Our Favorite Grilled Chicken Recipes

By Southern Living Editors
April 15, 2009
Credit: Hector M Sanchez
If you're bored with the flavors of your traditional baked or fried chicken dinners, use one of these flavor-packed grilled chicken recipes to turn chicken thighs, breasts, and wings into great grilled entrées that the whole family will love. Whether it's a weeknight or a weekend, turning to the grill is a surefire way to instantly upgrade chicken by adding extra flavor from the help of your grill. 
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Here are our Favorite Ways With Grilled Chicken

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Lemon-Herb Chicken Kebabs

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Lemon-Herb Chicken Kebabs

Using chicken thighs is the secret ingredient to ensuring these kebabs don't dry out on the grill.

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Spiced Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs

Credit: Max Kelly

Recipe: Spiced Molasses BBQ Chicken Thighs

Add extra flavor to chicken thighs with an easy homemade glaze.

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Grilled Chicken with Quick-Pickled Squash Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Quick-Pickled Squash Salad

Sprinkle with whatever fresh herbs you have on hand before serving.

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Grilled Chicken Tacos

Credit: Wynn Myers

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tacos

An orange juice-based marinade keeps chicken tender and full of flavor.

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Brined Grilled Chicken with Dipping Sauces

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Brined Grilled Chicken with Dipping Sauces

Condiment lovers will rejoice when they're served three different dipping sauce options.

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Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Omit the hot sauce if you don't want the extra heat.


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Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa

Make sure to allow 30 minutes, or longer, for chicken to soak in the marinade.

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Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Arugula Pesto

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Arugula Pesto

These flavor-packed kebabs will be on the table in just 30 minutes.

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Pan-Grilled Chicken with Fresh Plum Salsa

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pan-Grilled Chicken with Fresh Plum Salsa

A sweet and spicy dish that's ready in just 26 minutes.

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Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs

Credit: Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs

We've found another use for that buttermilk in your fridge.

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Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Grilled Chicken-and-Veggie Tortellini

This complete meal comes together quickly with help from frozen tortellini and store-bought pesto.

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Sweet Tea-Brined Chicken

Credit: Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Tea-Brined Chicken

Sweet tea has become an iconic Southern flavor for pound cakes, ice cream, and even fried chicken. In this recipe, we brined pieces of chicken in the elixir before grilling to impart subtle sweetness and moisture.

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Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken

Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken is soaked in a mixture of buttermilk, brown sugar, and hot sauce to ensure flavor and juiciness.

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Grilled Chicken With White Barbecue Sauce

Recipe: Grilled Chicken With White Barbecue Sauce

Chicken thighs are seasoned with rub of dried thyme, oregano, cumin, and paprika. The versatile white sauce received our highest rating and is also good as a condiment for burgers.

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Lemonade Chicken

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Lemonade Chicken

This is one of our throwback recipes from our Recipe Revival cookbook. (Who doesn’t like revisiting favorite recipes from the past?) Frozen lemonade concentrate became available in the 1950s, and promptly began to sneak its way into recipes both sweet and savory. Here, it teams up with soy sauce for a quick baste for grilled chicken. If you’d prefer, try this recipe with frozen orange juice concentrate, or with limeade. Serve with lemon (or orange or lime) slices for a garnish. This chicken makes a lovely weeknight dinner with a side of broccoli and white rice.

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Grilled Chicken and Toasted Couscous Salad with Lemon-Buttermilk Dressing

Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Toasted Couscous Salad with Lemon-Buttermilk Dressing

This hearty dish can take down the biggest of appetites. It begins with tender chicken marinated in olive oil, garlic, and lemon, which is then added to a tasty medley of fresh asparagus, couscous, and red onions. All of that is covered in a rich, lemony buttermilk dressing.

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Grilled Salt-and-Pepper Chicken Wings

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Grilled Salt-and-Pepper Chicken Wings

Broiler option: Broil on a foil-lined jelly-roll pan 8 inches from heat 20 minutes or until done, turning halfway through. Amp up the flavor with one of our tasty drizzle recipes.Honey Drizzle Recipes​Recipe:Cider Vinegar-Brown Butter Honey DrizzleRecipe:Horseradish-Honey Mustard DrizzleRecipe:Cracked Pepper-Rosemary Honey DrizzleRecipe:Chili-Lemon Honey Drizzle

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Margarita-Brined Chicken

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Margarita-Brined Chicken

Soak chicken in a citrus-and-tequila-spiked brine to infuse Latin flavors and keep the chicken moist as it cooks. Pat the skin dry before grilling, and start skin-side down to ensure it gets good and crispy. Feel free to sub orange juice for tequila and lemons or oranges for limes, and be sure to grill extra citrus for a pretty and functional garnish.

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Grilled Chicken-Asparagus Salad

Credit: Photo: Jacob Snavely

Recipe: Grilled Chicken-Asparagus Salad

This hearty salad is brightened up with mint, lemon juice, and fresh dill.

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Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick

The "top-shelf" in this recipe speaks to the crispy skin, superior flavor, and juiciness of the bird.

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Tomato-Orange Marmalade Chicken

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Tomato-Orange Marmalade Chicken

If you'd like the tomatoes to have a saucier consistency, once you've added the remaining tomatoes in Step 3, cover and simmer over low heat for up to 10 minutes.

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Ginger "Beer Can" Chicken

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Ginger "Beer Can" Chicken

Retire the beer can and opt for a can of ginger ale instead. The spicy soft drink puts a tangy twist on your whole bird. Look for canned ginger beer (Gosling's makes a good one) to add even more spicy, fresh ginger flavor. Don't forget the ginger ale glaze.

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Smoky Chicken Panini with Basil Mayo

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Smoky Chicken Panini with Basil Mayo

Smoky Gouda cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and baby spinach join grilled chicken breasts in this panini that's slathered with fresh Basil Mayo.

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Grilled Chicken with Fresh Corn Cakes

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Fresh Corn Cakes

Start with a package of cornbread mix and fresh corn kernels to make these homestyle corn cakes. Top with grilled chicken, bacon, and chopped arugula for a colorful one-dish dinner.

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Beer-Can Chicken

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Beer-Can Chicken

Chicken on a beer can? You bet. Grilling is a delicious way to "roast" a whole bird, especially when beer is involved. Use a milder brew if you wish, but skip hoppy IPAs.

The Easy Way to Cook Beer-Can Chicken

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Grilled Chicken With Corn and Slaw

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Chicken With Corn and Slaw

For a complete meal ready in 30 minutes, grill corn and chicken breasts brushed with a simple mayonnaise-based spread. While the corn and chicken cook, mix a simple oil-and-vinegar dressing with coleslaw mix. Viola, supper! Dice leftover grilled chicken, and then combine with leftover slaw for a tasty lunch.

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Chili-Barbecued Chicken

Recipe: Chili-Barbecued Chicken

This tender grilled chicken recipe gets its smoky flavor from wood chips and spicy-heat from a vinegar-based red sauce.

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Grilled Chicken Chipotle

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Chipotle Chicken

Ditch your plain grilled chicken for a zesty, perfectly spiced dinner instead. Grilled Chipotle Chicken delivers a smoky heat flavor with a touch of sweetness. Try Mexcian oregano for an extra zing.

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Grilled Spicy Cilantro Chicken

Credit: Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Grilled Spicy Cilantro Chicken

This chicken dish—ready in 35 minutes—gets its kick from cilantro, jalapeño peppers, and black pepper.

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