Throughout grilling season, I make this Grilled Hen for my household at the very least as soon as every week. It’s a type of easy recipes that works for even the pickiest eaters! I brine massive hen breasts, then coat them in a candy and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled hen you’ve ever tasted! Everybody at my home loves this hen, and the scrumptious char from grilling takes the flavour to the subsequent stage.
Pin this recipe for later!
All recipes are rigorously examined in our Nashville Check Kitchen to make sure they’re simple, inexpensive, and scrumptious.
“I made this at this time on the grill. Completely scrumptious. Hen could be so bland and that is nice! I made a giant batch up for meal prep.”
Kristin
Straightforward Grilled Hen Recipe
Juicy grilled hen is a staple at my home this time of 12 months. I by no means have to fret if my choosy toddler will end her dinner or if my husband will return for seconds. It’s one of many magical recipes that’s at all times a winner each time I make it. One of the best half is the leftovers are nice to make use of in nearly any hen salad recipe, which makes lunches the remainder of the week a no brainer. To prime all of it off, utilizing the grill means my home isn’t sweltering sizzling in the course of the summer time! Want I say extra?
Grilled Hen
- 2 massive hen breasts (boneless skinless, (mine weighed 1.61 lbs whole) $8.03*)
Brine Components:
- ¼ cup kosher salt ($0.14)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar ($0.18)
- 2 quarts water ($0.00)
Rub components:
- 1 tsp salt ($0.01)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.06)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.15)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.32)
- ½ tsp onion powder ($0.08)
- 1 tsp brown sugar ($0.01)
-
Create your moist brine: Mix ¼ cup kosher salt and ¼ cup granulated sugar in 2 quarts of chilly water. Whisk to mix.
-
With a fork, poke holes all around the hen breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound hen breasts to ½ inch to ¾ inch with a tenderizing mallet or rolling pin inside a Ziplock bag.
-
Pour the moist brine into the Ziplock bag with the tenderized hen breasts. Shut the bag and permit it to brine at room temperature for half-hour, or within the fridge for as much as 24 hours.
-
Make the seasoning mix by combining the salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and brown sugar in a bowl.
-
Take away the hen breasts from the brine, rinse, and pat dry on each side with paper towels, drizzle with olive oil, and rub with the seasoning mix on each side.
-
Preheat grill to 475°F. Be aware: If you’re utilizing an indoor grill, we discovered placing the hen on the grill whereas it’s preheating helps get the center of the breast to temperature in a well timed method and retains the surface from overcooking and burning. In case your hen has been within the fridge, enable it to return to room temperature for at the very least 10 minutes earlier than beginning the grilling course of.
-
Prepare dinner the hen for 5-7 minutes on all sides, or till the inner temp reads between 155-160°F. The hen will proceed to prepare dinner whereas it’s resting (as a result of it’s so sizzling and juicy!) so you may take away it somewhat early, simply make sure that it reaches the inner temperature of 165°F whereas resting, or chances are you’ll have to throw it again on the grill for a pair extra minutes.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
*For this recipe, 1 serving = 6 ounces per particular person. 3-4 ounces is a typical serving dimension for hen, however I used to be beneficiant and went with 6 ounces per particular person for this recipe… so you may simply stretch it additional in case you wanted to!
Serving: 6ouncesEnergy: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 36gFats: 5gSodium: 7877mgFiber: 1g
Learn our full
vitamin disclaimer right here.
how you can make Grilled Hen step-by-step images
Make your moist brine: Pour ¼ cup kosher salt and ¼ cup granulated sugar into 2 quarts of chilly water in a mixing bowl. Whisk to mix.
Pound the hen: Use a fork to poke holes throughout 2 massive boneless skinless hen breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound the hen breasts to ½ inch to three/4 inch with a tenderizing mallet or rolling pin whereas contained in the Ziplock bag.
