Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes to Expand Your Grill Repertoire Burgers and dogs are great, but you need chicken to achieve grill-master status. By Lacey Muinos Updated on June 14, 2024 Close Photo: GREG DUPREE Summer is the season for backyard grilling, and every grill master knows the trifecta of a traditional American cookout—hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks—leaving chicken often overlooked. On its own, grilled chicken doesn’t have a bold flavor, so it’s a perfect blank canvas for your spread. From buying and prepping different cuts to the various cooking methods, the options for chicken are endless. Here are just a few grilled chicken recipes to keep those smoky flavors coming all summer. If you shy away from grilled chicken for fear of excessive dryness, these tips will help give you moist, juicy results:For more even cooking, allow chicken to warm to room temperature before grilling.Consider pre-grill brining to improve moisture retention.Pound boneless cuts for a more uniform thickness.Lower the grill setting to medium or medium-low for slower, more even cooking.Don't get distracted or leave the grill unattended while cooking.Using a meat thermometer, remove chicken from the grill at 160°F, let it rest, and serve after residual cooking pushes it to 165°F. 01 of 13 Glazed Chicken and Pineapple Victor Protasio There’s grilled chicken, and then there’s glazed grilled chicken. This Hawaiian-inspired recipe makes magic out of pineapple juice, tamari, ketchup, honey, and mirin: the base of its glaze. Channel your inner grill master as you baste the glazed chicken over the grates and serve over a fragrant bed of rice and grilled pineapple rings. Mahalo! GET THE RECIPE 02 of 13 Spicy Grilled Chicken With Shaved Zucchini Salad Jen Causey This spicy grilled chicken dish turns up the heat for a peppery departure from your typical weeknight roasted chicken. Aleppo pepper—a chili pepper used often in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking—delivers a kick, balanced by colorful zucchini ribbons on the side. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 13 Chicken Tortilla Crunch Salad Victor Protasio If your idea of a salad is iceberg lettuce and store-bought dressing, there’s nothing wrong with that, but this grilled chicken recipe offers a whole new appreciation for the tastes and textures a salad can offer. Fajita chicken thighs are the star, but credit its creamy dressing for the explosion of flavor in every bite. Shredded cabbage and thinly sliced bell pepper keep it light, while tortilla chips and roasted pumpkin seeds deliver crunch. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 13 Chicken Skewers With Almond Couscous and Kale Greg DuPree Skewers, anyone? This summery grilled chicken recipe thoughtfully takes on the trio of a balanced meal—protein, grain, and veg—offering a healthy twist. It serves marinated chicken skewers with couscous and charred kale. (If kale hasn’t won you over, you just haven’t tried it charred yet.) GET THE RECIPE 05 of 13 Grilled Chicken With Blueberry-Peach Salsa GREG DUPREE Mango isn’t the only fruit that belongs in salsa: Vibrant blueberries and luscious peaches brighten up this number. Paired with grilled chicken thighs seasoned with chili powder, brown sugar, and lime, this summer BBQ meal delivers the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and zesty. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 13 Cherry-Bourbon Chicken Wings Victor Protasio Buffalo sauce isn’t the only way to enjoy grilled chicken wings. Put store-bought sauces to shame by making your own sweet and sour sauce and popping those bad boys on the grill. This recipe uses a bourbon and cherry sauce to create caramelized goodness when grilled. You'll come back to this winning recipe all summer long. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 13 Grilled Chicken and Pepper Salad Caitlin Bensel If you want a colorful plate packed with nutrients and in-season veggies, this grilled chicken recipe is for you. Whoever thought of combining a mountain of mixed greens, fresh herbs, yogurt dressing, and sweet mini peppers with grilled chicken and pita is a genius, and you'd be smart to make this next time you fire up the grill. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 13 Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas Alex Farnum This easy 20-minute recipe keeps you full and satisfied on busy weeknights. It calls for assembling and then grilling quesadillas to create those signature char marks and smoky flavors. The recipe calls for rotisserie chicken for maximum convenience, but if you're firing up the grill anyway, you may as well cook chicken on the grates, too. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 13 Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Greg DuPree There’s a reason why the combo of garlic and Parmesan is right behind Buffalo sauce in terms of popular wing seasonings. If you’ve never made wings before, this recipe is a good place to start. Just toss grilled chicken wings in cheese and a garlicky lemon sauce, and enjoy! GET THE RECIPE 10 of 13 Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps Caitlin Bensel This Asian-inspired recipe calls for cooking boneless, skinless chicken thigh chunks on a grill pan or skillet, but for authenticity (and more fun), consider grilling them threaded on skewers instead. Serve with a homemade peanut-y sauce, crisp Bibb lettuce leaves, crunchy cucumber slices, rice noodles, and chopped roasted peanuts for a DIY delight. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 13 Grilled Pizza With Chicken and Peach Andrew Purcell You don't have to build a pizza oven in your backyard to cook a fabulous pizza outside: Just use your grill! This recipe has you grilling peaches, pizza crust dough, and then the pie, but there's no reason you can't grill the chicken, too. Instead of using a cup of shredded rotisserie chicken, flatten a 4-ounce breast to set on the grates alongside the peaches. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 13 Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad With Avocado Con Poulos Salads just hit differently in the summer, and they don’t have to be relegated to side dishes. This one combines grilled chicken with a bed of colorful veggies—corn, avocado, and spinach—for a nutrient-rich meal the whole family will love. With Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, it doesn’t skimp on flavor either. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 13 Chicken Kebabs With Tomato Salad Quentin Bacon Essentially, this meal screams summertime. If you have youngsters, threading chicken on a stick is a surefire way to get them to eat more protein. The recipe serves them with grilled corn and fresh tomatoes seasoned with orange zest and spices. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit