken to perfection, you need to make sure that your grill is properly clean and preheated. Then add the chicken to the grill, and cook it for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Make sure you are cooking over indirect medium heat at a temperature of 350° F.
Leg Or Thigh With Bone
To cook a leg or thigh piece that comes with bone on the grill, set the temperature at 350° F. After that, add all the pieces to the grill. However, make sure that you are cooking the pieces over indirect heat. Cook all the pieces over 30 to 40 minutes before removing them from the grill.
Thigh Without Bone
To grill a thigh piece that comes without bone, you obviously need to leave the piece over the grill for a comparatively shorter time. Moreover, another important part is that the temperature of the grill is also higher. Set the grill at 450° F and add the thigh pieces. Let the cut cook for about 4 to 5 minutes before flipping. After flipping, cook the other side of the cut for the same amount of time and then remove all the pieces from the grill.
FAQs
How long do I grill chicken at 400?
The grilling time depends on the piece that you are grilling. If you are grilling a chicken breast, then at 400° F, you need to cook the chicken breast for a total of about 12 to 16 minutes. Make sure to flip the chicken breast after 6 to 8 minutes and let the other side cook for the same time duration.
How do you know when chicken is done on the grill?
There are two ways of telling whether the chicken is done or not. The most common is by utilizing a thermometer. Once the upper layer of the pieces turns golden brown, remove it from the grill. Put a thermometer in the middle of the piece. If the inner temperature of the cut is 165° F, then it is perfectly cooked.
Conclusion
If you have a family lunch coming up, you need to add grilled chicken to the menu. It is a treat for the eyes, nose, and tongue. With the tips that I have shared in this article, you will be able to easily grill whole chicken and all types of chicken cuts to perfection.