Exact Answer: 9-10 Minutes

Grilling chicken is a great way to get a tasty, healthy meal. But how long should you grill chicken breast? If you’re cooking chicken breasts, the boneless and skinless variety can be a problem. But, it is a question asked by many of the grilled chicken lovers out there who are waiting to get mastery in putting out the best BBQ party ever. 

 Well, the answer depends on the thickness of the meat and your desired doneness (e.g., medium, well-done). To find out what’s best for you, read this blog post to make sure your chicken is not overcooked or dried out in the process.

How Long Do You Grill Chicken Breast

How Long Do You Grill Chicken Breast?

MethodTime Taken
Prep time10 Minutes
Brining30 Minutes
Grill Time9 to 10 minutes on each side

Grilling a chicken breast takes around one minute per side. The important thing when grilling chicken is to make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked and not pink in the middle. 

The USDA recommends 165 degrees Fahrenheit as this provides adequate food safety for all people, whatever their age or health status- if you are pregnant or have certain medical conditions, 165°F may not be hot enough. 

You will also want to avoid overcooking your chicken – when fully cooked, it should reach an internal temperature of at least 170°F. Your stove’s thermometer might be handy here! Of course, different brands of grills cook differently, so follow the instructions that came with your grill for more accurate information on how long it’ll take to cook perfectly. 

Grill Chicken Breast

The best way to grill a chicken breast is to ensure that the skin has not been taken off and then basting with olive oil on each side to dry out. You’ll want to grill it over moderate heat for about 12 minutes per side until golden brown and serve with a handful of chopped rosemary sprinkled on top. 

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Before grilling the chicken breast, it is essential to make a brine solution with a cup of kosher salt dissolved in 4 cups of water for  30 minutes. The chicken breasts should absorb enough moisture by this time so they can better hold up to the heat of the grill and do not dry out. For best tasting grilled chicken, brine your bird for at least 30 minutes before grilling.

Why Does It Take So Long To Grill Chicken Breast?

The time taken to grill a chicken breast is mainly dependent on the weight of the chicken breast. The optimal grilling time for a 3 ounce (8 oz) chicken breast is approximately 9 minutes, although this can vary depending on how hot your grill is. 

Also, the prep time for chicken is 10 minutes, you need to perfectly coat the chicken with oil and paprika for that fantastic flavor. While grilling, making sure to brush them with olive oil on the grill gates also takes time.  Moreover, you also need to arrange for your girl to have high heat, and the other side is cooler. 

When the chicken breast is brown on one side, turn it over and move it to a cooler side with lower heat and cover it to complete cooking. The total time that your chicken needs to be on the grill depends on how long it takes to cook before it reaches an internal temperature of 155  Fahrenheit. You can remove it when it hits these notes as if it is 165 degrees Fahrenheit; it will no longer be pink in the middle.

Grill Chicken Breast

More importantly, it makes sense to cook other foods within two hours because the heat source has cycles of heating and cooling in which bacteria can grow. 

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When it reaches this temperature, you need to take it off the grill and cover it in a foil to rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Conclusion

To grill the perfect chicken breast, you need to be sure that your grill is hot enough. Once you have chicken on a grill, you’ll know they’re done when their juices run clear, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the meat without touching any bone areas. This is because those parts will cook more slowly than other sections due to an increased thickness relative to the surface area. 

When cooking several breasts at once, it may take longer as there is more volume. Overall, the estimated time to thoroughly cook the chicken breasts is 9 to 10 minutes before flipping, depending on the type of grill you use and how hot the temperature is.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119414454 
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174005001518