How to Cook Juicy, Flavorful Chicken Breast on a Charcoal Grill: The Ultimate Guide

Cooking chicken breast on a charcoal grill can seem intimidating, but with the right techniques, you can achieve restaurant-quality results in your own backyard. Perfectly juicy, flavorful chicken breast grilled over a live fire is a summertime treat that’s easier to accomplish than you may think.

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to grill succulent, tender chicken breast on a charcoal grill, from choosing the right chicken to testing for doneness. With a few simple tips, you’ll be an expert in grilling chicken in no time Let’s get fired up!

Selecting the Best Chicken Breasts

The foundation of great grilled chicken begins with using high-quality chicken. When buying chicken breasts for the grill, keep the following tips in mind:

• Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts – The boneless aspect allows for even cooking, while skinless cuts down on fat flare-ups. Breasts are ideal over other cuts for their quick cooking time.

• Look for uniform sizing and thickness – Try to choose chicken breasts that are similar in size and thickness. This promotes consistent cooking.

• Choose fresh chicken with no odor – Select chicken that looks fresh with no discoloration. It should have no foul odor.

• Consider air-chilled or organic – Air-chilled or organic chicken often has better texture and flavor The moderate price premium is worth it

• Ensure chicken is fully thawed – Frozen chicken takes longer to cook, resulting in dry meat. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before grilling.

Starting with high-quality chicken is step one for grilling success.

The Power of Marinades

A flavorful marinade transforms ordinary chicken into a delicious, juicy entrée. The right marinade not only imparts flavor but also tenderizes the meat.

• Use acidic ingredients – Ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, yogurt and buttermilk have enzymes that tenderize chicken.

• Include oil or butter – Adding oil or butter seals in moisture and keeps chicken from drying out. Olive, avocado and nut oils work well.

• Play with herbs and spices – Garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, oregano, basil – the options for flavor are endless.

• Let it marinate 1-4 hours – Allowing chicken to soak up the marinade for a few hours infuses it with flavor.

• Keep it refrigerated – Refrigerating chicken while marinating is important for food safety.

From bold Cajun blackening seasoning to herby lemon-garlic marinades, the flavor combos are infinite. Amp up the taste of your chicken with a quick marinade before tossing it on the grill.

Setting Up Your Charcoal Grill

Preheating your charcoal grill properly is vital for cooking chicken correctly. Follow these steps:

• Start with a clean grill – Scrape and scrub the grill grates well using a grill brush. This prevents sticking.

• Choose natural lump charcoal – Lump charcoal burns hotter and imparts better flavor than briquettes.

• Arrange charcoal in a pyramid – Pile charcoal to promote airflow and faster heating. Leave space for indirect cooking.

• Use a chimney starter – The safest way to light charcoal is with a chimney starter rather than lighter fluid.

• Let charcoal ash over completely – Wait until all coals are fully ashed over with a grayish white hue before cooking.

• Spread out charcoal – Once lit, carefully arrange charcoal evenly across grill for direct cooking.

With some patience and the right setup, your charcoal grill will be ready to infuse chicken with that perfect smoky essence.

Grilling Techniques for Picture-Perfect Chicken

When it comes to the actual grilling, using the right techniques ensures your chicken turns out moist and full of flavor.

• Sear chicken initially over direct heat – The high heat from direct grilling sears the outside and seals in juices.

• Finish cooking using indirect heat – Moving the chicken away from direct flames prevents burning.

• Aim for 350-450 ̊F grill temperature – Use a grill thermometer to monitor temperature – this is ideal for chicken.

• Flip only once – Let chicken develop grill marks and color on each side by flipping just once.

• Rotate thicker ends toward fire – Putting the plumper portions of chicken closer to the coals evens out cooking.

Mastering these grilling methods results in perfectly cooked chicken with crispy charred bits on the outside and tender, juicy meat inside.

Know When Your Chicken Is Done

Determining when your chicken breasts are fully cooked is one of the most important grilling skills. Here are foolproof ways to test for doneness:

• Use an instant-read thermometer – Insert into thickest part of breast to check for 165 ̊F. This guarantees safety.

• Check juices for clarity – Cut into chicken and ensure no pink juices are present. Clear juices indicate doneness.

• Do the poke test – Poking cooked chicken feels firm yet still a bit yielding. Undercooked chicken feels squishy.

• Watch for white opacity – Fully cooked chicken breast meat looks opaque all the way through, not transparent.

Checking temperature and visual cues prevents dried out, overcooked chicken. Remember, food safety comes first when grilling chicken.

Let It Rest

You’ve achieved grill-marked perfection, but don’t slice into the chicken immediately. Letting it rest first is one of the most vital steps.

• Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes – This allows juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

• Keep it uncovered – Don’t wrap or tent chicken while resting. This causes steaminess.

• Slice against the grain – Cutting against the muscle fiber ensures tender, juicy pieces.

• Serve chicken warm, not hot – Letting chicken cool slightly before serving keeps juices locked in.

Resting and proper slicing are the final secrets for exceptionally moist, delicious chicken breast off the grill.

Master the Art of Grilled Chicken

When armed with the right techniques, grilling succulent chicken breast over charcoal becomes a foolproof process. With flavorful marinades, proper grill setup, and following cooking, doneness, and resting tips, you’ll achieve restaurant-caliber results in your own backyard.

The secret is in the details – quality chicken, strategic flipping, monitoring doneness, and letting the chicken properly rest. By honing these grill skills, you’ll be cranking out perfectly cooked chicken breast all summer long.

So fire up the grill, get creative with marinades, and sink your teeth into tender, smoky chicken. Your family and friends will be amazed, and you’ll feel like a grill master. Get outside and start grilling!