By Becky Hardin
Published Aug 10, 2023
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!
BBQ Grilled Chicken
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!
Grilled Chicken Breasts
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 Bruschetta Chicken
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.
Stuffed Chicken Caprese Sandwiches
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.
Grilled Chicken Tacos
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.
Grilled Chicken Thighs
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.
20 Chicken Casserole Recipes
35 Shredded Chicken Recipes
28 Chicken Thigh Recipes
45+ Grill Recipes (Easy Summer Grilling Ideas)
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
