37 Grilled Chicken Recipes for the Best Barbecued Birds on the Block
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We’re kicking off grilling season with this list of our favorite grilled chicken recipes because you deserve a summer full of the best, juiciest grilled chicken, whether you’re firing up the charcoal (or gas grill) to cook smoky wings, yogurt-marinated kebabs, super-flavorful chicken thighs, or the whole dang bird. Below you’ll find our go-to marinades and the most delightfully sticky brush-on sauces, plus all the classic grilling methods, including chicken under a brick, spatchcocked chicken, beer can chicken, and easy boneless chicken breasts. Pair these recipes for grilled chicken with slaw or salad, grilled vegetables—or any of our best grilling ideas—or simply sliced tomatoes—whatever you add to the menu, these chicken dishes may hog the spotlight. Just don’t forget to grill some brownies for dessert.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich1/37Garlicky Instant Ramen Noodle Salad With Grilled Chicken Thighs
Looking for summery grilled chicken recipes that give you a whole meal—a whole party, really—in one? Put this grilled chicken noodle salad from Epi contributor Leela Punyaratabandhu on your must-make list. Juicy and quick-cooking skinless, boneless chicken thighs marinate with garlic, cilantro roots or stems, oyster sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, fish sauce, pepper, and salt, then head to the grill over high heat before they're piled on a bouncy noodle salad that's sprinkled with chopped peanuts, fresh herbs, crispy garlic, and a tangy dressing that has a little chile heat.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova2/37Grilled Chicken With Mustard Barbecue Sauce and Tomato Salad
Bone-in chicken breasts and whole chicken legs start over direct heat, then move to the cooler side of the grill to cook through before they're basted in a tangy homemade barbecue sauce that's pepped up with Worcestershire, honey, mustard, paprika, and apple cider vinegar. Serve with a corn salad and/or creamy slaw, and dish up an ice cream icebox cake for dessert.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Kim3/37Buldak-Style Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
If you make only one grilled drumstick recipe this summer, it should be this easy, flavor-packed meal. The chicken marinates in a mix of gochujang, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and toasted sesame oil, then cooks low and slow over indirect heat. Serve with banchan and scallion salad.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow5/37Spicy Tamarind-Glazed Grilled Chicken Wings
When grilled wings meet tangy tamarind purée, brown sugar, cumin, red pepper flakes, and fish sauce, good things are in store. Don't skip the crunchy onion and fresh cilantro on top. Unfortunately, these are so good you might not want to share. Looking for another easy dish to serve with these wings? How about a big platter of this low-cook chaat?
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce6/37Juiciest Grilled Chicken Breast With Citrus Marinade
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/37Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
Don't forget about chicken burgers—and don't discount how great they can be. These have a bit of mushroom in the mix for deeply savory flavor and tons of moisture. Double stack 'em and top with curry mustard, melty cheese, and crunchy lettuce. Chips or salad on the side? Why not both? Total time on this recipe is just half an hour.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou8/37Grilled Chicken With Lemon and Thyme
These grilled chicken breasts are marinated after—not before—cooking on the cooler side of the grill. You can let them sit for just a few minutes or up to an hour before serving, so it's the perfect main dish for a low-key summer dinner party or a delicious weeknight meal. Any leftovers from this chicken breast recipe make terrific chicken sandwiches (perhaps with feta, cucumber, and tomato) later in the week—and that's the kind of meal prep we can get behind.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton9/37Thai Muslim–Style Grilled Chicken
This recipe is inspired by the grilled chicken served at Jeerapan, a 77-year-old restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. Their version is baked in a tandoor-like oven, but this recipe will walk you through the process for your standard backyard grill. The fresh pineapple-chile dipping sauce is tangy and sweet—it would be the star of the show if the chicken itself wasn't so very awesome.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone10/373-Ingredient Buffalo Grilled Chicken Wings
This might be the easiest chicken wing recipe you've ever tried—and it might be the one you stick with forever. A simple Buffalo-style hot sauce delivers a big punch of flavor to these grilled wings. You'll brush a little of the sauce on the wings at the end of grilling so that it caramelizes, then toss the cooked wings in more sauce before serving. Bring napkins—this easy grilled chicken is saucy.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Andy Baraghani11/37Grilled Chicken Skewers With Toum
These grilled chicken thighs are all about the sauce: garlicky, lemony, delicious. Serve with fresh pita and pickles, too.
Photo by Peden + Munk, Prop Styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky, Food Styling by Sue Li12/37Grilled Lemon-Pepper Chicken
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova13/37Maple Barbecue Grilled Chicken
The best barbecue sauce doesn't come from a bottle, and this recipe proves it. Just cook a little garlic and tomato paste in a small saucepan, add maple syrup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and Sriracha, and simmer until all the flavors come together. Use your homemade sauce on a whole chicken that's cut into pieces, or whatever mix of legs, thighs, breasts, and wings you prefer.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell14/37Grilled Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Leeks and Potatoes
Photo by Alex Lau15/37Miss Ollie's Jerk Chicken
Flavored with nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and Scotch bonnet chiles, this jerk chicken from chef Sarah Kirnon will wake up your tastebuds in the best way possible. Serve it with grilled plantains and a big bowl of coconut rice and peas.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone18/373-Ingredient Garlic-Herb Grilled Chicken Wings
Combine garlic and your favorite sturdy backyard herbs for a chicken marinade that's easy and doesn't require much prep time. These grilled wings work well with rosemary, oregano, thyme, or a combination of all three. Be sure to preheat your grill for two zones: medium and medium-high. The wings will start in the medium area for about 12 minutes, until they start to brown, then move to medium-high until cooked through. Place chicken on a platter and serve immediately, with some crisp greens in balsamic vinaigrette.
