Grilled chicken is such a versatile entree. Eat it straight off the grill, make a sandwich or chop it up and put it on salads or even pizza. Grilling chicken isn’t difficult but there are definitely things you can do to make your chicken taste better.
Geoffrey Zakarian, a judge on Food Network’s competition show “Chopped,” as well as the owner of several restaurants, shared some tips with Thrillist on how to perfectly grill chicken.
Simple Seasoning is Best
Zakarian suggests if you are grilling a whole chicken that basic seasonings, like lemon, salt, pepper, spice and herbs are best. The best method, he adds, is to season your chicken for up to 8 hours before cooking. You can even leave it in the fridge uncovered to dry out the skin. The reason for this is that moisture will prevent the skin from crisping when you grill it.
Before grilling, let the chicken get back to room temperature. Cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 155F in the thickest part of the leg. This will probably take 35-45 minutes for a 3 to 3 1/2-pound chicken.
How to Marinate Chicken Breasts
Unlike grilling a whole chicken, preparing chicken breasts for the grill is a little different. For those, Zakarian suggests a 4-hour marinade with a salty base, like soy, ginger, red chilies, garlic, scallions, and brown sugar. For longer marinades (8-10 hours), use something oil and herb-based that doesn’t contain salt.
Grilling Chicken Thighs
Thighs are a favorite for grilling, because they stay juicy when grilled, plus they cost less than chicken breasts. To get them ready for the grill, marinate them for about four hours, if there is salt in the marinade or about 8 hours if there is not salt, says Zakarian.
“My other go-to is to whip up a sticky honey glaze by whisking equal parts honey and warm water until the honey dissolves. Then I season it with the zest and juice of 1 lemon and 2 tablespoons chopped herbs,” Zakarian told Thrillist.
Cook thighs for 4-5 minutes on high heat until they begin to caramelize. Reduce heat and either finish in a smoker or on the top portion of the grill. Glaze the thighs towards the end of the cooking process, so it doesn’t burn.
How to Flavor Chicken Wings
Again, Zakarian likes simple flavors that produce a big flavor punch. He advises a marinade of lime juice, cane sugar, cilantro and honey for a nice sweet-and-sour flavor. To get the caramelization and charring that is a feature of chicken wings, cook them on high heat.
These tips will help you be king or queen of the grill this summer!
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