How to Grill Chicken

Grilling chicken is foolproof if you know a few secrets:

1. Brush your grill with vegetable oil before it's hot.
   
   
2. Before you put chicken on the grill, make sure your grill is hot, but not too hot. Set a gas grill on medium.
   
   
3. Cut chicken pieces to be as uniform in size as possible. For example, detatch legs from thighs.
   
   
4. Brush with vegetable oil (olive oil will burn) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
   
   
5. Grill chicken over direct heat.
   
   
6. Set chicken pieces on the grill skin side down. The grill should be hot enough to sizzle.
   
   
7. Don't touch the chicken pieces until it's time to turn them, halfway through the recommended cooking time.
   
   
8. See the Grilling Timetable for recommended cooking times and doneness for all kinds of grilling.
   
   
9. Use a tongs, not a fork, to turn pieces. (Piercing the skin lets the juices run out.)
   
   
10.  When chicken is done (juice is no longer pink), let stand 5 minutes before cutting or eating.

See easy grilled chicken recipes on the scroller below.  And get chicken grilling tips from a pro in our Grills Skills video series.