Brine the hen: Pour the moist brine into the Ziplock bag with the tenderized hen breasts. Now shut the bag and let the hen brine at room temperature for half-hour. You may also let it brine within the fridge for as much as 24 hours. Don’t skip this step! The brine infuses the hen with taste, helps to fight moisture loss, and makes the meat tremendous tender.
Make the seasoning mix: Mix 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp brown sugar in a bowl.
Season the hen: Take away the hen breasts from the brine, rinse, and pat dry on each side with paper towels. Ensure you rinse the brine off your hen, or it would find yourself too salty! Drizzle the hen breasts with olive oil, and use your palms to rub the seasoning mix on each side.
Grill the hen: Preheat your grill to 475°F. Be aware: In the event you’re utilizing an indoor grill, I discovered placing the hen on the grill whereas it’s preheating helps get the center of the breast to temperature in a well timed method and retains the surface from overcooking and burning. In case your hen has been within the fridge, enable it to return to room temperature for at the very least 10 minutes earlier than beginning the grilling course of.
Prepare dinner the hen for 5-7 minutes on all sides, or till the inner temp reads between 155-160°F. The hen will proceed to prepare dinner whereas it’s resting (as a result of it’s so sizzling and juicy!), so you may take away it somewhat early. Simply make sure that it reaches the inner temperature of 165°F whereas resting, or chances are you’ll have to throw it again on the grill for a pair extra minutes.
Juicy, tender, and filled with taste, this grilled hen is a winner each time!
Serving Solutions
I usually serve this grilled hen sliced over a contemporary inexperienced salad for a extremely easy however satisfying meal for my household. However truthfully, it’s a type of recipes that goes with absolutely anything. In the event you’re craving one thing cozy, attempt it with lemon butter inexperienced beans, or a scoop of tacky broccoli rice. On hotter days, I’d pair it with a ditalini pasta salad for a simple yard dinner. And if you wish to give it somewhat additional taste enhance, a lightweight drizzle of do-it-yourself balsamic glaze actually takes issues up a notch.
- Be sure that to make use of kosher salt for the brine. The flat, flaky crystals dissolve extraordinarily nicely in water and create a crystal-clear brine. Simply don’t neglect to rinse the brine off earlier than cooking. Skipping that step can depart the hen overly salty.
- Don’t skip the brown sugar; it helps develop that stunning char!
- Placing the graceful a part of the breast down on the grill first helps make sure you get these wonderful grill marks on the highest! So, begin with the graceful facet down to make sure you get some attractive grill marks on that chook!
- In case your hen is sticking to the grill, enable it to prepare dinner for an additional minute or two. It ought to raise off simply while you flip.
- Wish to make this within the oven? I’d preheat the oven to 450°F and bake the hen breasts for about 15-20 minutes. The interior temperature will register as 165°F on a meat thermometer as soon as accomplished. Alternatively, you may attempt our tried and true baked hen breast recipe!
Storage Directions
I like to recommend storing leftover grilled hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. To freeze, wrap particular person hen breasts in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in a Ziplock bag to retailer for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating within the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low warmth.
Our Favourite Value efficient grill
After I was searching for a grill for us to make use of within the Funds Bytes kitchen, I wished one which was simple to seek out, easy to arrange, simple to scrub, and didn’t make me miss my charcoal grill. I went with the Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill after considering just a few totally different ones that might be extensively accessible at Walmart, Goal, and Amazon.
The most affordable grill possibility I discovered was a easy and small tenting charcoal grill. That’s additionally an ideal possibility if you wish to grill exterior, get that smokier grill taste, and don’t thoughts conserving charcoal available.
The Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill we ended up deciding on comes with a grill prime and a flat prime, so it’s good as a fast, clear possibility for grilling at dwelling and even in an RV/camper. (I’ve since purchased one for my chef equipment and my in-laws purchased one for his or her camper!)
Our Grilled Hen recipe was initially revealed 6/17/24. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 7/8/25.
