How long to barbecue boneless chicken breast

Learn how to grill chicken breast on a gas grill. Guaranteed tender and moist grilled chicken breast with perfect sear marks, every time…just a few simple steps needed. Plus you’ll learn about a gas grill that makes grilled chicken breast even easier. 

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Char-Broil. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Grilled Chicken Breast

Grilling chicken on a gas grill is one of the most flavorful ways to enjoy tender and juicy chicken breasts. Moist grilled chicken breast is incredibly simple, but it can be easy to overcook, dry out, or not get proper sear marks.

Once you know the simple steps of how to gas grill chicken breasts, including how long to grill chicken, it will be second nature. Even boneless, skinless chicken breasts will be moist and juicy on the grill. 

Tips for grilled chicken breast

Don’t grill chicken cold: As with most meats, you want to bring close to room temperature before grilling or cooking. This allows more even cooking throughout. If you grill directly from the fridge, the outside will cook much faster and you risk chairing before the center reaches the correct temperature.

Allow chicken breast to sit about 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking. Not much longer or you’ll increase the risk of food contamination.

Pre-season: Generously coat both sides of chicken with light olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and desired seasonings. The olive oil helps to hold in moisture while cooking, increases those nice golden sear marks and helps seasonings stick better to the meat.

Preheat the grill: Preheat the gas grill to medium-high until the temp reaches 350-400° degrees F. The grill needs to be hot when you add chicken, allowing it to sear and cook evenly.

How to add chicken breasts to gas grill: Lightly grease cooking grates of the preheated gas grill with vegetable oil spray or paper towel application to prevent sticking. Immediately add chicken with at least 2-3 inches between pieces. Close lid and cook.

Reduce heat to medium midway: Rotate mid-way for even sear marks and cooking.

Grilled chicken breast safe temp: Cook chicken breast just to an internal temperature of 165° F with an instant-read thermometer. Watch carefully and do not overcook.

Serving: Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This will keep more juices and help with moist and tender chicken.

• Coat both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper or desired seasonings. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

• Preheat gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat, or 350-400° F.

• Lightly grease grill surface and add chicken. Close lid and cook 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks.

• Rotate chicken, close lid, reduce heat to medium, and cook 7-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F.

• Remove chicken breast from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving. 

Follow the simple steps below for even sear marks and moist chicken.

• Preheat gas to medium-high heat, or 350-400° F

• Cook first side 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks

• Rotate chicken, reduce heat to medium, and cook 7-10 minutes more

• Watch carefully and do not overcook

Here are a few ways to tell if your chicken is cooked:

The most important factor to moist grilled chicken is to not overcook. Grill chicken according to the heat and times in this recipe, and watch carefully.

• Internal temp: The internal temp should reach 165° F to be safe. Pro tip: You can cook chicken slightly less to 160° and let it rest 5-10 minutes under foil. It will continue to cook to a safe temp and be moister.
• Visual check: Cut into the center of the chicken breast with a knife. It should be white, with just the slightest hint of pink. If it’s pure white and looks stringy inside, it’s overcooked. Note: using this method while the chicken is still cooking or before resting will cause some liquids and moisture to drain out.
• Test for firmness: Remove chicken from the grill. Once cooled slightly, press in the center with finger. It should have a little bit of give (not completely firm) but also not be squishy feeling. Note: this method takes practice is the least accurate.

Which grill to use for grilled chicken breast

Any propane gas grill will work. However, more burners (such as 4 or 5) usually means a larger surface area, as well as more even heat distribution. You’ll have plenty of room for grilling chicken, other meats and veggies on Char-Broil’s Commercial Series TRU-Infrared Gas Grill. Six large chicken breasts barely took a third of the grill, leaving plenty of room to spare.

The tips above guarantee moist chicken breast on any gas grill, but TRU-Infrared will take it even further. It has special plates with small holes below the main grilling grates that regulate heat, creating an even temperature to control cooking. No more hot or cold spots, allowing the entire grilling surface to be used. With plenty of cooking space and 4 burners, you can grill multiple items and control the temperature in each area.

The infrared grates also prevent flare-ups. You get that smoky grilled flavor, but cooking is safer and there’s less risk of burning food. The even heat distribution means more control over you grilling, allowing up to 50% juicier food.

With these few simple tips on grilled chicken breast, you’ll be a grilling pro in no time.

Extra flavor options

For extra flavor, you could squeeze on a bit of lemon juice, top with salsa, melted cheese, BBQ sauce, pesto sauce, or dressing. Alternately, try marinated chicken such as this Cilantro Lime Chicken or my Fajita Chicken Breasts.

