Cody Casey
There are many ways to cook fryer chicken on the grill, including using a charcoal grill, a cast iron grill pan, or an air fryer. Using an air fryer is a quick and energy-efficient way to cook chicken, with a single batch taking around 15 minutes. Preparing the chicken for the air fryer involves slicing the chicken breasts into thin, flat pieces, coating them in a blend of seasonings, and placing them in a single layer in the air fryer. For charcoal grills, the grill must be set up for indirect cooking, with charcoal baskets placed on either side of the grill, and the middle foiled to collect grease. The chicken is then placed skin side up in the center of the grill, and wood chips are added to the coals.
Characteristics of cooking a fryer chicken on the grill
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken cut | Thighs or breasts |
| Chicken preparation | Skin on or skinless |
| Chicken seasoning | Flour, Jalapeno Salt, Black Pepper, All-Purpose Seasoning, Brown Sugar, Cornstarch, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Paprika, Herbs, Salt |
| Grill setup | Charcoal grill with baskets or coals banked along the edges, with foil in the middle |
| Grill temperature | Above 450 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Cooking time | 20 minutes on one side, 15 minutes on the other side |
| Sauce preparation | Butter, BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce |
| Sauce cooking time | 10 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Salads, Rice bowls, Pasta, Sandwiches, Wraps, Tacos, Green vegetables, Sweet potatoes |
| Storage | Refrigerate for up to 4-5 days, Freeze for up to 2 months-3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the grill and chicken
Firstly, decide on the type of grill you will use. For a traditional charcoal grill, prepare the grill by lighting charcoal in a chimney and filling charcoal baskets or banking coals along the edges of the grill. For an air fryer grill, no such preparation is needed, but you may want to preheat the air fryer, which only takes 2-3 minutes.
Next, prepare the chicken. If using a charcoal grill, you will need chicken thighs with the skin on. For an air fryer, it is recommended to use thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure even cooking and a tender texture.
After preparing the chicken, it's time to season it. For the charcoal grill, mix flour, jalapeno salt, black pepper, and salt-free all-purpose seasoning in a ziplock bag. Place the chicken thighs in the bag and shake to coat them evenly. For the air fryer, rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, followed by a seasoning mixture that includes brown sugar for a hint of sweetness.
Finally, it's time to grill the chicken. For the charcoal grill, place the chicken skin side up in the centre of the grill above the foil. Add wood chips to the coals and close the lid, ensuring the internal temperature exceeds 450 degrees Fahrenheit. For the air fryer, place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook a fryer chicken on the grill, you will need to set up your grill for indirect cooking. For charcoal grills, you can use charcoal baskets on either side of the grill or bank coals along the edges. You can then foil the middle section to collect the grease, ensuring an even amount of coals on each side.
For the chicken, you will need 6 chicken thighs with the skin on. In a large zip lock bag, mix together 1/2 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of Jalapeno Salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of salt-free all-purpose seasoning. Take the chicken thighs and coat them thoroughly in the seasoned mixture.
Place the chicken skin side up in the center of the grill above the foil. Add wood chips to the coals and close the lid, ensuring the internal temperature of the grill is above 450 degrees Fahrenheit. After 20 minutes, flip the chicken, close the lid, and wait for another 15 minutes.
For the sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of melted butter, 1/2 cup of hot sauce, and 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce in a bowl. If you prefer less spice, you can reduce the amount of hot sauce and increase the barbecue sauce. Once the juices from the chicken are running clear, place the thighs in a container and coat them with the sauce. Put the chicken back on the grill, skin side up, for another 10 minutes.
Your fryer chicken is now ready to be served!
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Making the sauce
There are many different sauces that you can make to accompany your grilled fryer chicken. Here is one option, along with some other suggestions.
Peruvian Grilled Chicken with Creamy Green Sauce
This sauce is packed with flavour and can be made ahead of time. It is a great option for a summer barbecue.
To make the sauce, you will need garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, cumin, paprika, oregano, and black pepper. Place the chicken in a ziploc bag with the marinade and leave for 8 to 24 hours.
