There are many different cuts of chicken, including whole birds, wings, thighs, breasts, and breasts with and without bones. To make each cut safe to eat and tasty as well, you must grill it for a specific amount of time.
The size of the chicken piece, including the amount of bone, and the temperature of the grill are the two main factors that determine how long to grill chicken.
A piece of chicken will take longer to cook the more bones it has. For instance, the drumstick and thighs, which have the largest bones and will require the most time to prepare,
The other element is the temperature of your BBQ. The lower the temperature, the more time you will need.
In this article, we’ll examine the various chicken cuts, discuss the variables that may impact how long they take to grill, and provide a detailed breakdown of the time and temperature needed for each cut.
Knowing this will enable you to prepare the ideal bird for cooking. No more guesswork, or embarrassing chicken fiascos.
So let’s start with what may be the most crucial factor to take into account first: the temperature both inside and outside.
Place the seasoned chicken on the indirect side of the grill and close the lid. Cook until the internal temperature reads 155 degrees F with an instant read thermometer. This step typically takes 25-30 minutes, but will vary based on grill temperature, meat thickness, etc.
Summary: Average Grilling Times for all Chicken Cuts
Here are the typical grilling times for chicken pieces of various sizes for your reference:
Do keep in mind that if you marinate your chicken, add sauce, or alter the chicken in any way, these times may change.
Also See
Cooking Temperatures, Thermometers and Food Safety
Nothing beats a good digital, instant-read thermometer for checking the temperature of cooked chicken (or any meat, for that matter). They are highly accurate, fast and reliable.
If you don’t have a method, I’ll mention some alternatives, but nothing is better or more secure. Before you cook your first piece of chicken, I STRONGLY advise you to have an instant-read digital thermometer. If you don’t have one, check out our guide to the best instant-read thermometers.
Knowing the temperature of a piece of chicken that is properly cooked is necessary now that you have a thermometer in your possession.
What is The Best Internal Temperature For Chicken?
165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 °C) is the only temperature you should keep in mind. This is the minimum safe internal temperature of chicken.
You will be able to eat your legs and thighs even though you may want to cook them a little more thoroughly.
Some recipes instruct you to cut the chicken and check the juices to see if they run clear. Clear juices are not a reliable indicator of doneness. Juices may not run clear until the bird is significantly overcooked depending on its age.
What Happens if The Chicken Cooks Too Long?
Chicken is a very lean meat and dries quickly. Overcooking will make it dry, chewy and tough. Moreover, cooking chicken with its skin on over direct heat will cause it to burn.
Instead of a mild, delectable smoky flavor, overcooking the meat can easily result in an acrid burnt flavor throughout the meat.
What Happens If it Doesn’t Reach 165 Degrees F (75 °C)?
The internal temperature must reach 165 °F (75 °C) for two reasons:
We refer to the time it takes for the internal temperature to reach 165 °F (75 °C) when discussing grilling times.
Average Grill Temperatures and What They Mean
What does it mean when a recipe instructs you to grill over “medium heat”?
Here is a helpful chart that illustrates the typical grilling temperatures in case you are unfamiliar with the various temperature ranges. If you want to check and keep an eye on the temperature at the grill grates, make sure you have a reliable wireless digital thermometer.
Chicken cooked too quickly or at a high temperature will result in burned skin but undercooked meat.
In order to cook chicken for a sufficient amount of time without burning, the ideal cooking temperature will be in the middle range.
Does the Weight and Thickness Make a Difference in Cooking Time?
Size is a factor when it comes to cooking a whole bird. The heavier the bird, the longer it takes.
A good estimate is 18 to 25 minutes per-pound.
Before the food is fully cooked through, the heat needs to reach the bone, then the meat and skin. The time it takes for heat energy to transfer depends on how thick the meat is.
How Long to Grill all the Different Cuts of Chicken
After learning the safe cooking temperature for chicken and how to check your barbecue’s temperature, let’s examine how long it takes to grill various chicken parts and cuts.
With some expert notes and considerations for each cut, from whole chickens to thighs and wings, we cover all the options.
How Long Does it Take to Grill a Whole Chicken?
It will take between 105 and 150 minutes to cook a 6-pound chicken whole.
The total cooking time depends on the effectiveness of your BBQ, ambient temperature (the weather), and the starting temperature of the chicken.
The recommended temperature range for your grill is 200-300 °F (93-149 °C), whether you grill it upright or on its back. Depending on the size of the bird and how well your grill maintains temperature, the total cooking time will be between one and two hours.
However, you can drastically cut the time if you spatchcock the chicken!
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A whole chicken can be cooked in just 30 to 40 minutes if it is spatchcocked because the thickness of each part is drastically reduced and heat can reach every part of the bird more easily.
