This grilled chicken breast recipe makes juicy grilled chicken that’s made even more perfect with a flavorful homemade spice rub! If you’re wondering how to grill chicken, this easy recipe is ready in only 20 minutes and makes the BEST grilled chicken of your life!
My Go-To Grilled Chicken Recipe – It’s So Easy!
There are many ways to cook chicken. And since chicken is the main meat we eat in our house (much to my husband’s chagrin, he’s a beef man) I’ve cooked it just about every way I can think of.
Pan Seared. Baked. Pouched. Grilled. Rotisserie. Raw.
Just kidding not raw… just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. 🙂
I have to say my top two favorite ways to cook chicken are on the grill and by pan searing. Those two methods tend to be the best at giving the chicken an awesome flavor on the outside, searing in all the goodness, and the keeping the center moist instead of dry!
What’s your favorite way to cook chicken?
The Secret to Ultra Flavorful Grilled Chicken? Homemade Spice Rub.
Seasoning any protein with just salt and pepper can be great if it’s done right, but sometimes I’m just looking for something a little more flavorful. Sure you could add BBQ Sauce and make it BBQ Chicken. But in todays recipe we are going straight up spice rub blend. YES!
You can purchase pre-made chicken seasoning packs, but this homemade chicken spice rub is so easy to make and packs so much flavor there is no reason not to give it a try. Here’s what you’ll need:
Chicken Seasoning Ingredients
- Smoked Paprika – adds a nice smokiness to the chicken
- Cumin – gives an aromatic nutty flavor
- Coriander – really compliments the other spices and enhances the taste of the chicken
- Garlic Powder – gives the spice rub a hint of garlic
- Sea Salt – you gotta add salt, it’s the primary seasoning in almost every dish
- Black Pepper – for the slight hint of pepper
If you want more chicken spice rubs, definitely go check out my post that includes 5 different spice rubs. These rubs can be used for chicken or vegetables! You’re welcome. There’s a basic spice rub, smoky chipotle spice rub, mediterranean spice rub, lemon pepper spice rub and my favorite a buffalo spice rub!
How to Grill Chicken Breast
- Bring chicken to room temperature: Make sure that your chicken has rested at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to take the chill off.
- Pound chicken: Next, to make sure your chicken cooks evenly, pound the chicken to an even thickness so that everything cooks the same.
- Heat grill: Preheat your grill to medium high heat, approximately 375-400°F.
- Make spice rub: In a small bowl mix the garlic powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, sea salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix until combined.
- Season chicken: Rub seasoning mixture over both sides of the chicken.
- Grill: Place chicken on grill and grill each side for 4-7 minutes depending on thickness or until no longer pink.
- Rest & Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes to let juices reallocate and slice to serve.
In This Recipe
How Long to Grill Chicken Breast
In my opinion, the key to a perfectly grilled chicken recipe is not touching the chicken when it’s on the grill. Once your chicken hits the grill grates let the grill do all the work.
Set your timer for 4-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken and flip. If the chicken sticks to the grill it’s not done yet. Trust me, your protein will release when it’s finished.
Chicken is considered “done” when the internal temperature reaches 165° F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Do NOT cut into the chicken to see if it’s pink this will release all the juices and make your chicken dry. This seems like such a simple thing, but it’s the key to keeping grilled chicken moist.
The best part about today’s recipe is it’s done in under 20 minutes, it’s gluten free, and paleo! (And if you want to add a few more in there it’s keto and low carb… just saying.) Hand down the perfect meal for a weeknight – super light and full of flavor!
Can You Freeze Grilled Chicken?
Yes! First let your chicken come to room temperature.
Then freeze whole pieces of grilled chicken by wrapping each piece in plastic wrap and placing it in a ziploc bag. This helps prevents freezer burn and also ensures that your grilled chicken won’t stick together. It also makes it easier to only defrost the amount of grilled chicken you want to eat in the future.
Serving Suggestions
Hope you enjoy! Well, actually I know you will! So I hope you will actually make it!
Bon Appetit Friends!
Print
Juicy Grilled Chicken Recipe with Homemade Spice Rub
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 chicken breasts 1x
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
An easy grilled chicken recipe that only takes 20 minutes! Full of flavor from an epic spice rub, it’s the BEST grilled chicken you’ll ever make.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon of olive oil
Instructions
Prepare grill: Preheat grill to medium high heat.
Make chicken spice rub: In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, sea salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix until combined.
Prep chicken: Rub mixture over both sides of the chicken.
Grill: Place chicken on grill and grill each side for 4-6 minutes depending on thickness. You just want to make sure there is no pink in the middle.
Rest & Serve: Let your chicken rest for 5 minutes, then serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (6oz.)
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 409 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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202 comments on “Easy Grilled Chicken Breast with Homemade Spice Rub”
So delicious!! We used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and they turned out amazing-tasty and juicy. Next time we’ll probably add a little heat to the rub, but just a touch. This is a keeper!
Yes to boneless chicken thighs. They are my favorite lately.. my husband is obsessed too. So glad to hear you liked them!
Great rub! Had a fantastic grilled chicken salad for dinner. Highly recommend! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Awesome to hear!
We make this all the time. Yummy!
I am thrilled you love this recipe as much as I do!
I tried my hand at making chicken breasts last night – and this recipe was so easy, I had the whole family coming back for more.
This is music to my ears! I am thrilled it was a hit for the whole family!
That looks delicious! Great combination of spices.
I can’t wait for you to give this recipe a try!
Used this on grilled chicken legs. Omgoodness they were so delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
YESSSS! This is music to my ears! I am so glad you loved it!
I have been cooking for my family for 25 years. Baked chicken never tasted so good. Thank you for teaching me how to brine!
