Every host or hostess needs a signature dish, and grilled chicken is definitely my husband’s. You wouldn’t think something as simple as grilled chicken could lead to culinary infamy, but his grilling process leads to the juiciest chicken that keeps guests asking for more. When our children bring grilled chicken for lunch, their friends have been known to trade a pack of gummies for some chicken — it’s that good!
Nicholas is happy to let anyone in on his secret to showstopping, mouthwatering grilled chicken. Here are his notes on leaving dry, overcooked chicken behind and grilling up everyone’s favorite meal.
The process for perfect grilled chicken
The first step to great grilled chicken is to buy good chicken breasts. Check the percentage of water in the chicken breast, because a high water content does not cut it. Choosing the higher quality meat that is air-chilled rather than water-retained will go a long way for flavor and texture.
Once you have your chicken of choice, rinse it in water and pat it dry with a paper towel. When it’s completely dry, rub the chicken breasts with a dry rub seasoning. If you prefer to use a marinade, the meat should sit in the marinade overnight or it will drip off of the chicken onto the grill. If you want to use a wet marinade without the overnight preparation, wait to put it on the meat three-fourths of the way through the grilling process.
Nicholas is a big fan of dry rubs. Always in his arsenal of spices is Kinder’s The Blend, which is an incredibly versatile seasoning. He also likes Kinder’s Woodfire Garlic for barbecue and chicken Caesar salad, or Kinder’s Fajita blend for Hispanic cuisine. There are so many dry rubs; find your signature flavors.
If you’re using a new-to-you seasoning, taste a bit beforehand to see if you need to add salt. Once the chicken has been seasoned, drizzle it with olive oil or avocado oil.
Patience and timing are key
It is crucial to ensure the chicken gets to room temperature. Let it sit on the counter for about 45 minutes before grilling.
Once the chicken is acclimated, turn the propane grill to high. It usually takes our grill 10 minutes to get to its full heat. Once fully heated, place the chicken on the lower grate of the grill and set a timer for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken every three minutes.
After 10 minutes, move the chicken to the top grate, so it’s not directly on the heat. Take olive or avocado oil and baste the chicken breasts. Now that the chicken is on the top grate, go ahead and use your favorite marinade. Never cook with BBQ sauce (or any sugary sauce for that matter) on the lower grate because the high sugar content will make it burn very easily. Cook the chicken on the top grate for about five minutes, turn it once at the 2.5-minute mark, or twice for a thicker cut of meat.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, check that the chicken is cooked thoroughly by piercing it with a fork or knife to see whether it goes in smoothly. If it’s undercooked, there will be some resistance. A foolproof way is to take it off the grill and butterfly the breast. If you notice the meat has a slight pink tinge, you should throw it back on the grill for another minute or two.
Grilling chicken timetable for quick reference:
Place chicken on the bottom grate and set timer for 10 minutes.
Flip every 3 minutes.
Move chicken breasts to top grate and baste, set timer for five minutes.
Flip once at 2.5 minutes, and for a thicker piece, give it another minute or two and flip again.
The entire grilling process takes about 15 minutes.
Grill maintenance
Maintaining your grill is almost as important as the cooking process for delicious chicken. Every few uses, the grates of the grill should be washed and soaked. Use a good wire brush and a paint scraper to get the ashes off the sides and the bottom of the grill. Your grill doesn’t have to be fancy. Any propane grill is capable of making this delicious grilled chicken. The secret to great grilled chicken is heat and timing.
Favorite grilled chicken meals
Grill a large portion of chicken to have on hand to toss on any salad throughout the week. Whether you use it for chicken salad or serve grilled chicken with roasted sweet potatoes and buffalo sauce, grilling chicken to perfection is an easy and delicious way to add protein to any meal.