Easy Grilled Chicken Breast (Tender and Juicy)
Learn how to grill chicken breast on a gas grill with this in-depth recipe guide on grilled chicken breast. With a few simple but critical tips, you’ll have tender and moist grilled chicken breast with perfect sear marks, every time. Read on to learn how to be a grilling pro and a hit at your next BBQ party.
Why You’ll Love Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilling chicken on a gas grill is one of the most flavorful ways to enjoy tender and juicy chicken breasts. Moist grilled chicken breast is incredibly simple, but it can be easy to overcook, dry out, or not get proper sear marks.
Once you know the simple steps of how to gas grill chicken breasts, including how long to grill chicken, it will be second nature. Even boneless, skinless chicken breasts will be moist and juicy on the grill.
Tips for grilled chicken breast
Don’t grill chicken cold: As with most meats, you want to bring it close to room temperature before grilling or cooking. This allows more even cooking throughout. If you grill directly from the fridge, the outside will cook much faster and you risk chairing before the center reaches the correct temperature.
Allow chicken breast to sit for about 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking. Not much longer or you’ll increase the risk of food contamination.
Pre-season: Generously coat both sides of the chicken with light olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and desired seasonings. The olive oil helps to hold in moisture while cooking, increases those nice golden sear marks, and helps seasonings stick better to the meat.
Preheat the grill: Preheat the gas grill to medium-high until the temp reaches 350-400° degrees F. The grill needs to be hot when you add chicken, allowing it to sear and cook evenly.
How to add chicken breasts to the gas grill: Lightly grease the cooking grates of the preheated gas grill with vegetable oil spray or paper towel application to prevent sticking. Immediately add chicken with at least 2-3 inches between pieces. Close the lid and cook.
Reduce heat to medium midway: Rotate mid-way for even sear marks and cooking.
Grilled chicken breast safe temp: Cook chicken breast just to an internal temperature of 165° F with an instant-read thermometer. Watch carefully and do not overcook.
Serving: Allow chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This will keep more of the juices and help with moist and tender chicken. For sides, serve it with Roasted Sweet Potato and Zucchini Salad.
How to grill chicken breast on a gas grill
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Coat both sides of the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, or desired seasonings. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
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Preheat the gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat, or 350-400° F.
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Lightly grease the grill surface and add chicken. Close lid and cook 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks.
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Rotate chicken, close lid, reduce heat to medium, and cook 7-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F.
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Remove chicken breast from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Follow the simple steps below for even sear marks and moist chicken.
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Preheat gas to medium-high heat, or 350-400° F
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Cook the first side for 8 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned with sear marks
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Rotate chicken, reduce heat to medium, and cook 7-10 minutes more
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Watch carefully and do not overcook
Here are a few ways to tell if your chicken is cooked:
The most important factor to moist grilled chicken is to not overcook. Grill chicken according to the heat and times in this recipe, and watch carefully.
- Internal temp: The internal temp should reach 165° F to be safe. Pro tip: You can cook chicken slightly less to 160° and let it rest for 5-10 minutes under foil. It will continue to cook to a safe temp and be moist.
- Visual check: Cut into the center of the chicken breast with a knife. It should be white, with just the slightest hint of pink. If it’s pure white and looks stringy inside, it’s overcooked. Note: using this method while the chicken is still cooking or before resting will cause some liquids and moisture to drain out.
- Test for firmness: Remove chicken from the grill. Once cooled slightly, press in the center with your finger. It should have a little bit of give (not completely firm) but also not be a squishy feeling. Note: this method takes practice is the least accurate.
Which grill to use for grilled chicken breast
Any propane gas grill will work. However, more burners (such as 4 or 5) usually means a larger surface area, as well as more even heat distribution.
Extra flavor options
For extra flavor, you could squeeze on a bit of lemon juice, and top it with salsa, melted cheese, BBQ sauce, pesto sauce, or dressing. Alternately, try marinated chicken such as this Cilantro Lime Chicken then top it with salsa to make Mango Habanero Chicken.
How to store leftover chicken
Let the grilled chicken sit a room temperature for about 10 minutes to cool off, then refrigerate or freeze based on the times below.
- Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3–4 days.
- Freeze whole, shredded, or chopped pieces tightly sealed up to 3–4 months. I like to freeze in separate smaller bags for easy leftover portions.
FAQ’s for Grilled Chicken Breast
How long to grill chicken breast
Grill chicken breasts for about 15 minutes over medium-high heat or 400° F.
Pro tip: Rotate the chicken breasts and reduce heat to medium halfway through to grill 7 minutes per side and evenly sear.
How to get perfect sear marks on grilled chicken breast
The key is to start with higher heat to create a sear, then reduce heat slightly midway for even cooking. Indirect heat is not needed.”
Should I close the lid when grilling chicken?
It’s best to close the lid when grilling chicken for more even cooking. The outsides will still sear nicely and the inside of the grill will hold more even heat, which helps to cook this inside of the chicken breasts.
Grilled chicken temp
“Grill over medium-high heat until internal temperature reaches 165° F. A quick-read digital thermometer is the safest and easiest way to test doneness.
More easy chicken dinners you may like:
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Keto Chicken Parmesan
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Burgers
- Keto Chicken Fried Steak
Want to become a pro at grilling other meats?