This homemade spice rub is packed with so much flavor! Thank you for the 5-Star Review!
Thanks For Best Recipie
The perfect recipe to kick off the summer grilling season!
Excellent! Although, I did cheat a little with some Cayenne pepper.
I can definitely get behind adding a little spice!!
Fabulous recipe Krista! The recipe seems easy, heathy, and delicious for family gatherings and parties as chicken is good for the heart because of its low content of fat.
The homemade spice rub makes all the difference! Juicy chicken packed with flavor!
Looks yummy. I’ve tried to make this for my family, and my family really love it. I will introduce your recipe for my friends. Thank you so much. I love it.
Using a homemade spice rub makes a huge difference! I hope your friends love it!
Wow, your recipe is so awesome. I have never known this recipe. Thanks for sharing. I will try to follow your recipe and I hope it looks delicious as your picture. I will share this recipe for my friends and my family. I think they love it too.
Thank you! I sure hope you enjoyed this recipe!
Looks yummy. I’ve tried to make this for my family, and my family really love it. I will introduce your recipe for my friends. Thank you so much. I love it.
I am so happy you loved it and are sharing the recipes! Thank you!
What an awesome dish!!!. Thank you for sharing. I love your recipe very much. I think your dish is very delicious. I will make this recipe for my family and my friend. I hope you have more recipe like this.
Thank you! I am so happy you liked this recipe!
Amazing! I love the recipe so much. Thank you for sharing.
From Jacks!!!!
This is one of my favorite spice rubs!! Perfection!
You can never underestimate the power of a homemade spice rub! Glad you enjoyed it!
that was awesome. thanks again and keep it up
I really like this. I added a lime and some sriracha bc I like a bit of spice. Thanks for the recipe!
oh that sounds perfect!!
Hello, made this multiple times and tastes great. Planning g on making today and will omit the cayenne, too spicy for my 4 yo. I was wondering if this could be baked in the oven and at which temp and how long?
Yes, definitely. It’d bake at 450° for 15-18 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken breast.
Rating it 5 stars coz the recipe came out to be really amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent recipe! Thanks for sharing! Meant to make this for meal prep this week. Couldn’t keep the family out of it. Out of 6 chicken breast, only 2 made it to refrigerator. Everyone raved about how good the chicken was.
haha… good and not good. Need to hide them next time! 🙂
Awesome food. I love your recipe. It is so great and simple. I love to eat chicken. It reminds me of when I was a kid. I eat this dish a lot until I’m full. Now, I still love to eat it. I also love cooking this chicken, previous times it was not what I expected. Yesterday, I followed your recipe and I had a delicious meal. I will make this this weekend. Great, thanks a lot for the good and helpful article. Great. Yummy…
I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe and the blog!
This looks delicious! I’m always looking for new ways to make chicken more flavorful. This seems perfect.
Sound amazing!!!
The spice rub adds so much flavor to your chicken! I hope you enjoy!
Not too hot, not too spicy, grandkids and all enjoyed, also quick and easy!
GIRRRRRRL! These were so amazing. You’re amazing for putting this all together. Thanks A lot.
This was delicious. I added a half teaspoon of Desert Heat from Buffalo Wild Wings for a smidge of heat. We really enjoyed it.
Amazingly good flavor for such a simple recipe! The grilling instructions were spot-on and created juicy, tender chicken. Yum!
Just WOW. absolutely delicious not too spicy and not too dull. Just the right amount of flavor. Made a bunch for a Memorial Day party and EVERYONE raved about my chicken! Super impressed.
Great flavor! This is a keeper. Thank you!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!! Perfect chicken to add to salads, pasta or as a meal. I make it at least once a week.
This chicken was really good. I doubled it and had very little leftovers. The marinade was very good and left a nice glaze on the chicken. This one’s a keeper!
I love everything about chicken. Will try to make this one too. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.
Great, you’ll love it!
Has anyone tried this on an indoor grill? I can’t grill outdoors where I live.
Yes you can definitely do it indoors or on a skillet on the stove.
Woooow…..Homemade!!! It’s the only thing that taste good! And so easy to do…
I think I will look for these and try your recipe this weekend. Thank you for sharing!
Dang Thai from Embeya!
Best grill ever. I have tried many grill recipe but believe me yours Was the best. I tried this last weekend. And now it is my son’s favourite. But it tooks 30 min for grill. And smoke paprika is one of my favourite spice.Thank you for sharing.
Look yummy! One of my favorite Grilled Chicken, nice to see your recipe, easy to follow, will cook this for family this weekend. Thanks you!
It’s amazing! I just randomly found your blog looking for this recipe. Awesome! Good for you! Keep writing like this !!
thank you so much! So glad you found me! Welcome!
I live on the island of Tenerife. Here they are selling smoked red ground pepper and any salt, many American sets of spices. I am fond of grilling fish. But be sure to try your recipe. Thanks in advance!
Krista,, it’s awesome! I cannot wait to try this. I bet it makes the house smell divine and tastes incredible!
It’s so good! Hope you like it!
This dish is nutritious and easy to digest. I will try making my family a meal this weekend.
Thanks for sharing.
I don’t like the fennel, can I take it off. Also, where do I find smoked paprika? Thank you
yes, you can definitely take it out. Smoked Paprika you can find at the grocery store, right where the spices are. 🙂
Last week tried the recipe with Spice Rub, It was awesome!! Thank you for the wonderful recipe.
hurray! So glad you loved it Brad!
I love to cook. Finding and updating new menu recipes every day makes me more interested and interested in my work. Today’s my lucky day, The BEST Grilled Chicken Recipe with Spice Rub is great, just follow the instructions and everything is easy, I like that. Thanks for your sharing