Chicken is a grocery store staple for a reason: It makes for a quick, easy, and family-friendly weeknight meal. When the weather’s nice outside — which, for some of us, can be nine or 10 months of the year — grilled chicken gives us a whole new spin on our fastest and healthiest meals. Just because you lean on this healthy protein several nights a week doesn’t mean that you have to settle for bland chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and so on. There are many ways to prepare this weeknight hero on the grill, whether you’re charring glazed and glossy chicken thighs or roasting a whole chicken bathed in barbecue sauce.
The raw heat of your grill can add new textures and flavors to your favorite chicken dinner — charcoal lovers can pull off a crispy skin that’s unique to their grill tops, while wood-fired grills may lend a smoky undertone that home cooks can’t achieve in an oven elsewhere. In the summertime, there’s about a thousand different ways to serve chicken — in quarters on their own, on a bed of roasted vegetables, or kebab-style for easy sharing with loved ones. However you choose to serve it, these 50 grilled chicken recipes will help you step up your dinner game all summer long.
If you’re looking to switch up your weeknight menu with even more crowd-pleasing ideas, check out these healthy chicken dinner recipes and simple 30-minute dinners.
For a lighter option, top a bed of rice — white, brown, cauliflower, and so on — with basil-infused chicken and summer veggies.
Instantly transport to a breezy tropical isle with this laid-back take on a zesty chicken breast atop a bed of crunchy greens. Ready in just 20 minutes, this seasoned chicken pairs perfectly with the light coconut-milk-based dressing for a homemade slaw.
A better-for-you spin on classic fried wings, these grilled wings are sweet, smoky, and pack a hidden punch of fiery spice. They can be served as appetizers or alongside any of your favorite salads as a finger-licking good meal.
Go mini with these three-bite sliders, topped with cucumbers, radishes, and a sweet honey glaze.
Charred corn, limes, and green olives give this 30-minute meal all of summer’s finest flavors colors.
Make this tangy mayo-meets-BBQ sauce from scratch and never buy the store-bought variety again.
Bring out the natural sweetness of cherry tomatoes by throwing ’em on the grill (along with chicken, of course).
In this refreshing summer salad, up the ante by charring red plums, too.
Dress drumsticks in a homemade (or store-bought) pesto for a unique take on a classic.
Make your post-meal cleanup even easier with these simple, mess-free foil packets stuffed with chicken, veggies, and fresh flavor.
On a healthy bed of cauliflower rice and black beans, sweet and spicy chicken really stands out.
Recreate the tastes of the Mediterranean with these grilled chicken kebabs and garlicky tomatoes.
If you’re looking for something simple and straightforward, this kebab is for you. They’re great for a bigger crowd and they pair with plenty of fresh summer sides.
Stay full all afternoon with this protein-packed salad, complete with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and homemade pita chips.
Meet Romesco, your new favorite condiment filled with nutty, garlicky goodness.
Keep it classic with this go-to grilling recipe. Top tip: Soak skewers before grilling to prevent any flare ups.
Apologies in advance to your coworkers. The lunch envy is about to get real.
Sweet strawberries and creamy avocado make a luscious — yet light — topping for these flavor-packed chicken tacos.
Fresh, homemade salsa instantly kicks grilled chicken up a notch. Try our other variations on this recipe, too: Classic Barbecued Chicken and Tangy Spicy Grilled Chicken.
Another tropical take on a lean dinner, home cooks can hack their way through this 25-minute recipe using store-bought jerk seasoning. You can even buy pre-sliced mango in the convenience section of your grocery store to shave off a few more minutes of prep time.
This ultimate crusty sub is the best element for your favorite creamy salad alongside robust grilled chicken. It’s one of many brown paper-bag recipes you can reach for in warmer months.
Folding in toasted walnuts into store-bought pesto takes this quick dish up a notch. Fresh squash can also be tossed onto the grill for a no-dishwashing meal.
With or without tortillas, this packed-to-the-brim plate is “salad” at its best.
Because unwrapping your dinner makes it 100% more fun to eat — and nobody wants to do the dishes anyway.
A chopped salad is the perfect warm-weather dish. This one incorporates fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, chili sauce, cilantro, mint, and peanuts for a little Asian flair.
It’s a summer match made in heaven — juicy strawberries and tender, moist chicken breast, sliced and diced among a bed of zippy greens. The addition of creamy avocado truly makes this salad in a bowl feel like a summer party you can’t miss.
Tossed with a flavorful salsa marinade, these chicken stacks pair perfectly with corn tortillas for a heartier dish.
All the flavor of hot wings packed into a giant bun.
Adding chicken is a great way to turn a Caprese salad into a full-blown meal.
It’s impossible not to get addicted to this sauce made of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and garlic.
