Chicken grilling on a grill.
Stop Making This Common Mistake When Grilling Chicken

NEWS

By JULIA MULLANEY
Hand holding lid of a grill over it.
Cooking chicken on the grill is one of the best ways to eat this versatile meat. However, for best results, you should pretty much always grill chicken with the lid closed.
Chicken drumstick being brushed with a sauce on a grill.
Grilling gives your meat a crisp exterior while maintaining juiciness throughout. Additionally, the caramelization and char from the flames help to develop its flavor compounds.
Chicken pieces on a grill.
Since thin pieces of chicken cook quickly, you can grill them with the lid open. For thick chicken breasts, drumsticks, or a whole bird, it’s important to keep the lid closed.
Chicken drumsticks on a grill.
Closing the lid allows heat to surround the chicken. This promotes a consistent rise in temperature while still giving the chicken that desired flame-kissed flavor and texture.
Tongs holding a piece of grilled chicken over a grill.
Grill the chicken somewhere between 350 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping it halfway through. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chicken drumsticks with sauce on the grill.
Once it does, let your chicken rest for at least five minutes (or as long as 20 minutes for a whole chicken) after removing it from the grill so its juices can redistribute.