25 of Our Best Grilled Chicken Recipes

Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken — The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Chicken is one of the easiest and tastiest meats to prepare on your grill. A brine or seasoned marinade is the key to juicy, flavorful chicken, so read the recipes carefully because many require an hour or more in the refrigerator.

To ensure perfectly grilled chicken, use a reliable instant-read thermometer. The minimum safe internal temperature for chicken is 165 F, and chicken breasts can become dry when cooked beyond that temperature. Dark meat chicken—such as thighs—on the other hand, is more succulent when cooked to an internal temperature of about 180 F.

Our best grilled chicken recipes are jam-packed with flavor, and any one of them will surely be a hit at your next cookout, party, or family dinner. When looking for ways to cook perfect chicken on the grill, look no further than these tasty, creative recipes for BBQ chicken, jerk chicken, grilled chicken Caprese, chicken sandwiches, salads, and more.

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Jamaican Jerk Chicken

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

This Jamaican jerk chicken recipe delivers all the island flavor you crave thanks to a super savory jerk paste. Enjoy this summer favorite with rice on the side, or serve it in a wrap with sauteed peppers and onions.
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Grilled Chicken Panini

The Spruce

Make this grilled chicken panini for a hearty summer lunch or dinner. Italian dressing, sliced fresh tomato, and mozzarella cheese slices complete this delicious sandwich.
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Crispy Grilled Chicken Breasts

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

We're crazy about this crunchy, tasty recipe for crispy grilled chicken that you can make on the grill or bake in the oven on rainy days. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are prepared with an herb and breadcrumb coating and then grilled. The result is tender, juicy, flavorful chicken breasts with a wonderfully crunchy crust.
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Grilled Buffalo Wings

The Spruce / Crystal Hughes

You can't beat these marinated grilled Buffalo chicken wings if you're looking for a summer party or cookout appetizer. Serve these wings with the included homemade blue cheese dipping sauce.

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Balsamic Marinated Chicken Breasts

The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

Balsamic vinegar, garlic, and a variety of dried herbs provide the flavor for these easy marinated and grilled chicken breasts. Use an outdoor grill, electric grill, stovetop grill pan, or broiler to prepare this simple recipe.
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Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

We love this recipe for grilled BBQ chicken thighs because it uses the juiciest, most flavorful part of the chicken. The marinated chicken spends some time on the grill, and then it's finished with a super-easy, homemade sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. You won't believe how effortless it is to get so much flavor out of chicken.
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Mediterranean Chicken Salad

The Spruce / Anita Schecter.

Marinated boneless chicken breasts are grilled to perfection to make this fabulous Mediterranean chicken salad recipe. The breasts are sliced on the diagonal, served atop spinach or mixed lettuces, and garnished with tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cheese. The salad is a warm-weather winner that can be made year-round.
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Sesame Ginger Grilled Chicken Breasts

The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

Here's a simple, wonderful sesame ginger grilled chicken breast recipe. You'll love the sweet, salty, and aromatic flavors of this sophisticated-tasting dish that's so easy to prepare. Everyone will love these fast and easy marinated grilled chicken breasts.

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Greek Chicken Kabobs

Anita Schecter

Bring the bright, fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to your table with this recipe for Greek chicken kabobs. Cubes of boneless chicken marinate in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano before being skewered with bell pepper and red onion. Once grilled, the kabobs are served with a homemade tzatziki sauce.
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Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

This satisfying Caesar salad features grilled chicken and romaine hearts, cooked pasta, toasted brioche pieces, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The salad is an excellent option for summer dinners or entertaining.
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Bulgogi Chicken

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

While it's not quite as effortless as ordering takeout barbecue from a Korean restaurant, this backyard replica Bulgogi Chicken makes a convincing stand-in with very little work. Serve it with rice, kimchi, and these spicy Korean cucumber pickles.
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Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Everyone loves chicken quesadillas, and this grilled chicken quesadilla recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You can prepare the components for these quesadillas ahead of time (remember to allow enough time for the chicken to marinate) and then simply assemble and grill them up in 10 minutes when you're ready to eat.

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Grilled Chicken Salad

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Here's a delicious way to enjoy grilled chicken salad this summer. This indulgent California grilled chicken salad recipe combines marinated and grilled chicken breasts with lettuces, tomatoes, olives, crisp cooked pancetta or bacon, avocados, and blue cheese for a tasty twist on Cobb salad.
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Grilled Chicken Tikka

The Spruce

Want to enjoy the rich, complex flavors of Indian take-out, without the cost? We're here to grant your wish, with this effortless and awesomely delicious recipe for grilled chicken tikka.
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Grilled Chicken With Goat Cheese Sauce

Diana Rattray

Chicken breasts go from weeknight standby to special occasion-ready when you dress them up with a unique, flavorful sauce, as in this grilled chicken with goat cheese sauce. The recipe includes instructions for an elegant (optional) roasted red pepper puree, adding extra color and texture to this already-impressive dish.
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Greek Chicken Souvlaki Gyro Wrap

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

These grilled chicken gyros are a great way to enjoy a chicken sandwich this summer. This will be your go-to recipe for marinated, grilled, sliced chicken breasts that you can top with a simple sauce and fold into a warm pita for lunch or dinner.

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Grilled Bone-In Chicken Breasts

The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

It doesn't get much easier than this recipe for grilled chicken breasts. Adding salt to the chicken at least two hours before grilling gives it time to re-absorb its own juices and the added salt, resulting in extra juicy and flavorful chicken that is well-seasoned inside and out.
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Grilled Chicken Banh Mi

Leah Maroney

Take your taste buds on a trip to the streets of Vietnam with this irresistible grilled chicken banh mi. Grill the chicken on an outdoor charcoal or gas grill, or use a stovetop grill pan.
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Grilled Caprese Chicken

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese adorn this lemon- and garlic-marinated grilled Caprese chicken. Fresh basil leaves and a simple balsamic reduction bring this colorful and delicious chicken dish to life.
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Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters

The Spruce

If you're looking for a budget-friendly recipe for the grill, these flavorful marinated grilled chicken leg quarters are a perfect choice. Simple and versatile, they'll be perfect served with these grilled Parmesan potatoes and a simple salad.

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Marinated Ginger Chicken for the Grill

The Spruce / Loren Runion

An aromatic marinade flavors these tender, juicy grilled chicken thighs. Garlic, sesame oil and seeds, chili peppers, and a generous amount of ginger root are among the ingredients.
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Yakitori Negima

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Yakitori Negima (Japanese grilled chicken skewers) makes a fabulous appetizer or main dish. Serve the tender grilled chicken skewers with the flavorful yakitori sauce.
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Thai Grilled Chicken Salad

The Spruce Eats / D.Schmidt

This colorful grilled chicken salad is loaded with flavor from savory fish sauce, aromatic lemongrass, and fragrant lime leaf. Broil the chicken in the oven or grill it on an outdoor grill.
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Better BBQ Chicken Legs

The Spruce

These brined BBQ chicken drumsticks are finished with a perfectly spiced homemade barbecue sauce. Serve the juicy chicken legs as an appetizer or main dish. Add corn on the cob and grilled potatoes for a satisfying summer meal that will please even the pickiest eaters.

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Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

A simple combination of pantry spices makes these grilled chicken wings an easy, budget-friendly preparation. Serve these spicy grilled chicken wings with blue cheese dressing and fresh celery and carrot sticks.