How Long Do You Cook Chicken On The Grill?

Grilled chicken is a summer classic and is a nice switch up from the all-American burgers or hotdogs.

How long it takes to grill chicken is a common question that is asked but doesn’t have an exact answer, for a few reasons.

There are several different kinds of chicken parts, some with bones, and some without, some large and some small. All will vary in grilling time.

The type of grill and more importantly the temperature of the grill are big factors in how long it will take your chicken to grill.

In this post, I am going to go over how long it takes to grill all of the different chicken parts so that they come out juicy and delicious every time!

How long to grill chicken

Cooking chicken on a grill can take anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the chicken and how hot your grill is.

There are a few factors to take into consideration when determining how long it will take to grill chicken. How big the chicken pieces are or if you are grilling a whole chicken?

Whether it has the bone in it or not, and the temperature at which you are grilling are also factors to consider. Also what kind of grill are you using, gas or charcoal?

Generally, smaller pieces will cook faster than larger pieces. Additionally, bone content will affect cooking time. The higher the temperature of the grill, the less time it will take for the chicken to cook.

Chart of grilling times for chicken

Type of chicken	Average grilling time
Tenders	2-3 minutes per side
Boneless chicken breast	5 minutes per side
Bone-in thighs	30-40 minutes
Boneless thighs	7-8 minutes per side
Chicken quarters	40-45 minutes
Chicken wings	15-20 minutes
Drumsticks	25-30 minutes
Spatchcock chicken	45-50 minutes
Whole Chicken	45-60 minutes

How long to grill boneless chicken

Grilling chicken can be a little tricky, but with the right tips, it can be a breeze. When grilling boneless chicken breasts, start by heating your grill to medium-high heat.

Place the chicken skin-side down (if it has skin) on the grill and let it cook for about 4-5 minutes until it gets nice and crispy.

Then, flip it over and let it cook for another 4-5 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Times will vary depending on the size of the pieces.

If you find that your chicken is sticking to the grates, I have a few tips about How to keep chicken from sticking to the grill!

How long to grill bone-in chicken

When grilling bone-in chicken, direct grilling is the best method. This means that the chicken will be placed directly over the heat source.

Preheat your grill until the temperature reaches about 4000°F before placing the chicken on the grill. The chicken should cook for about 12-15 minutes or until it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F-175°F.

You can test for doneness by using a meat thermometer for the best accuracy.

Try my Grilled bone-in chicken breast recipe! It is moist and delicious with crispy skin!

How to tell when chicken is done

The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit in order to be safe to eat.

It is important to use an instant-read thermometer to measure the temperature, as it will give you an accurate reading.

The chicken will also continue to cook after it has been removed from the grill, so make sure you allow for sufficient resting time.

Difference between indirect or direct heat

Indirect heat is the type of heat that comes from an area that is not directly in contact with the food.

Direct heat, on the other hand, refers to the hot air and flame that comes directly in contact with the food.

Indirect heat is usually achieved by either grilling over a fire or cooking on a grill that has been pre-heated with indirect heat or not directly over the flame.

Direct heat is usually achieved by grilling over a fire or cooking on a grill that has been pre-heated with direct heat.