Throughout grilling season, I make this Grilled Hen for my household at the very least as soon as per week. It’s a type of easy recipes that works for even the pickiest eaters! I brine giant 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 following degree.
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 a winner each time. One of the best half is, the leftovers are nice to make use of in nearly each Finances Bytes hen salad recipe we’ve got on the weblog 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 scorching in the course of the summer season! Want I say extra?
Right here’s what you’ll have to make grilled hen:
- Hen: I like giant boneless skinless hen breasts for this recipe. They’re simple to divide in half and pound good and skinny for a young chunk. I grabbed a 2-pack that weighed in at 1.61 lbs. so there was loads of hen for everybody.
- Brine: A easy combination of kosher salt, granulated sugar, and water infuses the hen with taste, helps to fight moisture loss, and makes the meat tremendous tender.
- Spice Rub: A mix of salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and brown sugar creates a savory, spicy, and smoky taste with only a trace of sweetness.
Serving Solutions
I really like serving this grilled hen sliced over a contemporary inexperienced salad, but it surely’s actually so versatile! Lemon butter inexperienced beans, tacky broccoli rice, or grilled vegetable pasta salad would all be scrumptious with this tasty hen recipe. A lightweight drizzle of Selfmade Balsamic Glaze can take your grilled hen to the following degree!
- Make sure that to make use of kosher salt for the brine. The flat, flaky crystals dissolve extraordinarily effectively in water and creates a crystal-clear brine.
- Don’t skip the brown sugar; it helps develop that stunning char.
- Placing the sleek a part of the breast down on the grill first helps make sure you get these superb grill marks on the highest! So, begin with the sleek aspect down to make sure you get some horny grill marks on that chicken!
- In case your hen is sticking to the grill, enable it to prepare dinner for one more minute or two. It ought to carry off simply while you flip.
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 on the lookout for a grill for us to make use of within the Finances Bytes kitchen, I needed one which was simple to search out, easy to arrange, simple to wash, 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 may be broadly accessible at Walmart, Goal, and Amazon.
The most affordable grill choice I discovered was a easy and small tenting charcoal grill. That’s additionally a fantastic choice if you wish to grill exterior, get that smokier grill taste, and don’t thoughts protecting charcoal available.
The Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill we ended up deciding on comes with a grill prime and a flat prime, so it’s excellent as a fast, clear choice for grilling at residence and even in an RV/camper. (I’ve since purchased one for my chef package and my in-laws purchased one for his or her camper!)
Grilled Hen
I brine giant hen breasts, then coat them in a candy and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled hen you’ve got ever tasted!
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- 2 giant boneless skinless hen breasts* ($8.03)
Brine Elements:
- 1/4 cup kosher salt ($0.14)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar ($0.18)
- 2 quarts water ($0.00)
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Create your moist brine: Mix 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in 2 quarts of chilly water. Whisk to mix.
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With a fork, poke holes all around the hen breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound hen breasts to 1/2 inch to three/4 inch with a tenderizing mallet or rolling pin inside a Ziplock bag.
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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.
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Make the seasoning mix by combining the salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and brown sugar in a bowl.
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Take away the hen breasts from the brine, pat dry on either side with paper towels, drizzle with olive oil, and rub with the seasoning mix on either side.
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Preheat grill to 475°F. Word: In case you are 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 skin 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.
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Cook dinner the hen for 5-7 minutes on either side, 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 scorching and juicy!) so you’ll be able to take away it a bit of early, simply be 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 measurement for hen, however I used to be beneficiant and went with 6 ounces per particular person for this recipe… so you would simply stretch it additional when you wanted to!
Serving: 6ouncesEnergy: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 36gFats: 5gSodium: 7877mgFiber: 1g
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methods to make Grilled Hen – step-by-step images
Create your moist brine: Mix 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in 2 quarts of chilly water. Whisk to mix.
With a fork, poke holes throughout 2 giant boneless skinless hen breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound hen breasts to 1/2 inch to three/4 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 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp brown sugar in a bowl.
Take away the hen breasts from the brine, pat dry on either side with paper towels, drizzle with olive oil, and rub with the seasoning mix on either side.
Preheat grill to 475°F. Word: In case you are 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 skin 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.
Cook dinner the hen for 5-7 minutes on either side, 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 scorching and juicy!) so you’ll be able to take away it a bit of early, simply be 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!