Other Sauce Ideas
- Alabama White BBQ Sauce: a tangy twist on the traditional barbecue sauce, made with mayonnaise, horseradish, and seasonings.
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce: a simple sauce made with yellow mustard, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and honey.
- Thai-inspired sauce: a blend of fish sauce, lime juice, coconut sugar, and red chilli pepper.
- Chick-Fil-A Sauce: a combination of smoky barbecue sauce and creamy honey mustard.
- Awesome Sauce: a combination of honey mustard, teriyaki sauce, and hot sauce.
- Roasted Poblano Cream Sauce: a creamy sauce with smoky flavours, perfect for drizzling over grilled chicken.
- Lemon Butter Sauce: a classic combination of butter, dry white wine, and fresh dill.
Remember to keep your sauces airtight in the refrigerator and they should last for about a week.
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Adding the sauce to the chicken
Once the chicken has been cooking for 35 minutes in total, it should be ready for the sauce. In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of melted butter, 1/2 cup of hot sauce, and 1/2 cup of your favourite barbecue sauce. If you prefer your chicken less spicy, reduce the amount of hot sauce and add more barbecue sauce. As long as the juices from the chicken are running clear, you can place the thighs in a container and pour the sauce over them. Make sure each piece is well coated, then place the chicken back on the grill, skin side up, for another 10 minutes.
If you want to add a sauce of your own choosing, you can follow the same process. If your sauce is store-bought, be sure to check the instructions on the packaging to see how it should be applied. If your sauce is homemade, consider the ingredients and how they will interact with the chicken. For example, if your sauce contains a lot of sugar, it may burn if left on the grill for too long. In this case, you may want to add the sauce after removing the chicken from the grill.
If you are using a charcoal grill, you may want to add more charcoal at this point to ensure the grill remains hot enough to cook the chicken thoroughly. Remember to wear appropriate safety gear, such as heat-resistant gloves, when handling hot coals.
If you are using a gas grill, ensure the gas tank is still adequately full to finish cooking the chicken. If you are running low on gas, now would be a good time to swap out the tank for a full one. Remember to always exercise caution when handling flammable gas tanks.
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Serving suggestions
Grilled chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to accompany your juicy, tender, and flavourful grilled chicken:
Salads
Grilled chicken is a great addition to salads, providing a good source of protein and a contrasting texture to the greens. You can add it to a simple green salad, a roasted peanut kale salad, or an avocado kale Caesar salad. It also goes well with sides like avocado Caesar green beans, air fryer broccoli, or Brussels sprouts. For a more filling option, serve it with a quinoa edamame salad or a healthy lemon dill potato salad.
Rice
Grilled chicken and rice is a classic combination. You can serve the chicken on a bed of rice, such as green rice, or in rice bowls with other ingredients like vegetables or sauces.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Chicken sandwiches and wraps are always a popular choice. You can serve the chicken on a toasted bun with cheese, in a Caesar wrap, or a buffalo chicken crunch wrap. For a more exotic option, try making chicken tacos.
Pasta
Grilled chicken can be added to various pasta dishes, such as creamy kale pasta, mushroom gnocchi, or paprika chicken pasta. It can also be sliced and served with pasta as a side dish.
Sides
There are numerous side dish options to accompany your grilled chicken. Some suggestions include sweet potato fries, corn on the cob, or biscuits. For a healthier option, serve it with cornbread or greens.
Sauces and Dips
To enhance the flavour of your grilled chicken, serve it with a dipping sauce or drizzle it with a sauce. Some options include BBQ sauce, hot sauce, Alabama white BBQ sauce, or a mix of honey, melted butter, and hot sauce.
Vegetables
Grilled chicken can be served with a variety of vegetables, such as baby potatoes, which can be cooked alongside the chicken in the air fryer. You can also try Copycat Chipotle Vegetables, which pair well with the chicken.
These are just a few serving suggestions to get you started. Feel free to experiment and create your own unique combinations to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
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