Recipe for Chicken on the Grill
This is the easiest recipe for chicken on the grill. It has common ingredients and is the simplest way for a cookout.
About Recipes for Chicken on the Grill
The ingredients for this recipe for grilled chicken come from years of many changes, to eventual tweaks, and into this final public recipe. They are very common and found in every grocery store and sometimes, in most kitchens. The instructional steps are taken to minimize every task and motion. Thus, it has become a classic example of a Speedy, Easy, and Tasty recipe for grilled chicken in the home.
Below are covered the unique recipe differences for each of the chicken components if you’re making those in bulk. It’s good to review them as they might give you extra ideas about how to make them better, or for in the future.
Chicken on the Grill – Seasoned Legs, Strips, Wings, Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 legs chicken legs
- 2 thighs chicken thighs
- 2 wings chicken wings
- 2 breasts chicken breasts
- ¼ cup vegetable oil best is peanut oil
- 5 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne red pepper
Instructions
- Please all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and combine together to thoroughly coat the chicken pieces and to distribute the spices.
- Place all pieces onto indirect heat on a preheated grill of around 400°F. These are not on top of direct heat. Close grill lid and maintain around 375-400°F. Turn all pieces in 12 minutes and reclose lid. After 10 more minutes, check and remove any smaller pieces (non-breast) as they become done. Keeping lid closed, check for breasts doneness after a total time of 45 minutes. Remove when done.
Notes

Recipe for Grilled Chicken Wings
Chicken Wings are white meat. These are popular in grocery stores and have become very expensive in recent years because of that. Chicken Wings will cook extremely fast and will need to be considered for removal in about 20 minutes. If you’re grilling a lot of wings in bulk, this is the perfect enhancement if you’re choosing to finish them to be drenched in Wing Sauce. Buffalo Wings from Grilled Chicken Wings is an incredible duo of flavors. Vegetable sides are good as being fresh celery or carrot sticks.
Recipe for Grilled Chicken Legs and Thighs
Chicken Legs and thighs are dark meat. Their desired internal temp for doneness and tenderness is about 175°F. While they’re safe at 165°F, dark meat takes a bit longer to become as tender so, that’s why the higher temp consideration. These are very good as is but, for a change, they can also be with some BBQ sauce. Chicken legs and thighs go well with sides like French fries, fried onion rings, or fried mushrooms.
Recipe for Grilled Chicken Strips
Chicken strips are usually white meat. These will cook fast like chicken wings, compared with all the other pieces. Their sizes vary so you’ll want to check them for removal in about 20-25 minutes. And, because of their small size and being boneless, you’ll want to lay them on the grill cross-wise so they don’t fall through. These are good with dips such as Ranch, BBQ sauce, Wing Sauce, to name a few.
Recipe for Grilled Chicken Breasts
Chicken breasts are white meat. These are very popular in grocery stores as bone-in and boneless. The ones with bone will have the best flavor but the boneless are the more popular and easier to get. These can be checked for doneness of an internal temp of about 165°F. With bone-in Chicken breasts, they can be considered for doneness in about 35-45 minutes. With boneless Chicken breasts, they can be considered for doneness in about 45 minutes, or longer.

Temperature for Chicken on the Grill
Position all chicken pieces onto indirect heat on a preheated grill of around 400°F. These are not on top of direct heat. Close the grill lid and try to have it around 375-400°F. If it’s lower or hotter, manage the heat source (if gas or electric) or the vents (if charcoal). Or, manage it by raising or lowering the rack, if you have that feature. And, as usual for grilling, you can adjust the cooking times based on the heat during cooking.
Potato Sides with Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken breasts can go with just about anything as they are a main course. The will do well with either mashed potatoes or French fries, which explains their diversity. These will be super moist and flavorful with or without BBQ sauce.
BBQ Sauces for Grilled Chicken
You can use a Southern recipe for a vinegar-based BBQ sauce or just enhance a popular store bought tomato-based BBQ sauce with some popular additives. For BBQ Sauce Frequently Asked Questions and links to their recipes, read all about it here.
If you liked this recipe and want more ideas for options, here are some other excellent recipes for the grill.
Conclusion with Popular Sides for Grilled Chicken
Regardless of which chicken pieces you’re grilling, these are some good ideas for some very special sides for grilled chicken that you might enjoy.