If you want to learn how to grill other meats, check out my grilling guides below:
- Grilled Ribeye
- Grilled Rack of Lamb
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Grilled Salmon Kabobs
- Cowboy Coffee Rub Grilled Pork Chops
- Grilled Pork Satay Skewers
Sides to serve with chicken
Grilled Chicken Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Coat both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper or desired seasonings.
- Let chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat gas grill before cooking to medium-high heat or 350-400° F. Lightly grease grill surface and add chicken. Close lid and cook 8 minutes, or until bottoms are browned with sear marks.
- Rotate chicken, close lid, reduce heat to medium and cook 7-10 minutes more, or until internal temperature reaches 165° F.
- Remove chicken from grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Important tips for gas grilled chicken breasts
- Don’t grill chicken cold: As with most meats, you want to bring close to room temperature before grilling or cooking. This allows more even cooking throughout. If you grill directly from the fridge, the outside will cook much faster and you risk chairing before the center reaches the correct temperature.
- Allow chicken breast to sit about 30 minutes at room temperature before cooking. Not much longer or you’ll increase the risk of food contamination.
- Pre-season: Generously coat both sides of chicken with light olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and desired seasonings. The olive oil helps to hold in moisture while cooking, increases those nice golden sear marks and helps seasonings stick better to the meat.
- Preheat the grill: Preheat the gas grill to medium-high until internal the temp reaches 350-400° degrees F. The grill needs to be hot when you add chicken, allowing it to sear and cook evenly.
- How to add chicken breasts to gas grill: Lightly grease cooking grates of pre-heated gas grill to prevent sticking. Immediately add chicken with at least 2-3 inches between pieces. Close lid and cook.
- Reduce heat to medium midway: Rotate mid-way for even sear marks and cooking.
- Serving: Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving. This will keep more juices and help with moist and tender chicken.
Thank You For Sharing a Wonderful post. Really This Was Great Reception.
Just tried it and it worked out wonderfully. What I did was, I sliced them as if to make chicken cutlets and seasoned with Seasonalall and oil. It took less time and gave me more chicken breast, followed time and temperature and it was great. I’ve been looking for a good recipe for grilling chicken breast. Thanks somuch!
I love all the tips you give in this post on how to get that perfect grill. And so timely too, since the warmer days are upon us, and I am so looking forward to cooking outdoors. 🙂
I can cook in the kitchen all day long, but am a total (nervous) rookie when it comes to grilling. Thank you SO much for this detailed how-to grill recipe. We’re gearing up for a big summer of deck bbq’s, and I’m on a mission to learn how to grill! I’m so excited to have this recipe in my back pocket now. Thank you so much!!
This was a great post on how to grill chicken on a gas grill. I thought the tips were very helpful.
Thank you for all the super helpful tips! They turned out perfect
Amazing tips and just in time for grilling season can’t wait to take my grill out and start cooking.
Very helpful and effective recipe. Useful tips from beginning to end – from precooking to storage. Appreciate this specific details Of timing on the barbecue!
Thank Wendy and glad you found the post and tips helpful! Happy grilling.
I love grilled chicken breast – it’s such a great easy way to add protein to meals 🙂
I agree, it’s a super versatile protein.
Yes, I was looking for a quick and easy go to chicken recipe and this is now it!! The chicken not only looks tasty, it sounds like it would taste fabulous too. Cheers for sharing, I am so going to try this!!
Glad you found the recipe Adrianne and thanks for the feedback! Hope you try it soon with grilling season coming up.
This recipe was so helpful, I always either over or under cook my chicken on the grill so this really helped me out.
That’s awesome, thanks so much for the feedback Suzy and glad it helped!
Those grill marks are perfect! This chicken looks so tender and delicious!
It totally is and thanks Taylor!
I love the flavour the grill imparts on the chicken! Delicious 🙂
This is one I will regularly make!
Thanks for the feedback Alexandra and glad you liked the recipe!
I plan on cooking with chicken a lot this week so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about bringing the chicken to room temperature before cooking it. I’ll be sure to do this so it cooks evenly all the way through.
Thanks for the feedback Derek and glad that tip was useful! I try to do that with most meats and does make a difference.
I love a lot your recipes. I will try this one with my kids. Thank you for sharing this with others!
You’re welcome and thanks so much for the feedback Calvin!
Lots of great tips — I’ve actually stopped cooking with chicken breasts because it is so easy to overcook them and end up with super dry chicken — but I’ll have to put some of your tips into action : ))
I will keep all your tips in mind for the next barbecue! I usually let the others do the job because I feel I make it wrong every time, but next time I will try myself! I didn’t know the meat should be at room temperature before being grilled and also I don’t season it before grilling most of the times. Thanks for the tips!
I didn’t know you shouldn’t grill chicken or meats cold– I will have to try that, because I definitely dry out chicken breasts on the BBQ!
I had no idea you shouldn’t grill cold chicken or meats– I’ll have to give it a try because I often dry out chicken breasts on the grill!
It’ll still would work, but I’ve found it comes out much better when grilled from room temp. Thanks for the comment!
You’ve got some great tips here. It’s easy to overdo chicken when grilling, but your chicken fillets look plump and juicy.
I absolutely love this post! Thank you for shedding some BBQ light on me! I am definitely going to save this post for my next grilling session. Thanks for sharing!