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Griled chicken on a cutting board
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Chicken Temperature - What Temp to Cook Chicken

Follow my guide on grilling chicken breasts for the perfect grilled chicken every time!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken temperature, what temp to cook chicken, what temp to cook chicken at, what temperature is chicken done
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 19 minutes
Servings 2 chicken breasts
Calories 534kcal
Author Isabel Laessig

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts boneless, skinless, and pounded thin

Grilled Chicken Marinade

  • ½ cup dill pickle juice strained
  • ½ cup whole milk

Grilled Chicken Seasoning

  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil for grilling the chicken breasts

Instructions

  • Add chicken breast to a zip-lock bag. Keep the bag open so the air can escape. Tenderize the chicken by pounding it thin with the flat end of a meat mallet.
    2 large chicken breasts
    Pounding a chicken breast with a mallet in a bag
  • Combine whole milk and strained dill pickle juice in a measuring cup or bowl. Pour the marinade into the chicken breast bag and seal it. Massage the marinade into the chicken breast, then refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.
    ½ cup dill pickle juice, ½ cup whole milk
    Marinating chicken in a bag
  • After marinating, allow your chicken breasts to come to room temperature by letting them rest for 30 minutes before grilling them. In the meantime, mix together powdered sugar, fine sea salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and lemon zest in a bowl. Refrigerate the spice mix until it’s time to use it.
    2 Tablespoons powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon paprika, 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
    combine seasoning ingredients for grilled chicken
  • Use a paper towel to pat down both sides of the chicken breasts so they are dry.
    pat chicken dry with a paper towel
  • Once dry all over, sprinkle the spice rub onto the chicken and rub it into the meat on both sides of each breast.
    sprinkling seasoning mixture on top of chicken breasts
  • Add olive oil to a grill pan. Allow it to heat over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, then add a single chicken breast. If using an outdoor grill, you can grill both chicken breasts at the same time. Cook 1 minute, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 4 minutes.
    3 Tablespoons olive oil
    chicken breasts on the grill
  • Flip the chicken using tongs and cook an additional 4 minutes on the other side. Once finished cooking, remove and repeat with the other chicken breast. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F as read by a meat thermometer.
    flipped chicken breasts on the grill
  • Allow cooked chicken to rest for 10 minutes on a plate covered with foil. When ready to serve, slice with a sharp knife against the grain of the chicken, and enjoy!
    slicing grilled chicken breasts on a wood cutting board

Video

Notes

  • Grill chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F as read by a meat thermometer.
  • Follow my chicken temperature chart to cook more than just chicken breasts on the grill, including thighs!

Nutrition

Calories: 534kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 1758mg | Potassium: 941mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 294IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg