Throughout grilling season, I make this Grilled Hen for my household at the least as soon as every week. It’s a type of easy recipes that works for even the pickiest eaters! I brine giant rooster breasts, then coat them in a candy and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled rooster you’ve ever tasted! Everybody at my home loves this rooster, and the scrumptious char from grilling takes the flavour to the following stage.
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“I made this in the present day on the grill. Completely scrumptious. Hen might be so bland and that is nice! I made an enormous batch up for meal prep.â€
Kristin
Simple Grilled Hen Recipe
Juicy grilled rooster 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 all the time a winner every time I make it. The most effective half is the leftovers are nice to make use of in nearly any rooster salad recipe, 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 sizzling in the course of the summer time! Want I say extra?
Grilled Hen
- 2 giant rooster breasts (boneless skinless, (mine weighed 1.61 lbs complete) $8.03*)
Brine Components:
- ¼ cup kosher salt ($0.14)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar ($0.18)
- 2 quarts water ($0.00)
Rub components:
- 1 tsp salt ($0.01)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.06)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.15)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.32)
- ½ tsp onion powder ($0.08)
- 1 tsp brown sugar ($0.01)
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Create your moist brine: Mix ¼ cup kosher salt and ¼ cup granulated sugar in 2 quarts of chilly water. Whisk to mix.
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With a fork, poke holes all around the rooster breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound rooster breasts to ½ inch to ¾ 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 rooster 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 rooster breasts from the brine, rinse, and pat dry on each side with paper towels, drizzle with olive oil, and rub with the seasoning mix on each side.
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Preheat grill to 475°F. Observe: If you’re utilizing an indoor grill, we discovered placing the rooster on the grill whereas it’s preheating helps get the center of the breast to temperature in a well timed method and retains the surface from overcooking and burning. In case your rooster has been within the fridge, permit it to return to room temperature for at the least 10 minutes earlier than beginning the grilling course of.
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Prepare dinner the rooster for 5-7 minutes on either side, or till the inner temp reads between 155-160°F. The rooster will proceed to prepare dinner whereas it’s resting (as a result of it’s so sizzling and juicy!) so you’ll be able to take away it somewhat early, simply ensure 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.
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*For this recipe, 1 serving = 6 ounces per particular person. 3-4 ounces is a typical serving measurement for rooster, 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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the best way to make Grilled Hen step-by-step pictures
Make your moist brine: Pour ¼ cup kosher salt and ¼ cup granulated sugar into 2 quarts of chilly water in a mixing bowl. Whisk to mix.
Pound the rooster: Use a fork to poke holes throughout 2 giant boneless skinless rooster breasts after which switch to a Ziplock bag. Pound the rooster breasts to ½ inch to three/4 inch with a tenderizing mallet or rolling pin whereas contained in the Ziplock bag.
Brine the rooster: Pour the moist brine into the Ziplock bag with the tenderized rooster breasts. Now shut the bag and let the rooster brine at room temperature for half-hour. You may also let it brine within the fridge for as much as 24 hours. Don’t skip this step! The brine infuses the rooster with taste, helps to fight moisture loss, and makes the meat tremendous tender.
Make the seasoning mix: Mix 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp brown sugar in a bowl.
Season the rooster: Take away the rooster breasts from the brine, rinse, and pat dry on each side with paper towels. Ensure you rinse the brine off your rooster, or it’d find yourself too salty! Drizzle the rooster breasts with olive oil, and use your fingers to rub the seasoning mix on each side.
Grill the rooster: Preheat your grill to 475°F. Observe: In case you’re utilizing an indoor grill, I discovered placing the rooster on the grill whereas it’s preheating helps get the center of the breast to temperature in a well timed method and retains the surface from overcooking and burning. In case your rooster has been within the fridge, permit it to return to room temperature for at the least 10 minutes earlier than beginning the grilling course of.
Prepare dinner the rooster for 5-7 minutes on either side, or till the inner temp reads between 155-160°F. The rooster will proceed to prepare dinner whereas it’s resting (as a result of it’s so sizzling and juicy!), so you’ll be able to take away it somewhat early. Simply ensure 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 rooster is a winner each time!
Serving Solutions
I typically serve this grilled rooster sliced over a contemporary inexperienced salad for a very easy however satisfying meal for my household. However actually, it’s a type of recipes that goes with absolutely anything. In case you’re craving one thing cozy, strive it with lemon butter inexperienced beans, or a scoop of tacky broccoli rice. On hotter days, I’d pair it with a ditalini pasta salad for a straightforward yard dinner. And if you wish to give it somewhat additional taste enhance, a light-weight drizzle of home made balsamic glaze actually takes issues up a notch.
- Ensure to make use of kosher salt for the brine. The flat, flaky crystals dissolve extraordinarily effectively in water and create a crystal-clear brine. Simply don’t neglect to rinse the brine off earlier than cooking. Skipping that step can depart the rooster overly salty.
- Don’t skip the brown sugar; it helps develop that lovely char!
- Placing the graceful 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 graceful aspect down to make sure you get some horny grill marks on that chicken!
- In case your rooster is sticking to the grill, permit it to prepare dinner for an additional minute or two. It ought to carry off simply if you flip.
- Need to make this within the oven? I’d preheat the oven to 450°F and bake the rooster breasts for about 15-20 minutes. The inner temperature will register as 165°F on a meat thermometer as soon as achieved. Alternatively, you would strive our tried and true baked rooster breast recipe!
Storage Directions
I like to recommend storing leftover grilled rooster in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. To freeze, wrap particular person rooster 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 Price efficient grill
Once I was in search of a grill for us to make use of within the Finances Bytes kitchen, I needed one which was straightforward to search out, easy to arrange, straightforward to scrub, and didn’t make me miss my charcoal grill. I went with the Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill after considering a couple of completely different ones that might be broadly accessible at Walmart, Goal, and Amazon.
The most affordable grill possibility I discovered was a easy and small tenting charcoal grill. That’s additionally a fantastic possibility if you wish to grill outdoors, get that smokier grill taste, and don’t thoughts maintaining charcoal available.
The Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill we ended up deciding on comes with a grill prime and a flat prime, so it’s good as a fast, clear possibility for grilling at residence and even in an RV/camper. (I’ve since purchased one for my chef equipment and my in-laws purchased one for his or her camper!)
Our Grilled Hen recipe was initially revealed 6/17/24. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 7/8/25.