Cooking chicken breasts on a barbecue is a great way to prepare a delicious and healthy meal. Whether you’re trying to impress friends or just want to enjoy a meal outdoors, cooking chicken breasts on the barbecue can be an ideal way to do so. However, to ensure the chicken is cooked correctly, you need to know how long to cook chicken breasts on the barbecue. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to know about how long to cook chicken breasts on the barbecue, as well as tips for the best results. We’ll cover the cooking times for different methods of cooking chicken breasts on the barbecue, how to ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly, and how to avoid overcooking it. With this information, you’ll be able to ensure that your chicken breasts turn out perfectly every time. So, let’s jump in and learn how long to cook chicken breast in BBQ!
Best technique: sear chicken skin side down over direct heat for three minutes or until golden brown. Thighs (Bone-In) Time: 30 to 40 minutesTemperature: medium-high (400 F) for direct heat, medium-low (300 F) for indirect heat Transfer to indirect heat, turn the food occasionally, and continue grilling until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Flip and sear for an additional three minutes.
Boneless, skinless thighs should be cooked for 7 to 8 minutes per side at medium-high heat (375°F). The best method is to cook the thighs over direct heat until they reach 165°F. Whole chicken should be cooked for 50 minutes at medium-high heat (375°F). The best method is to butterfly the chicken by removing the backbone. During cooking, place the chicken skin-side up over indirect heat and turn it once. To achieve the best results, place a cast iron skillet or brick covered in foil on top to flatten the chicken and promote even cooking.
Avoid GuessworkThe best way to make sure chicken on the grill has reached the recommended minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit is to use a digital meat thermometer. To obtain the most accurate temperature, insert thermometer into the thickest part of the cut while avoiding any bones. Remove the chicken from the grill when it reaches a safe temperature, cover it, and let it rest for five minutes before slicing or serving to allow the juices to soak back into the meat.
Use Direct and Indirect HeatWhen grilling chicken, temperature control is crucial. You’ll need both direct and indirect heat zones on your grill for cuts that need to cook for longer periods of time, like a whole chicken or dark meats like drumsticks and thighs. By using the heat from the grill without being in direct contact with the fire or flames, which can burn chicken cuts that need more time to cook, indirect heat allows food to cook more slowly and evenly. For smaller chicken portions, such as chicken breasts, tenders, and wings that are less than a few inches thick, grilling only on direct heat zones is usually preferable.
Tips for Basting and SaucingFrom pesto to barbecue sauce, most sauces’ sugar content makes them susceptible to scorching, so save them for the very end of grilling. A good rule of thumb is to add a sauce with a high sugar content after the thermometer reaches 160 °F. It’s best to grill on an indirect heat zone after sautéing or basting to prevent burning.
How Long to Cook BBQ Chicken
You should cook the chicken almost completely before adding the BBQ sauce at the very end, whether you prepare this BBQ chicken on the grill or in the oven. Sauces with a fair amount of sugar, like BBQ sauce, can burn easily. The sauce is added at the very end and seared quickly to reduce the risk of it burning.
Boneless Chicken Breast or Bone-in Chicken Breast?
The flavor of bone-in/skin-on chicken breasts will be superior to that of boneless chicken breasts. As a result, the most flavorful part of the cooking process is the final basting with BBQ sauce. And even my basic recipe for sauce-free grilled chicken breasts can taste flavorful and juicy each time when properly seasoned and prepared.
Most chicken eaters prefer the white meat of chicken breasts. I therefore use standard, skinless, boneless chicken breasts for quickly cooking chicken. Of course, you can prepare skin-on, bone-in BBQ chicken breasts using the same technique, as well as legs and thighs. The technique is the same, the cooking times will vary.
Larger chicken breasts do not always translate to better chicken. Larger breasts require more time to cook, cook unevenly, or overcook. Choose chicken breasts that weigh between 6 and 9 ounces each. Trim the thin ends of your chicken breasts if they are thin on the ends but fat in the middle to prevent them from crisping and burning.
Slice your boneless breasts in half lengthwise to create two thin cutlets if you want an incredibly quick barbecue chicken breast. They’ll cook in half the time.
FAQ
How long do you BBQ chicken breast?
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. Time: 5 to 6 minutes per side.
- Temperature: Medium-high (400˚F)
- Best technique: Cook over direct heat until 165˚F.
How long does it take to cook chicken in the BBQ?
For 6 to 8 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast cooked over direct medium heat (350 °F), it will take between 8 and 12 minutes; for 10 to 12 ounces of bone-in chicken breast cooked over indirect medium heat (350 °F); and for 30 to 40 minutes for a leg or thigh cooked over indirect medium heat (350 °F).
How do you cook chicken breast on the BBQ?
- Heat grill to medium-high. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Grill chicken for 6 to 10 minutes for boneless chicken and for 10 to 14 minutes for bone-in chicken without turning.
- Brush barbecue sauce on the chicken a minute or so before it is finished.
How do you cook chicken on a BBQ?
Preheat your gas grill to 400°F. Once preheated, lower the temperature to 350°F. Place chicken on the grates and close the lid. Grill the chicken for about 7 minutes on one side, or until it comes off the grill naturally.