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 todays 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, full of flavor and healthy!
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
- Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
- 10 Minute Asian Cucumber Salad
- Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Zest
- Crunchy Thai Quinoa Salad
- Thai Mango Avocado Salad
- Homemade Margarita
Hope you enjoy! Well, actually I know you will! So I hope you will actually make it!
Bon Appetit Friends!
Print
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:
Cuisine:
Print
PinDescription
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
Keywords: grilled chicken recipe, grilled chicken breast, how long to grill chicken, chicken spice rub, easy, best grilled chicken, chicken seasoning, healthy. quick, simple
Recommended Tools for this Recipe:
*** This post does contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Joyful Healthy Eats.**
DON’T MISS A RECIPE:
Vegetarian
Vegan
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.