These grilled chicken recipes are all easy, delicious, and perfect for summertime! I love how easy it is to throw chicken breast, thighs, drumsticks, or wings on the grill for a healthy and tasty dinner that’s ready in no time. Add a little BBQ, fresh veggies, or a flavor-packed marinade to these grilled chicken ideas and we’ll really be cookin’!
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Best Grilled Chicken Ideas
In my house, summertime is grill time, so there’s no better time to get out all my best grilled chicken recipes! Chicken is quick and easy to cook on the grill for weeknight dinners, and it comes out deliciously juicy every time.
Healthy chicken breast, tasty thighs, chicken sandwiches, and chicken wings all grill up beautifully. And of course this is primetime for BBQ chicken too! I start with the best chicken marinade or a simple chicken seasoning when I need a quick way to add flavor.
Whether I need recipes for a cookout with friends or a quick meal with the family, these grilled chicken ideas always do the trick. And if the weather isn’t in your favor today, you can still make most of these chicken recipes with a grill pan indoors!
Grill These Chicken Recipes for a Backyard BBQ
It’s time for cookouts and backyard barbecues, and these grilled chicken recipes will be the star of the show!
- BBQ Grilled Chicken: A delicious spice blend and barbecue sauce adds so much flavor to grilled chicken breast, thighs, or drumsticks.
- Beer Can Chicken: A can of beer plus some herbs and spices makes the juiciest and most delicious whole chicken.
- Smoked Chicken Wings: Get a smoker box for your grill to make these tasty chicken wings. Add BBQ sauce to make them finger-lickin’ good!
- Huli Huli Chicken: This Hawaiian-inspired grilled chicken thighs recipe has a sweet and tangy marinade made with pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger, and more.
- Korean BBQ Chicken: The gochujang marinade creates a spicy flavor that will take your typical BBQ chicken up a notch!
Healthy Grilled Chicken Breast Recipes
My favorite thing about chicken breast is that it’s lean and filled with protein, so it’s my go-to for healthy grilled dinner ideas. Don’t worry, these recipes are as delicious as they are healthy!
- Grilled Chicken Breast: Start with the simplest recipe that you can make night after night! The marinade adds great flavor, and this recipe is perfect for meal prep.
- California Grilled Chicken: I start with a honey balsamic marinade then top off these juicy chicken breasts with avocado, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil for a fresh and tasty chicken recipe.
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Breast: It only takes 15 minutes to grill this chicken breast recipe! Soy sauce, honey, and ginger add a sweet and salty flavor.
- Tequila Lime Chicken: A delicious tequila lime marinade infuses flavor right from the start. Top grilled chicken with ranch and cheese, and you’ll have an irresistible dinner idea!
Grilled Chicken Ideas Made for Summer Dinners
Breezy summer dinners call for quick and simple recipes filled with fresh flavors, and these recipes for grilled chicken fit the bill!
- Grilled Bruschetta Chicken: Balsamic, Italian seasoning, mozzarella, and a caprese-inspired bruschetta mixture make up this easy grilled chicken idea.
- Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs are marinated in a deliciously-spiced yogurt mixture to infuse moisture and flavor. Grill in minutes and serve with rice and veggies.
- Fiesta Lime Chicken: Chicken breasts are topped with a creamy ranch yogurt mixture and cheese for a Mexican-inspired dish.
- Grilled Chicken Thighs: A sweet and spicy seasoning adds just the right flavor for chicken thighs. Cook these up in 20 minutes and pair them with your favorite side dishes.
Throw These Chicken Sandwiches on the Grill
I love making these grilled chicken sandwich recipes for easy lunches on the patio! I just add some sweet potato fries, ranch potato salad, or a creamy cucumber salad to complete the meal.
- Stuffed Chicken Caprese Sandwiches: Chicken breasts are marinated in balsamic glaze, then stuffed with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil before grilling. It makes for an incredible summer sandwich!
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich: Marinated, grilled chicken breast makes a great start to this delicious sandwich, piled up with bacon, cheese, and a tangy sauce.
Get the Party Started with these Chicken Recipes
Appetizers, snacks, and party foods are a must when I’m hosting a summer cookout. These grilled chicken finger foods always keep guests happy.
- Grilled Chicken Tacos: Everyone loves tacos! Grill some chicken, then slice it up and serve it on warm tortillas with a super fresh slaw.
- Grilled Chicken Wings: Throw some wings on the grill for an easy party appetizer. The skin gets nice and crispy while the inside stays deliciously juicy.
- Grilled Chicken Nachos: Make a huge batch of nachos for the whole crowd, right on your grill. They’re loaded up with shredded chicken and tons of toppings.
Best Sides for Grilled Chicken
Turn any of these easy grilled chicken recipes into a tasty dinner with a few simple side dishes. I love to serve these dishes with instant pot basmati rice, cilantro lime rice, or cauliflower fried rice. Or add a salad, like my favorite classic caprese salad or Greek salad.
Make cooking extra easy by using your grill for the sides too! Make grilled asparagus, grilled vegetables, grilled zucchini, grilled corn on the cob. Or go with some cookout classics, like homemade coleslaw, potato salad, or any of these BBQ side dishes.
And if you have any leftover grilled chicken afterwards, shred it up to throw on top of a chicken caesar salad, or use it to make chicken alfredo or chicken enchiladas!
More Chicken Recipes and Ideas
If you love chicken as much as I do, you’ll want even more recipes to try out! Once you put the grill away, try these other ideas for easy dinners.