Photo by Shutterstock19/37Beer Can Chicken
If you've always wanted to try this method, we urge you to go ahead—it makes some of the most moist, succulent, and flavorful bbq chicken around. It's also something of a conversation piece. Serve with fresh tomatoes and a grain salad, or any of your favorite barbecue sides.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews20/37Ginger-Grilled Chicken and Radishes with Miso-Scallion Dressing
Boneless chicken thighs are great on the grill, since they cook quickly and never dry out. Here, they get a marinade of sweet and spicy ginger beer, garlic, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger for extra flavor and moisture. You'll love the grilled radishes that are served alongside—just add a bowl of rice for a complete summer feast.
By Aubrie Pick21/37Sweet Tea and Molasses-Brined Spatchcock Chicken
Never brined a bird? Start with this aromatic citrus and molasses brine and you'll never look back. Study up on how to set up your grill for indirect heat before you fire up the coals.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi22/37Garlic and Herb Spatchcock Grilled Chicken
Crispy exterior, juicy interior. Sounds impossible until you start butterflying your birds before throwing them on the grill. There's a hidden extra meal in this recipe: As long as the grill is running, you might as well grill an extra breast alongside the whole bird. That way, you've got protein ready for tomorrow night's chef's salad.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews23/37Sticky Grilled Chicken
Molasses, pomegranate juice, and apricot jam lend a deliciously sweet-tart, barbecue sauce–like glaze to this chicken, which also gets a boost from fresh ginger, garlic, coriander, and cumin. This is one of our most popular classic grilling recipes from Gourmet.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers24/37Marinated Chicken Breasts With Grilled Pineapple Relish
Grilled chicken breasts can be actually great—especially if you start with this pineapple marinade recipe from The Outdoor Kitchen and finish with a spicy pineapple salsa on top. Cooking chicken breasts that come out juicy and not overcooked requires an accurate thermometer—you're aiming for 160ºF internal temperature before resting.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson25/373-Ingredient Pesto-Grilled Chicken with Peaches
In this easy dinner, store-bought pesto works as both a simple marinade and finishing sauce. Grilling peaches caramelizes their natural sugars and adds a smoky flavor, turning them into a delicious side dish for your chicken. Put this recipe on your meal plan for the week to come.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell26/37Foolproof Grilled Chicken
Just looking for grilled chicken recipes that are truly no-fail? This is the one you need. For the very best results, we brine the chicken before it goes on the grill; sear it over the flames; finish cooking it on the other side of the grill; then toss it in a robust vinaigrette when it's done. Wrap up the meal with wedges of watermelon to achieve summer bliss.
Photo by Aubrie Pick27/37Hanoi Grilled Chicken Banh Mi
Take it from cookbook author Andrea Nguyen: tangy, salty grilled chicken thighs make a superlative sandwich. Customize your banh mi with as much sliced jalapeño and pickled daikon and carrot as you like.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich29/37Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Grilled chicken thighs with a Dijon mustard punch are paired with a crunchy and refreshing fennel-basil slaw for the ultimate grilled chicken sandwich. Serve with potato salad or your favorite grilled vegetables. The marinade (made with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil) does double duty—some of it flavors the chicken, while the rest gets mixed with mayo and chopped cornichons to become a sandwich spread.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert30/37Grilled Half Chicken With Ginger and Garlic
Combine ginger, garlic, fermented chili-bean paste, and soy sauce to make a flavorful marinade for grilled half chickens—this recipe is one of our favorites from our Japanese grilling collection.
Peden + Munk31/37Chicken Under a Brick
Flattening your chicken before grilling, and holding it that way with two bricks (wrapped in foil), means a chicken that cooks more evenly—with lots of delightfully crispy skin. Serve with garlicky aioli or romesco and potato salad.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.35/37Sweet and Sticky Grilled Chicken
You won't be able to stop licking this glaze from your fingers. It's made with orange marmalade, Dijon mustard, sherry vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and jalapeño. Just add fresh corn on the cob and your favorite slaw.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Greg Lofts36/37Shiromi Wasabi Yaki
Wasabi’s subtle heat pairs wonderfully with juicy chicken breast in these grilled skewers from The Japanese Grill by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk37/37Grilled Pineapple Drumsticks
Coconut cream and pineapple? No, they're not for a piña colada, we're making one of our favorite grilled chicken recipes. (There's shallot, garlic, shrimp paste, lime juice, and vegetable oil in the marinade too.) Though while you're at it, might as well make a round of drinks too.
