Understanding grilling temperatures for chicken is the key to preparing juicy, perfectly cooked chicken every time! This handy guide will walk you through all of the ideal temperatures for grilling chicken, no matter which cut you have! Plus, I'll share the best tips for grilling chicken, too!
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Instructions
Set up your grill with a 2-zone cooking area. For boneless chicken breasts, you will want direct medium-high heat. For bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, you'll want direct medium heat.
In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup BBQ sauce and 1 teaspoon liquid smoke and set aside. Brush each of the 2 lbs chicken breasts all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Combine ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon onion powderand season the chicken liberally on all sides.
Add the chicken breasts to the grill skin-side-down and let cook for 5-6 minutes or until nicely charred.
Flip the chicken breasts over (bone-side-down) and transfer the chicken to indirect heat. Close the lid to your grill and let cook for 10 minutes for smaller chicken breasts or 15 minutes for larger chicken breasts.
Brush the chicken breasts all over with the BBQ sauce/liquid smoke mixture and flip them over again (bone-side-up). Close the lid and let cook for 5 minutes.
Continue flipping the chicken every 5 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165-180°F (74-82°C). You can keep basting while you flip if desired.
Transfer the BBQ chicken breasts to a plate and tent a piece of foil loosely over the top. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
I used bone-in, skin-on, split chicken breasts, but I have also included the instructions for boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
If you like to marinate your chicken before grilling it, my BBQ chicken marinade would taste excellent with this recipe!
If you don't have liquid smoke on hand, you can leave it out. However, the rich smokey flavor combined with BBQ sauce is truly delicious.
The internal temperature should reach a minimum of 165°F (74°C) when taken at the thickest part of the breast. This means you can remove the chicken at just under 165°F (74°C) as the carryover cooking will raise the temperature a few degrees. For bone-in chicken, I like to aim closer to 180°F (82°C).
To store: Once your grilled BBQ chicken breasts have cooled down, you can put them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Place the chicken breasts in a heavy-duty freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 4 months and let them defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat BBQ grilled chicken breasts in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).