How Long to Grill Chicken Breast

Grilling any part of the chicken is difficult, as one needs to know the exact time and method of grilling it. Even a few minutes of extra grilling can spoil the entire recipe. Grilling skinless chicken can be a daunting task, because when the chicken does not have its protective skin, it tends to dry out easily, if over cooked. The grilling time depends not only on the chicken, but also on the other ingredients we add to it. Talking about the nutritional value of chicken breasts, chicken breasts are high in protein and also low in fat. So you can enjoy the yum chicken without worrying much about calories! But before that you need to learn how long to grill chicken breasts.

How to Grill Chicken Breast?

First and foremost pound the chicken. Skinless boneless chicken breasts have a very thin tenderloin attached, this tenderloin tends to get cooked very fast, even before the rest of the chicken is half done. So it is best to remove the tenderloin. Also pound the chicken to about ½ thickness, as it is quite uneven. After you are done with the pounding, rinse the chicken thoroughly, unless you are marinating it.

Pre-heat the grill to medium-high and lay the chicken on it. A simple thing to remember while grilling chicken breasts is that higher the heat, faster and juicier the chicken will be. Grill the chicken for about 4 - 5 minutes, keeping a check, so that the chicken does not get burnt. When the bottom side of the chicken has sear marks, turn it. Further grill the chicken for another 4 - 5 minutes, until completely cooked. To check if the chicken is rightly cooked, touch the thickest part. If it has been perfectly done, it will spring back a little. If it is underdone, it will be little spongy and if over-cooked, the chicken breast will be hard and rough. There is another method to check if the chicken is done or not, make a small cut in the center of the chicken, if it translucent, it is undercooked. When the chicken is completely done, remove it from the grill immediately, as it tends to keep on cooking even after removing from the grill.

How to Grill Chicken Wings?

Firstly, chop off end tip of the wing, the first segment and then cut the next joint and separate the two pieces. Season it with pepper and salt and then refrigerate. Set a propane grill at medium heat. Let it get very hot. If you are using a charcoal grill, heat the grill until the coals get gray cover of ash. Clean the grill screen with the help of grill scraper and also wipe with cloth soaked in olive oil. Now remove the wings from the refrigerator and place on the grill. Grill for about 7 - 9 minutes, on each side. Be careful while turning, as the skin can tear off. Remove from the grill and cut the end of drumstick of a wing. If the juices that run out are clear, the wings are neatly cooked. If the juices are reddish, place the wings in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes. Season with hot sauce and serve.

How to Grill Chicken Legs?

When the charcoal or gas grill is very hot, place the chicken legs in a container. Season them with 1 - 2 tbsp of olive oil, salt and pepper. Place them on the grill. Grill until clear sear marks are seen. Make sure that the wings are grilled from all sides. Cook for about 25 minutes. Add hot sauce if desired and cook for another 25 minutes. Now check the temperature, if its 165 degrees, the chicken is done, if is less than 165 degrees, cook for some more time.

Now that you know how long you should grill a chicken breast, you can do so to perfection. Grilled chicken is also required in many recipes, and hence, you should know how to grill it for the right period of time.