Use a dependable thermometer to ensure that every part of the chicken is cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and keep in mind that the thermometer, not the clock, determines when the chicken is done.
How Long do You Grill Chicken Breast For?
Typically, a boneless, skinless chicken breast weighs 5 to 8 ounces. The cooking time is only 12 to 15 minutes. Every five minutes, turn them to check that nothing is burning. It’s best to use a medium direct heat.
Bone-in, skin-on breasts will require twice as long to grill as boneless, skinless breasts. Figure about 25 minutes.
When cooking, start with indirect medium heat and then switch to direct heat, being careful not to burn the food.
How Long to Grill Chicken Leg Quarters?
It takes longer to cook the legs and thighs than the breasts or wings because they have the largest bones.
Whole chicken legs should be grilled for 30 to 40 minutes over indirect heat, turning after 15 minutes. Finish for approximately 10 minutes with direct heat, 5 minutes per side.
You want to wait until the internal temperature is 180°F to 190°F before removing them from the grill because of the dark meat and bones. 165 °F is safe, but meat tastes better and is more tender at 180 °F.
How Long Does it Take to Grill Chicken Thighs And Drumsticks?
Drumsticks and thighs require at least 40 minutes to grill. There are two schools of thought here.
One method uses direct heat the entire time. To avoid burning, use medium-high or 450 °F and turn the food every 5 minutes.
The alternative method is to brown them off using indirect heat for 30 minutes and then switch to direct heat for the final 10 to 15 minutes.
No matter which method you use, if you want to add sauce, do it in the last 10 minutes to prevent the sugar from burning.
It’s the same as cooking whole leg quarters. A minimum internal temperature of 180 °F is required for the best flavor and tenderness. The meat should begin to separate from the bone at 190 °F.
How Long to Grill Chicken Wings?
You’ll cook the wings for 20 to 25 minutes total directly over a medium fire.
Start by leaving them on the grill for three to four minutes with the lid closed.
Then, to ensure even browning, open and turn them every few minutes.
Use your instant-read thermometer to determine whether they have all reached 165 oF after 15 minutes. The wings should be lightly charred but not burned on all sides.
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If you ever have leftover chicken wings, here’s how to reheat them!
Is it Best to Grill Chicken on Direct or Indirect Heat?
Drumsticks and wings, which are smaller pieces of chicken, cook well on direct medium heat as long as they are frequently turned to prevent burning.
Cook larger pieces, like whole bone-in breasts, leg quarters, and whole birds, over indirect heat for at least half the cooking time. Then, finish the cooking by browning the skin over direct heat.
Should You Marinate, Brine or Rub Before Cooking? Does it Affect The Cooking Time?
While adding flavor, wet brining and marinades can lengthen the time required to cook chicken with its skin on. The skin must dry for a longer period of time before turning brown.
Whether marinated or not, boneless chicken cuts cook in the same amount of time.
Chicken with dry rubs will have drier skin and cook more quickly.
Remember that the most basic and effective grilling seasonings are just salt and pepper. When grilling, the smoke from the charcoal will overpower more delicate flavors, such as herbs. Additionally, if you intend to cover the food in sauce at the very end, you will only serve to mask the other flavors of the marinade or rub.
Even though this guide is effective, the final word still belongs to the thermometer. You can’t rush quality.
I sincerely hope this information proves useful to you the following time you grill chicken, whole or in parts. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section below and I hope you found this article useful.
Written By: Mark Jenner
I’m a self-described BBQ nut and the website’s founder and editor in chief.
Regardless of the weather, I enjoy cooking outside with live fire and smoke using a variety of grills, smokers, and wood-fired ovens to create delicious meals. With this website, I hope to assist as many people as I can in enjoying and excelling at what they do.
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FAQ
How long do you cook chicken on the grill indirect heat?
Roast for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes over indirect medium heat (350 to 450o F). With an instant-read thermometer, chicken is cooked when the breast registers 165°F internally. Grilling time for a 4- to 5-pound chicken will not exceed one hour and fifteen minutes.
Do you grill chicken breast direct or indirect heat?
Place the chicken skin-side down on the indirect heat area and secure the grill’s lid. Cook 15 minutes. Turn the chicken over, cover the gas grill, and cook it for an additional 10 minutes. Place the chicken over direct heat and cook, turning once, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the skin is well-browned and crisp.
Should I grill chicken on indirect heat?
Indirect grilling is effective for large portions of food, such as pizza, that require long, slow cooking, such as thick steaks, roasts, or even whole chickens.
Should you cook chicken direct or indirect heat?
Use the indirect method when grilling foods that need to be cooked for at least 25 minutes or that are delicate enough to burn or dry out if they are exposed to heat directly. This rule applies to delicate fish fillets as well as meaty dishes like roasts, ribs, whole chickens, turkeys, and other large cuts of meat.