How Long to Cook Chicken on the Grill at 400 Degrees: The Complete Guide
Grilling chicken can seem intimidating, especially when it comes to nailing the right cook time. Undercook it and you risk food poisoning. Overcook it and you’re left with dry, rubbery meat. But have no fear! Grilling chicken at 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for juicy, flavorful results every time.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to grill chicken like a pro at 400 degrees. You’ll learn about optimal internal temperatures, recommended cook times based on thickness, the best prep tips, and foolproof techniques to take your grilled chicken from dry to delicious. Let’s get grilling!
The Optimal Internal Temperature for Chicken
Safely and properly cooking chicken starts with knowing the right internal temperature. According to the USDA, chicken needs to reach 165°F at its thickest part to be considered safe to eat. This kills any potentially harmful bacteria like salmonella.
Some people rely on the color of the meat, but don’t be fooled. Chicken can turn white all the way through before hitting 165°F, meaning it’s not quite ready yet. That’s why using an instant-read thermometer is so important. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out doneness.
Insert the thermometer probe into the thickest section of the breast, being careful not to hit bone. Once it registers 165°F, your chicken is good to go. The juices should run clear at this point rather than pink.
Pro Tip: Don’t cook the chicken to 165°F on the grill. Take it off once it hits 155-160°F since the temperature will continue rising as it rests.
Recommended Cook Times Based on Thickness
The thickness of your chicken breasts makes a major difference in grilling times. Thinner breasts cook faster, while thicker ones require more time over the heat. Here are the approximate cook times per side when grilling at 400°F:
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1-inch thick chicken breasts: 6-8 minutes per side
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1.5-inch chicken breasts: 8-10 minutes per side
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2-inch chicken breasts: 10-12 minutes per side
These times are just guidelines. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the breast has reached 165°F at its thickest portion before serving. If it hasn’t yet, continue grilling and checking the temperature periodically until it’s ready.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the visual signs of doneness at the end. The chicken should turn opaque white with lightly charred grill marks once properly cooked.
Pro Tip: Buy chicken breasts of similar thickness so they cook at the same rate. Or, pound thicker ones with a meat mallet so they match the thinner pieces.
Best Prep Tips for Grilling Juicy Chicken
Prepping your chicken correctly before it hits the grill makes all the difference in the finished product. Here are some tips:
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Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Excess moisture on the surface can prevent browning.
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Apply a light coat of oil. This helps promote browning as well as prevent sticking.
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Season generously with salt, pepper, herbs, spices, etc. Get flavor into every nook and cranny.
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Let it come to room temp if chicken was refrigerated. This reduces overall cook time.
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Marinate for added flavor and tenderness. Even 30 minutes makes a difference.
Properly prepped chicken sears beautifully on the grill and locks in juices, while poorly prepped chicken is more likely to dry out.
Foolproof Grilling Techniques
Use these expert techniques for grilling incredibly juicy, flavorful chicken breasts at 400°F every single time:
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Preheat grill for 15 minutes so it reaches the proper temperature. This allows for more even cooking.
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Sear both sides over direct heat for 4-5 minutes to get nice grill marks. Move to indirect heat to finish.
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Grill over indirect heat, away from the flames, for the remainder of the cook time. This prevents drying out.
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Flip only once during cooking unless boneless skinless breasts. Flipping too often dries them out.
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Brush on a flavorful glaze during the last 5 minutes for added flavor and moisture.
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Rest finished chicken for 5-10 minutes before cutting to allow juices to redistribute.
Mastering these simple grilling techniques allows you to control temperature and cook time for tender, juicy chicken off the grill.
Troubleshooting Common Grilling Mistakes
Having trouble getting perfect results when grilling that chicken breast? Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them:
Problem: Chicken breasts are charred on the outside but still pink inside.
Important Stuff to Know ⬇️
- Tenderize chicken before cooking.
- Grill at 400ºF over direct heat for around 15-20 minutes.
- Cook until chicken reaches 160ºF.
- Let rest for 10 minutes after grilling.
What to do with Leftover Grilled Chicken
There are so many amazing recipes you can make with leftover chicken! Try:
- ▢ 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3-4 medium-sized chicken breasts
- ▢ 2 –3 teaspoons garlic powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- First, prepare the chicken by using a meat tenderizer to make sure your chicken is similar in thickness throughout.
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Option here to sub out 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite dry rub. Set aside for at least 15 minutes. The longer the chicken sits, the more flavorful it will be.
- Next, preheat the grill to 400ºF and spray grates with cooking spray
- Grill chicken breasts over direct heat at 400ºF for around 7-8 minutes. Then, flip chicken breasts and continue cooking for 8-10 more minutes. You know the chicken breast is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 160ºF – 165ºF.
- Remove from the grill and let rest* for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. The chicken breasts will continue to rise in temperature around 5ºF.
- Cook time will vary depending on the size of your chicken breast. Thicker chicken breasts will take longer, just make sure to cook until the internal temperature has reached 160ºF. You know your chicken is completely cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. We use an instant read thermometer for this, that way you don’t take any risks in eating raw chicken. You can learn more about cooking here from this great article by the USDA.
- Your chicken will continue to cook once you remove it from the grill and the internal temperature will continue to rise.
- This recipe was slightly updated on July 19, 2023.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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0 to 400 Chicken
FAQ
How long to cook chicken at 400 on a grill?
How long should I cook my chicken at 400 for?
Roast the chickens at 400 degrees for about an hour and a half, depending on the size of the birds. The way I figure time for this is to take the average weight of one of the chickens (say, 4.5 lbs) and calculate 15 minutes per pound (that would be about 67 minutes for a 4.5 lb chicken).
Is it better to grill chicken at 350 or 400?
How to cook chicken on the grill without drying it out?
To prevent drying out chicken on the grill, use indirect heat, consider brining or marinating, pound chicken to an even thickness, and ensure it’s cooked to the proper internal temperature (165°F).
How long to grill chicken at 400 degrees?
To grill chicken at 400 degrees, cook it for 8-11 minutes, determined by the size and thickness of the chicken, or until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Just make sure that the chicken is as fresh as possible.
What temperature should chicken be grilled?
The best internal temperature for chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. A chicken’s temperature should be taken in the thickest part not just by touching the skin. What temperature do you grill chicken on the grill? A temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for grilling chicken. How long do I grill chicken on each side?
How long does it take to cook chicken on the grill?
To cook chicken on the grill, it takes 8-11 minutes at 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the size and thickness. Cook until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Grilling chicken without burning it requires watching the grill temperature, moving the chicken around to avoid hot spots, and turning the chicken often.
How long do you cook chicken on a charcoal grill?
If you’re a newbie, ti can be hard to know how to charcoal grill chicken. The cooking time for chicken will vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken, boned or deboned, as well as the temperature of your grill. As a general rule, I like to cook boneless chicken breasts at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes total.
How do you cook chicken breast on a grill?
Combine salt and pepper in small bowl. Set aside. Place chicken breasts on plate and pat dry with clean paper towel. Sprinkle both sides with a generous amount of the salt and pepper mix. Heat grill to medium heat (approximately 400 degrees F). Place chicken on direct heat (direct flame) and cook at medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side.
How do you cook chicken on a gas grill?
For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place poultry on grill rack, bone side down (if it includes a bone), over medium heat. Cover and grill for the time given below in our instructions for how long to grill chicken. Test for doneness using a meat thermometer.