How to store leftover chicken

Let the grilled chicken sit a room temperature about 10 minutes to cool off, then refrigerate or freeze based on the times below.

• Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 3–4 days.
• Freeze whole, shredded, or chopped pieces tightly sealed up to 3–4 months. I like to freeze in separate smaller bags for easy leftover portions.

Essential FAQ’s for Grilled Chicken Breast

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”How long to grill chicken breast” answer-0=”Grill chicken breasts about 15 minutes over medium-high heat or 400° F. Tip: Rotate the chicken breasts and reduce heat to medium halfway through to grill 7 minutes per side and evenly sear.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”How to get perfect sear marks on grilled chicken breast” answer-1=”The key is to start with higher heat to create a sear, then reduce heat slightly midway for even cooking. Indirect heat is not needed.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”Should I close the lid when grilling chicken?” answer-2=”It’s best to close the lid when grilling chicken for more even cooking. The outsides will still sear nicely and the inside of the grill will hold more even heat, which helps to cook this inside of the chicken breasts.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h3″ question-3=”Grilled chicken temp” answer-3=”Grill over medium-high heat until internal temp reaches 165° F. A quick-read digital thermometer is the safest and easiest way to test doneness. ” image-3=”” count=”4″ html=”true” css_class=””]

More easy chicken dinners you may like:

• Keto Chicken Parmesan
• Moist Baked Chicken Breast
• Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
• Lemon Chicken Pasta with Brocolli

Want to become a pro at grilling other meats?

If you want to learn how to grill other meats, check out my grilling guides below:

• Grilled Ribeye
• Grilled Pork Chops
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Salmon Kabobs
• Mexican Shrimp Cocktail with grilled shrimp

Sides to serve with chicken 

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Keto mac and cheese
• Gluten-free mac and cheese
• Green bean casserole with bacon
• Au gratin potatoes
• Phyllo cup appetizers
• BLT coleslaw salad
• Gluten-free stuffed mushrooms
• Classic French Onion soup
• Homemade potato wedges

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Grilled Chicken Breast

Perfect grilled chicken every time. Learn with this easy summer grilling recipe.

Course Barbecue

Cuisine American

Keyword grilled chicken breast, how to grill chicken breast, moist grilled chicken breast

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Calories 255kcal

Servings 6

Author: Matt Ivan

Did you know? Servings and ingredient amounts can be adjusted on all my recipes. Click the green number above to change.

• ▢ 6 medium chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (2-3 pounds)
• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil, light
• ▢ Salt, to taste
• ▢ Pepper or desired spices, to taste

• Coat both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper or desired seasonings.

• Let chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

• Preheat gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat or 350-400° F. Lightly grease grill surface and add chicken. Close lid and cook 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks.

• Rotate chicken, close lid, reduce heat to medium and cook 7-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F.
  

• Remove chicken from grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Pro tip: You can cook chicken slightly less to 160° and let it rest 5-10 minutes under foil. It will continue to cook and be moister.

Important tips for gas grilled chicken breasts

• Don’t grill chicken cold: As with most meats, you want to bring close to room temperature before grilling or cooking. This allows more even cooking throughout. If you grill directly from the fridge, the outside will cook much faster and you risk chairing before the center reaches the correct temperature.
• Allow chicken breast to sit about 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking. Not much longer or you’ll increase the risk of food contamination.
• Pre-season: Generously coat both sides of chicken with light olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and desired seasonings. The olive oil helps to hold in moisture while cooking, increases those nice golden sear marks and helps seasonings stick better to the meat.
• Preheat the grill: Preheat the gas grill to medium-high until internal the temp reaches 350-400° degrees F. The grill needs to be hot when you add chicken, allowing it to sear and cook evenly.
• How to add chicken breasts to gas grill: Lightly grease cooking grates of pre-heated gas grill to prevent sticking. Immediately add chicken with at least 2-3 inches between pieces. Close lid and cook.
• Reduce heat to medium midway: Rotate mid-way for even sear marks and cooking.
• Serving: Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This will keep more juices and help with moist and tender chicken.

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Chicken Breast

Amount Per Serving (6 ounces)

Calories 255 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 108mg36%

Sodium 197mg9%

Potassium 629mg18%

Carbohydrates 0g0%

Sugar 0g0%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 50IU1%

Vitamin C 2.1mg3%

Calcium 8mg1%

Iron 0.7mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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